COP31: Global South calls for polluters to pay
Civil society representatives from the Global South have called on developed countries and major polluters to fulfil their climate finance obligations, demanding a concrete roadmap for increasing adaptation funding and ensuring direct financial support for climate-vulnerable communities.
At a press conference at the COP31 venue in Antalya, Türkiye, on Saturday, they expressed disappointment that a proposal to include the tripling of adaptation finance as a separate agenda item had not been adopted due to a lack of consensus among participating countries.
Although discussions on the issue are continuing under existing agenda items, no clear agreement has emerged on the scale of financing, funding sources, timelines or implementation arrangements, they said in a press release.
The representatives urged COP31 to deliver a concrete roadmap for tripling adaptation finance, backed by measurable targets, transparent funding arrangements and a strong accountability framework.
They also called on the conference to move beyond political promises and become a platform for implementation and accountability.
The press conference, titled “Implementing the Paris Agreement and Ensuring the Fulfilment of Global Climate Finance Commitments for Climate-Vulnerable Communities”, was held at 9:00am local time at Press Conference Room 2, Area D4, on November 14.
It was jointly organised by COAST Foundation of Bangladesh, the Movement for Advancing Understanding of Sustainability and Mutuality (MAUSAM) of India, and LEADERS Bangladesh.
Speakers included Soumya Dutta of MAUSAM, India; M A Hasan of COAST Foundation, Bangladesh; Prayas Adhikari of People’s Movement for Climate Justice, Nepal; Thilak Kariyawasam of FIAN, Sri Lanka; Ajay Kumar Jha of PAIRVI, India; and Mohan Kumar Mondal of LEADERS Bangladesh.
The speakers stressed that developed countries must fulfil their climate finance obligations under Article 9.1 of the Paris Agreement, based on equity, historical responsibility and their respective economic capacities.
They also urged major emitting countries to align their Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) with the 1.5°C temperature goal, rapidly reduce greenhouse gas emissions and ensure a fast, orderly and equitable transition away from fossil fuels.
The representatives further demanded new and additional, adequate, predictable and grant-based funding to address Loss and Damage caused by climate change.
They said vulnerable countries and affected communities must have direct access to climate finance through simplified, transparent and responsive procedures to ensure that assistance reaches those who need it most.
Speaking at the event, Soumya Dutta of India said South Asian countries were suffering massive losses from climate-related disasters, particularly floods that frequently crossed national borders.
Despite billions of dollars in losses, the grants announced remained grossly inadequate, exposing serious gaps in humanitarian assistance and climate finance, he said, calling for stronger regional cooperation and effective financial support.
Prayas Adhikari of Nepal said the existing climate finance system continued to reflect colonial power structures and control.
While countries in the Global South faced increasing climate-related losses and displacement, complicated funding procedures prevented them from accessing the finance they needed. He called for dismantling these barriers to ensure adequate, timely and direct financial support.
Thilak Kariyawasam of Sri Lanka pointed out that climate finance commitments rarely translated into meaningful assistance for vulnerable communities.
Displaced people and communities lacking access to basic healthcare remained underserved, he said, stressing the need for simplified funding mechanisms that could deliver direct and timely support at the grassroots level.
Ajay Kumar Jha of India said the Asia-Pacific region faced a climate finance gap exceeding US$820 billion, while more than 80 per cent of available funding was concentrated in East Asia.
South Asia received a disproportionately small share, he said, arguing that equitable, adequate and directly accessible climate finance was essential for vulnerable countries.
Mohan Kumar Mondal of Bangladesh said climate-induced displacement should receive priority in Loss and Damage negotiations through dedicated financing.
He stressed that planned relocation must protect people’s human rights, safety and dignity, adding that stronger regional cooperation and effective funding mechanisms were necessary to turn international commitments into action.
M A Hasan of Bangladesh said developed countries had a legal obligation to provide climate finance under Article 9.1 of the Paris Agreement, describing it as an obligation rather than charity.
Despite continuing disagreements at COP31 over financing responsibilities and sources, the position remained clear: private finance could not replace developed countries’ obligations to provide public climate finance, he said.