SCIAF calls on new PM to pay up for damage caused by climate change

Ahead of the appointment of the new Prime Minister next week, the Scottish Catholic International Aid Fund (SCIAF) is calling on the new Prime Minister to pay up for the losses and damages rich countries like ours have caused.

In the world's poorest places, the losses and damages of the climate crisis are already devastating lives, and the impacts of the changing weather are set to get worse.

The charity is calling on the public to sign its petition addressed to the Prime Minister, calling for action that will protect the poorest communities in the world.

Though COP26 in Glasgow is over, the UK still holds influence as the outgoing COP Presidency until the beginning of COP27. The charity is therefore demanding that, once appointed, the new Prime Minister use this position to:

- Champion a new global fund for Loss and Damage and commit UK money to this
- Urge rich nations to pay up too; grants not loans is what is needed
- Make sure that the money is easily available for those who need it most.

SCIAF works with partners in some of the poorest countries in the world and has seen first-hand the devastating impacts of the climate crisis.

80-year-old Agatha Davida told SCIAF about the devastating impact of Storm Ana which hit her home in Malawi in January, destroying her house and everything she owned: "When the storm hit, water started pouring in. It was coming into the house. I was so shocked. I had to get my children out to safety, but I wasn't able to save our possessions.

"When I saw my house was about to collapse, I rushed to my neighbour and woke him up and managed to drag him out of his house, just in time. I was shivering. How do I rebuild, where will I get the money? I can't buy anything."

Alistair Dutton, Chief Executive, Scottish Catholic International Aid Fund, commented: "Climate change is already having a devastating impact on the world's poorest communities and time is running away from us.

"At COP26, the Scottish Government committed £2 million to help people recover from the damage caused by climate change - a world first. But, while this is a welcome start, on its own it's simply not enough without other countries stepping up.

"We have launched a petition calling on the new Prime Minister to take bold action and pay up for damages that countries like ours have caused.

"Show your support by signing our petition. Now more than ever we need to come together as a global community - the world's poorest people are counting on us."

Father Leonard Chiti, Priest and SCIAF partner working in Zambia, commented: "The harsh reality of the climate crisis is that it is experienced in wildly different ways in different parts of the world, and it is usually the people who have contributed least to it that are suffering its worst consequences.

"Climate change is a real and present danger causing suffering to millions. For the sake of those people, and for the atonement of those responsible, a restorative Loss and Damage fund is required which can help the process of healing for both victims and perpetrators. This can help create balance to the injustice of the climate emergency.

For more information about SCIAF's campaign and petition visit: www.sciaf.org.uk/payup