Only 3% of international climate aid going to transitioning communities: 'This is absurd'

A paltry 3% of international climate aid has gone towards supporting communities transitioning away from polluting industries, a figure that has left experts and activists bewildered. The lack of investment in "just transition" projects is a glaring oversight, with the world's major climate funds allocating only a fraction of their resources to support workers and communities as they navigate the challenges of a low-carbon economy.

According to ActionAid, a leading climate and development non-profit, this inadequate approach to just transition is having a profound impact on global inequality. The organization's analysis of publicly available data reveals that less than 1 in 50 approved projects met the most basic criteria for genuine just transition, with many initiatives failing to demonstrate meaningful participation from workers, women, or affected communities.

The consequences of this neglect are far-reaching and devastating. In one striking example, a program in Bangladesh encouraged farmers to switch from methane-heavy rice to mango crops, but failed to consult with seasonal workers, mostly women who processed rice into local food items. This lack of consultation meant that the project's developers were unaware of the economic viability of the scheme, which ultimately proved disastrous.

The forthcoming UN climate talks offer a crucial opportunity for change. Activists and civil society groups are demanding that negotiators flesh out the details of the "just transition work programme", launched at the 2022 Cop27 climate summit, but on which progress has stalled. They also want countries to commit trillions of dollars annually in grant-based climate finance for global south countries to smoothly and equitably phase out polluting sectors.

The report's findings have sparked outrage among experts, who argue that this approach is not only unethical but also short-sighted. As Teresa Anderson, ActionAid's global climate justice lead, pointedly put it: "People are being forced to choose between a safe job and a secure job and a safe planet." This choice is one that no one should have to make.

The lack of consideration for workers and communities in international climate aid has been described as "absurd" by the report's authors. With less than $1 in every $35 spent on just transition-aligned projects, it is clear that current approaches are woefully inadequate. The Climate Investment Funds, which were established by the World Bank, should be sunset, according to ActionAid, while the Green Climate Fund should undergo a fundamental overhaul of its principles to prioritize labor and justice.

As the world grapples with the scale and complexity of the climate crisis, it is imperative that we acknowledge the critical role that workers and communities must play in shaping our response. Anything less would be a dereliction of our duty as global citizens.

omg this is wild! i mean what's up with only 3% of international climate aid going to supporting communities transitioning away from polluting industries? it seems like so many projects are just being rushed out without even consulting the people who'll be affected by them isn't that just super irresponsible?

i'm not surprised though, i've seen a lot of cases where big corporations get all the funding and the little guy gets left behind . but what's really concerning is that this lack of investment in "just transition" projects is having a huge impact on global inequality .

i feel like we need to do way more than just talk about climate change, we need to take action . and it starts with supporting the communities that are most affected by pollution. i mean, who gets to decide what's best for them? definitely not some faceless corporation or government agency .

the fact that less than 1 in 50 approved projects even meet the basic criteria for just transition is just insane . and those examples of failed projects like the one in Bangladesh are just heartbreaking . i mean, can you imagine if you invested all your money into something without considering the impact it would have on the people around you? that's basically what's happening here .

anyway i'm glad to see activists and civil society groups pushing for change . we need more voices like theirs in these negotiations to make sure everyone's interests are represented . and we definitely need a lot more funding for just transition projects . anything less would be a dereliction of our duty as global citizens, imo .

This just transition thingy is just a fancy way of saying they're leaving us peasants to fend for ourselves while they get their clean energy on . I mean, 3% of climate aid? Come on! What's the point of transitioning away from polluting industries if we're not gonna be paid or supported in any way? It's like they want us to just magically adapt and thrive without a safety net . And don't even get me started on the lack of consultation – who do these devs think they are, just swooping in and telling people what to do with their livelihoods? The fact that only 1 in 50 projects met basic criteria is just mind-boggling... it's like they're not even trying . We need to be the ones calling the shots here, not some faceless bureaucrats making decisions for us

I'm worried about these new climate funds . It's like they're not thinking about who gets hurt when industries change. I mean, what's the point of saving the planet if we just leave people behind? We need to make sure workers and communities are part of the solution, not just left out in the cold . The numbers are crazy - 3% is nowhere near enough for a transition that affects so many lives . We can't just talk about a "just transition" without making it happen . It's time to rethink how we're investing in climate change and make sure everyone benefits, not just the wealthy countries .

can't believe how much money is going to big polluters instead of supporting people who actually need help transitioning away from fossil fuels... like 3% of international climate aid is literally peanuts! we need to hold governments and donors accountable for prioritizing workers and communities in their climate initiatives, it's not just about saving the planet, it's also about human lives and dignity

"The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy." - Martin Luther King Jr.

Can you believe only 3% of climate aid goes to support communities transitioning away from polluting industries? It's like, what are we even doing here? The fact that most projects fail to involve workers and affected communities is just ridiculous. I mean, wouldn't it make sense to, like, talk to the people who will be most impacted by these changes?

And then there's this example from Bangladesh where farmers were encouraged to switch to mango crops without consulting anyone, and it turned out to be a total disaster. Like, how do you not consult with the workers who are going to be processing those crops into food items? It's just basic human decency.

The UN climate talks need to step up their game and prioritize "just transition" projects that actually help communities and workers. We can't just talk about saving the planet without thinking about the people who will be affected by these changes.

idk how can 3% be "paltry" lol it's like saying someone who earns $20k/year has super low salary . but seriously climate aid has to prioritize just transition projects, not just give money to countries without any conditions . in bangladesh the program failed because they didn't consult with farmers & workers, what a mess! @actionaid u guys have some stats on how many "just transition" projects actually work out? wanna know more about this

I'm so frustrated with how little attention the 'just transition' gets when it comes to international climate aid . It's crazy that only 3% of those funds are actually going towards supporting communities that need help the most. I mean, who do they think is going to survive on a low-carbon economy if their livelihoods are being completely wiped out? The fact that so many projects fail to involve workers and affected communities in the first place just shows how callous the system can be .

I'm loving the idea of trillions of dollars for global south countries, but only if it's accompanied by real commitment from developed nations to take action themselves. We can't keep dumping all our problems on someone else to solve . And what about those seasonal workers in Bangladesh who got screwed over by a project that didn't even consider their economic viability? It's just not right.

I'm so with ActionAid on this one – the Climate Investment Funds need to be scrapped and the Green Climate Fund needs a major overhaul . We can't keep sticking our heads in the sand while workers and communities are being left to fend for themselves during this climate crisis. It's time for real change, not just empty promises .

3% of climate aid goes to just transition projects? That's wild . I mean, it's not like we can afford to waste any more time and money on stuff that doesn't really work out in the long run . We need to prioritize those workers and communities over profits and growth . It's about giving people a chance to adapt to a low-carbon economy without losing their livelihoods or homes . I'm with ActionAid on this one ... read more at https://www.actionaid.org/

I'm low-key shocked by this 3% figure. Like, where's all that cash going? I need to see some receipts on this one... how do we know it's not just some fancy accounting trick to make it seem like more is being done than actually is?

And what's with the "just transition" programs? Sounds like a buzzword to me. How much actual consultation did they have with workers and communities before launching these projects? Was anyone even listening to their concerns?

I'm not buying that we need trillions of dollars in grant-based climate finance without some serious accountability on how it's being spent. What's the plan for ensuring that money actually reaches the people who need it most, rather than just lining the pockets of some rich countries or corporations?

I mean, come on... 3% of international climate aid for just transition projects? That's like saying "oh, let's just throw some money at the problem" without even bothering to consider how it's going to affect the people who are actually affected by the change.

It's not like they're asking for a lot. Just a little bit of support for workers and communities so they can transition away from polluting industries in a way that doesn't leave them in poverty or worse. But no, instead we get this absurd lack of investment and these "just transition" projects that are basically just a joke.

And don't even get me started on the fact that less than 1 in 50 approved projects even meet the most basic criteria for genuine just transition? That's just laughable. It's like they're not even trying to do this right.

We need to wake up and realize that the climate crisis isn't just about saving the planet, it's also about people's lives and livelihoods. We can't just throw money at the problem without considering how it's going to affect the people who are most impacted by it.

I mean, think about it... 3% of international climate aid going towards just transition projects? It's like we're trying to put out fires from the wrong side of the fireplace . We need to prioritize the people who are most affected by this transition, you know? The ones who are already struggling to make ends meet. But no, instead we're all about the grandeur of saving the planet... and forgetting that the people who are saving it might just be the same people who are being left behind .

It's like we're trying to solve a math problem where the numbers don't add up. We know that 100% of the time, workers and communities need support during this transition. But somehow, our systems always seem to fall short. I mean, what's the point of saving the planet if we can't even save ourselves from the inequality trap?

I guess what I'm saying is... we need to rethink our approach to just transition. We need to put people over profits and make sure that everyone has a seat at the table. Because, let's be real, the only way to truly save the planet is if we're all in this together .