As the Copenhagen talks drew to a close on Friday, the inability of rich countries to own up to the ecological problems they have created, or to offer adequate compensation to those countries worst effected by climate change became clear. Whilst holding poor countries to the repayment or monetary debts that stem from questionable origins and as a result of unjust actions, rich countries continue to ignore the huge ecological debts that they themselves must repay. The financial offers placed on the bargaining tables at Copenhagen fell far short of the amounts that would be needed to truly grapple with climate change.They were also offered in the form of loans, thus ensuring that poor countries must continue to pay for problems for which they themselves were not responsible.

Instead of putting into place more damaging loans, the balance of justice must be addressed by cancelling existing debts which are sucking the economies of poor countries dry, robbing them of money that could be better used to tackle climate change. Having both caused this debt and climate devastation, it is time that rich countries take responsibility and begin to make amends for their actions: sadly Copenhagen was not the beginning of this process. And yet perhaps more importantly, it does not signify the end.

A month before the Compenhagen talks, the Climate Justice Now Tour stopped off in Glasgow on the 17^th November. The subject of the tour was the climate crisis caused by rich industrialised nations that has resulted in extreme weather and droughts that devastate the world’s poorer nations. They believe that this has now created a ‘climate debt’ owed by these rich nations to those hurt by climate problems – foremost being the global south.   

The Glasgow stop on this UK tour of public meetings included speakers such as Doha Shamsuddoha (Equity Bangladesh) and Liz Murray (WDM Scotland). Lively debate with challenging questions were addressed by  The tour was organised jointly by Jubilee Debt Campaign, Friends of the Earth, People and Planet and the World Development Movement and provided a great place to get the latest on climate change and global justice.

Written by Jessica Blomfield

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