Oxfam slams NZ’s Pacific climate funds – too ‘business focused’

Oxfam New Zealand says the Government’s finance towards Pacific climate change is business focused and does not benefit families in need.

Rachael Le Mesurier, Oxfam New Zealand’s executive director, said because of this the Government needs to change its funding focus within Pacific climate finance.

“While New Zealand’s role in helping Pacific communities to access clean, efficient energy is helpful…the Government’s climate finance model is designed to be business focused, and not to benefit families living on the front-line of climate change.”

“These families need resources to adapt to rising seas and turbo-charged cyclones. The New Zealand Government’s climate finance program isn’t helping them do that,” Le Mesurier said.

Her statement complied with Oxfam’s research report, released this week, which assesses the “unmet” commitments of the New Zealand and Australian governments towards Pacific climate funds.

After Paris: Climate Finance in the Pacific Islands reveals the proportion of New Zealand’s climate finance dedicated to adaptation has dropped by 20 percent since 2013.

The report urges greater investment in resilience building.

It also states that Australia has not increased its contribution for international climate finance since 2010.

“Australia has failed to increase its contribution to international climate finance in line with the goals of the Paris Agreement or in keeping with stronger commitments from other developed nations.”

The report comes as the most senior politicians in the Pacific gather for the 47th Pacific Islands Forum.


SOURCE: ASIA PACIFIC REPRT/PACNEWS