NGOs’solution: Oxfam

International development NGO Oxfam expects the Bali roadmap to include a financial commitment by part of rich countries to help the poorer countries adapt global warming. According to Oxfam, even if the world stopped polluting today, the worsening impacts of climate change would be felt for 30 or more years.

The effects of climate change are most felt in those regions that depend on the climate for their subsistence. Altered rain cycles, droughts and flooding mean that traditional crops do not grow as well as they used to, and although people are trying to keep up with the pace, Oxfam highlights that adapting has a price. In Bangladesh people are creating floating vegetable gardens that can thrive even if they are flooded. But Oxfams climate expert in Bangladesh, Mozaharul Alam, warns that subsistent agriculture is very vulnerable. If there is failure of the crop on the ground explains Alam, unless people have the capacity to buy things, availability of food in the market has no meaning to poor people.

Fifty billion dollars a year. According to Oxfam this is the cost that developing countries face if they are to adapt to climate change, more if greenhouse gasses are not cut quickly. When it comes to the question of who should pick up the bill, the NGO is clear: no matter how you spin the arrow of responsibility the arrow always ends up pointing at a handful of rich countries. So Oxfam has devised an index to calculate the shares based on principles of responsibility. According to the Adaption Financing Index, of the 28 countries responsible for and capable of financing adaptation in developing countries the USA and the EU should contribute over 75% of the finance needed.

More info:
www.oxfam.org