November 26, 2008

In preparation for the Follow-up International Conference on Financing for Development to Review the Implementation of the Monterrey Consensus, scheduled for Nov. 29 – Dec. 2 in Doha, Qatar, Church World Service is working with partners to mobilize public advocacy in support of proposals calling for timely and sufficient foreign assistance to help developing nations adapt to the consequences of climate change.

The effort is part of the Church World Service's (CWS) "Enough for All" campaign. at http://www.churchworldservice.org/site/PageServer?pagename=action_what_partnership_examples_enough.

Climate change affects millions of people worldwide-especially the poor.

CWS Director of Education and Advocacy Rajyashri Waghray, who has led the agency's work on financing for development since the year 2000 meetings around the issue in Monterrey, Mexico, points out that many vulnerable economies will be "hardest hit" by the adverse effects of climate change.

"Given the miniscule contribution of green house gas by vulnerable countries, equity calls the international community to contribute funds to help these vulnerable nations adapt to climate change," Waghray says.

CWS, which works in partnership with the NGO Committee on Financing for Development, a group that includes more than 60 NGOs committed to the goals of financial reform, is collaborating with Medical Mission Sisters, Economic Justice Network in Southern Africa, and other committee members on a set of proposals to be presented at the Doha gathering.

The proposals include the following statements:

• We call for a holistic approach to development, one that does not endanger human lives and the environment, and prioritizes long-term ecological sustainability and the stability of the climate.

• We call for the establishment of various funds: an adaptation fund, a mitigation fund, a technology fund and a risk insurance fund. There needs to be transparency, with an equitable and balance representation of all Parties.

• We call for all industrialized nations and corporations to immediately find ways to transfer funds to help developing countries in measures both for adaptation and mitigation. The problem calls for scaling-up of additional sources of finance for vulnerable nations, including an increased emphasis on building the capacity of developed nations to address this issue by themselves.

Join the CWS Speak Out Network to encourage Congress to provide adequate "adaptation" funding to assist low-income countries to address the impact of climate change at http://www.churchworldservice.org/speakout/.

Church World Service