Political changes, increase in security costs and focusing on national priorities have recently reduced several European budgets for climate financing.
The same as many important countries of Western Europe United Kingdom, Switzerland, Germany, France and the NetherlandsIn recent months, they have significantly reduced their aid budgets. This trend occurs in the middle of an expansion Geological political tensionsAnd Worldly economic uncertaintyAs countries choose to pay more attention to their own needs, such as the increase in security costs and the stimulating activities of national governments.
Foreign Aid is measured mainly by official development assistance (AOD), which is Wealthy countries offer developing countries. Economic Cooperation and Improvement System recommends that the donation countries should try to assign at least 0.7% of its gross national income (RNP) for foreign aid. Belgium He has revealed that he will reduce his assistance by 25% in five years Netland It has reduced it by 30% and France In 37%.
These budget cuts can have disastrous consequences for vulnerable countries that rely on foreign financial aid such as Tanzania, Bangladesh and Champia. Help cuts derailed Climate financial purposes Promised to comply with developed countries COP29 in November 2024.
Why do many European countries reduce their aid budgets?
Political changes such as visiting power Extreme right parties in Finland and SwedenThey have greatly affected the help cuts. European conflicts like The war between Russia and UkraineThe threat of increasing business war with the United States has led to a priority for safety expenses for money for help with countries.
Prime minister Royalty. In recent years the country has been properly reduced to financing for assistance The recession of the economy after the Brexit And to the economic impact of Pandemia. As of April 2027, security costs will increase to 2.5% of GDP.
In the same way, France has reduced funding When helping Faced with achievement deficit and current political upheaval. The government had to deal with the allegations of extreme rights Development help is a waste of Taxpayer’s money.
Netland They have also reduced the help of focusing on national interests, and they are very closely integrated into the growth of growth with the Dutch, economics and migration policies. This means that the country allocates its help only for the most beneficial measures Food safety, water management And the child and maternal health care.
Finlandia He accepted a similar position and only provides assistance to reasons that benefit the most of the Binnish interests Sweden Is focusing more attention to safetyPolice and social services. But in support of domestic problems, experts have pointed out the dangers of losing the proper and global nature of climate change. “The Disasters Caused by the cause Won’t respect the weather borders“Carston Brinksult, founder of Triat networks, a technical company that fights wildfire.
“Help cutting, especially Climate risk“He says.
What does this mean for the climate financial purposes set up on COP29?
In COP29, developed countries agreed to provide at least 300,000 million dollars (277.8 billion euros) annually Climate Funds to developing countries by 2035. This figure is tripled to the previous purpose of $ 100,000 million (92.6 billion), with at least 1.3 billion dollars (1.2 billion euros) collected by 2035.
However, it is very difficult to fulfill this ambitious purpose of the Western and Northern European countries. In theory, developed countries must maintain separate budgets for development and financial assistance Fight against climate change. This means that funding for the struggle against climate change must be added to the help of ordinary development and should not be changed.
Difficulty Maintain separate budgets This is, for example, when the goals overlap, for example, when many development projects have benefits to the climate. Limited resources and definitions contribute to this problem. Some countries that use a fund for both of them are already trying to allocate money to climate projects in widespread growth and create a certain difference.
Many countries accomplish them Climate financial purposes Instead of providing new funds, transforming existing development assistance into climate funding. In 2022, $ 94.2 billion (87.4 billion euros) is $ 27,000 million per year (25.1 billion euros) General funds for the climate They were obtained from the existing development assistance. New Zealand and Luxembourg They belong to some developed countries that clearly separate climate funding from development assistance.
United Kingdom and Sweden still have promised their climate financial purposes
“COP Climate Financial purposes will be affected, but it is still unclear. The United Kingdom and Sweden have said that they are still firm With its climate financial purposes. “Former United Kingdom Assistant Officer Sarah Hearn Op says ‘EuroNius Green’.
“Netland They reported it Will reduce financing Fight against climate change as part of its “first” attitude in 2025, and Swiss He has already reduced a portion of the financial assistance of the struggle against climate change. France He reviews his help, where the cuts should be done. So Banorama is dark for the guardian’s guards, “he says.
Germany In 2023, he reduced his financial assistance to the climate to 5.7 billion. However, he assured that he would be the largest donor of climate funding in COP29, 60 million euros To the adaptation fund.
Thanos Verusis, a standard financial professor at the Vilarick Business School, was very confident of the EU climate financial purposes.
“Climate change in countries with secondary Political preferencesCOPS can be found significant deviations from duties. Rather, in territories such as the EU Climatic change It is still A complete priorityThe financial duties of the struggle against climate change may have been a prominent place in the agenda, ”he says.
How can vulnerable countries affect the reduction of European aid budgets?
European Development Assistance helps many regions and vulnerable countries around the world. These funds have been imposed on economic confirmation, Improvement Programs, Health Programs, Financial Assistance and PovertyClimate change and humanitarian causes, among other things.
“Many global southern countries face a double challenge Poverty and Climate Damage. For them, the climate is important not only for financial censorship but also the adaptation, ”says Vrucis.
“Without adequate protection, cuts for foreign aid will undermine efforts to increase the climate setback, such as catastrophic preparation, agricultural reforms and Renewable energy efforts. These reductions will increase the risks of both climate change and unprecedented to economic and environmental crises. “
Niki Ignatio, who is responsible for women, said that Axon Aid UK’s peace and safety and aid budget would contribute. Make human rights crises worse in some countries.
Barrier is the only standard strategy
“Device Official Development Assistance (AOD) of communities affected by the crisis Funds for new conflicts This is not only morally incorrect but even On the world’s stability The duties of the United Kingdom for Human Rights and Gender Justice, “he says.
“The British Foreign Minister has recognized that the climate crisis feeds on conflicts and displacement, but it will only be reduced the AOD for communities that have been affected by climate change, but only do it. Women and girls make the most vulnerable injustice. This decision must be changed before it causes irreparable damage, ”he added.
Aid reduction indicates that vulnerable countries lose significant access to key tools Climate technologyOften it is important to fight against disasters that are important.
“These areas are usually the most affected by climate events; wildfire fire, Floods,Drought and deforestation. Reducing assistance eliminates access to essential innovations and technical services that can strengthen local climate setback, ”says Brinksult.
“There is a risk of creating a dangerous ring: high climate crises, high displacements, high economic instability and long help requirements. Barrier is the only standard strategy“.
How can countries avoid reducing help?
Instead of reducing foreign aid, many experts argue that European countries are redefined Investment in vulnerable countries And in efforts against climate change.
According to Verusis, “Instead of reducing help, there may be a very flexible solution Install new preferences In foreign aid quota. Governments from various countries can focus on increasing the efficiency, can lead to assistance more effectively and use international organizations and development banks.
“This approach will allow the most strategic use of limited resources while continuing to meet world needs.” Consider help as investmentInstead of donations, this will help you reconsider European perspectives related to financial support Fight against climate change.
“Restorating help as an investment is an option,” says Brinksult. “A euro has spent now Climate recession saves many euros in emergency responsesAfter insurance payments and migration costs. In addition, reorganization Subsidies for fossil fuels The biggest in many countries- the funds can be made without increasing budget pressure. “