Nepal floods should spur climate action, says Green Climate Fund chief

Nepal's flood disaster and Europe's wildfires should force governments to confront the cost of climate change, Mafalda Duarte, head of the UN-backed Green Climate Fund, said in an interview with AFP.

Duarte warned that many countries still do not understand the danger of climate tipping points, after which the world may not be able to return to its previous state. She said climate change has slipped down the global priority list as conflicts and other shocks demand attention.

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We see globally climate change dropping in terms of priorities, with other things, conflicts and shocks, taking priority.

“When there is will, finance is mobilised to respond to emergencies. For some reason, we don't see the same type of response to climate, as if we can afford to wait,” Duarte said.

The Green Climate Fund was created by the United Nations to help developing countries address the effects of climate change. It has invested $19 billion across 134 developing countries. The United States withdrew from the fund in January, while Britain halved its contribution in May.

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We see when there is will, that finance is mobilised to respond to emergencies. For some reason, we don't see the same type of response to climate, as if we can afford to wait.