UK and Germany announce new G7 package of funding to keep people safer from disasters
The people in Woukpokpoe village have benefited greatly from Benin's national CDD project. They now have access to safe, clean water. Photo: © Arne Hoel / World Bank
The G7 communique states that G7 members have committed hundreds of millions worth of new financing for early action, disaster risk, and insurance.
In a separate announcement, a package of support, including £120 million in new funding from the UK and €125 million in new funding from Germany, has been agreed that will enable quicker responses for vulnerable people when extreme weather and climate-linked disasters hit.
Responding to today’s announcement by the two G7 Governments, Daniel Clarke, Director of the Centre for Disaster Protection who lead the Crisis Lookout Coalition, said:
“The G7 have clearly heard the challenge the Crisis Lookout coalition put to them in January - that the way the world pays for crises like covid, conflict, and climate shocks is inadequate, inefficient, and routinely fails to protect people against the risks our world faces.
These announcements have the potential to protect many more people from disasters. To have the greatest impact, it’s crucial that the G7 focus on communities most likely to be driven into poverty by disasters; the governance arrangements for the new funding are inclusive, allowing the full range of responders, especially local organisations, to access funds; and finally, all the funding is subject to rigorous scrutiny to ensure accountability to vulnerable communities.
The covid-19 pandemic has already touched the lives of almost everyone on the planet and for countless millions, the worst is yet to come - be that hunger, conflict, or climate change. G7 leaders can meet this pivotal moment in our history by also recognising that these crises are exacerbated by the outdated and overwhelmed system the world uses to pay for disasters. The G7 should build on their announcements today by agreeing to ditch the disaster ‘begging bowl’ in favour of a more dignified system built on pre-arranged disaster funding that can be released the moment trouble arises. We urge the G7 to make that commitment on the road to the Glasgow Climate Summit.”
For further insights into the Centre and coalitions calls for urgent change, please see:
G7 Solutions Paper which sets out detailed and practical proposals for how the G7 could better protect vulnerable communities by better predicting and preparing for disasters
Joint Statement of Support by over 40 expert organisations and individuals