BY D KASULE
In a world grappling with an escalating climate crisis, a new report by ActionAid, has revealed a financial flows imbalance, with money pouring more into the Best very industries responsible for the climate crisis, such as fossil fuels and industrial agriculture, rather than into the solutions needed to combat it.
Though the impact of burning fossil fuels on climate change is widely known, that of industrialized agriculture in exacerbating the crisis remains less recognized. These agribusiness giants not only contribute significantly to emissions but also promote practices that drive deforestation and undermine smallholder farmers.
Research shows that the Global South, is already bearing the effects of climate impacts, hosts increasing fossil fuel and industrial agriculture developments, leading to conflicts, environmental destruction, and climate change-related problems.
According to the report, a staggering financial support from banks to these unsustainable industries is estimated at $3.2 trillion going to fossil fuels and $370 billion to industrial agriculture in the seven years following the Paris Agreement. This funding, is 20 times more financing to these industries than what the Global North governments provide in climate finance to frontline countries.
Major international banks, including European, American, and Asian ones, are among the key financiers. These banks claim to address climate change but continue to fund fossil fuels and agribusiness on an immense scale.
The report also highlights the need for these banks to genuinely decarbonize their portfolios, phase out coal lending, and cease funding harmful projects. It points out the absence of policies for phasing out oil and gas financing and the inadequacy of policies related to agriculture, beef production, and agrochemicals.
Public financing remains part of the problem, as governments direct funds to fossil fuels and industrial agriculture through various channels, rather than investing in renewable energy and agroecology, which hold the potential to combat climate change effectively.
In the face of this climate crisis, the report emphasizes the urgent need for public funds to support equitable transitions to renewable energy and agroecology while calling for an end to the madness of banks and governments financing the planet’s destruction.
In a world grappling with escalating climate disasters, where droughts, heatwaves, wildfires, floods, and hurricanes seem relentless, there shines a beacon of hope in the form of Vanessa Nakate, a passionate climate activist from Uganda. As every corner of the globe is affected, lives are lost, and livelihoods shattered, Vanessa’s unwavering dedication to fighting climate change is a ray of light.
Uganda, one of the world’s fastest-changing climate zones, has witnessed firsthand the havoc wreaked by extreme weather events on communities that bear little responsibility for causing them. This injustice fuels Vanessa’s determination as a climate activist, reminding us that urgent action is imperative.
She shares her frustration at the lack of action from world leaders and major polluters, who continue to invest in activities that jeopardize the planet and its inhabitants. Despite the undeniable evidence of the climate crisis, finance continues to flow into its very causes rather than solutions.
One of Vanessa’s deepest concerns is the destructive impact of banks funding activities that harm our planet, especially in regions like Africa, Asia, and Latin America, where communities on the front lines of climate change face devastating floods, droughts, cyclones, and rising sea levels. These communities suffer doubly as their land is encroached upon, and their water is polluted.
True climate leadership, Vanessa contends, necessitates a shift away from fossil fuels and other climate change drivers. However, a recent report by ActionAid underscores the fact that change is impossible when banks persistently fund those responsible for the most harm.
This report not only exposes the trillions of dollars flowing into the Global South, fueling the climate crisis and harming vulnerable communities but also highlights the detrimental influence of industrial agriculture. Moreover, it celebrates the unsung heroes—the farmers and communities leading the charge with agroecology and grassroots resistance.
Vanessa Nakate’s message is clear: it’s time to hold financial institutions accountable and demand an end to their funding of destructive activities. The voices of those most affected by climate and environmental destruction must be heard.
In a world that often feels overwhelmed by the climate crisis, Vanessa Nakate stands talIt’s a symbol of resilience and determination. Her efforts, alongside countless others, are essential in the global fight for a sustainable future.