Only 3% of International Climate Aid Goes to Transitioning Communities: 'This is Absurd'
The world's response to climate change is increasingly being seen as a means to appease investors rather than address the plight of workers and communities caught in the transition away from polluting industries. A new report by ActionAid reveals that less than 3% of international aid aimed at reducing carbon emissions supports just transition projects, which prioritize the needs of workers and communities.
The analysis, released ahead of major United Nations climate negotiations in Brazil, found that out of nearly 650 approved projects financed by the world's two major multilateral climate funds, only one in 50 met the criteria for a "just transition." This translates to just $630 million spent on such projects over more than a decade, a tiny fraction compared to the billions of dollars invested in polluting industries.
"These projects aren't doing nearly enough to reassure people that they don't have to make that choice," said Teresa Anderson, ActionAid's global climate justice lead. "People are being forced to choose between a safe job and a secure job and a safe planet."
The lack of consideration for workers and communities poses both ethical and practical questions for climate action. In one example cited by Anderson, developers in Bangladesh implemented a project that encouraged farmers to plant mango crops instead of methane-heavy rice without consulting seasonal workers or the mostly female workers who processed rice into local food items.
"The project didn't map all the people that were directly or indirectly involved with those farming activities," she said. "Had they consulted workers, the developers might have also realized that because mangoes only have one harvest a year – rice has three – the project would not be economically viable 'before it turned out to be an economic disaster.'"
ActionAid is calling for major reforms, including trillions of dollars in grant-based climate finance for global south countries and the overhaul of the Green Climate Fund's principles to prioritize labor and justice. The organization also demands that wealthy nations commit to a new "Belém Action Mechanism" under the program to flesh out actionable plans for just transition-aligned projects.
"The lack of consideration for workers and communities is simply absurd," said Anderson. "We need to see action, not just words. The time for shortcuts is over; we need to prioritize justice in climate action."
The world's response to climate change is increasingly being seen as a means to appease investors rather than address the plight of workers and communities caught in the transition away from polluting industries. A new report by ActionAid reveals that less than 3% of international aid aimed at reducing carbon emissions supports just transition projects, which prioritize the needs of workers and communities.
The analysis, released ahead of major United Nations climate negotiations in Brazil, found that out of nearly 650 approved projects financed by the world's two major multilateral climate funds, only one in 50 met the criteria for a "just transition." This translates to just $630 million spent on such projects over more than a decade, a tiny fraction compared to the billions of dollars invested in polluting industries.
"These projects aren't doing nearly enough to reassure people that they don't have to make that choice," said Teresa Anderson, ActionAid's global climate justice lead. "People are being forced to choose between a safe job and a secure job and a safe planet."
The lack of consideration for workers and communities poses both ethical and practical questions for climate action. In one example cited by Anderson, developers in Bangladesh implemented a project that encouraged farmers to plant mango crops instead of methane-heavy rice without consulting seasonal workers or the mostly female workers who processed rice into local food items.
"The project didn't map all the people that were directly or indirectly involved with those farming activities," she said. "Had they consulted workers, the developers might have also realized that because mangoes only have one harvest a year – rice has three – the project would not be economically viable 'before it turned out to be an economic disaster.'"
ActionAid is calling for major reforms, including trillions of dollars in grant-based climate finance for global south countries and the overhaul of the Green Climate Fund's principles to prioritize labor and justice. The organization also demands that wealthy nations commit to a new "Belém Action Mechanism" under the program to flesh out actionable plans for just transition-aligned projects.
"The lack of consideration for workers and communities is simply absurd," said Anderson. "We need to see action, not just words. The time for shortcuts is over; we need to prioritize justice in climate action."
. Like, what's the point of reducing carbon emissions if you're still gonna leave workers and communities high and dry? These projects are like a drop in the ocean compared to the billions invested in polluting industries 
. It's not just about the money tho, it's also about listening to people's needs and concerns 
. I mean, who gets consulted on these projects anyway? The devs might've been blind to the economic viability of their project, but what about the livelihoods of those workers? We need to prioritize justice in climate action, not just some feel-good PR 
.
its like they wanna keep polluting just 4 the sake of it & leave the poor communities 2 deal w/ the mess afterwards climate change is real & its not goin away, so we need 2 get our act together ASAP 
Come on, world! Can't you see what's going on here? 
And let's talk about this "just transition" nonsense... if it's not done right, it's basically a recipe for disaster. We can't keep putting people in harm's way while pretending we're doing them favors. 
. Meanwhile, billions of dollars are being spent on projects that have no bearing on the actual issue at hand 
. It's just so absurd.
. We can't just sit back and watch as entire ecosystems are destroyed or people are forced to choose between a safe job and a secure one 
. Climate change is a human rights issue, not just an environmental problem 
. We need to see real reform and commitment from governments and corporations if we're going to make any progress on this issue 
.
... 3% of international climate aid going to supporting transitioning communities? That's like a joke, right? 
The fact that only $630 million was spent on these projects over a decade is mind-boggling.
$630 million over 10 years? It's like, come on! 
The fact that most projects don't even involve workers and communities in their planning is just ridiculous. I mean, who does that? It's not just about throwing some cash at a problem, we need to make sure that everyone who gets affected by these changes has a safety net. And what's with the lack of consultation? Like, did the devs in Bangladesh even think about how the project would affect the people who grew and processed the rice?! 
. It's like they're more worried about pleasing investors than supporting communities affected by the transition away from polluting industries. 3% is a tiny fraction, like, what even is that? 
It just goes to show that we need major reforms and more grant-based climate finance for global south countries. We can't keep pretending that just talking about it is enough 
. And honestly, the examples they gave from Bangladesh are super concerning - it's like, basic human rights aren't even being considered here 
. We need to do better, and we need to do it now 
It's been over 10 years and only $630 million has been spent on projects that actually help workers and communities. That's like throwing them a bone and saying "good luck". 
. We need more support and action not just words and promises 
. It's so frustrating when people are forced to choose between their job and the planet 
We can't keep saying we care about climate justice while doing nothing to support workers and communities who are on the frontlines of this fight. Justice in climate action is not just words, it's tangible actions that benefit people, not just polluters 
.
. How are we supposed to trust anyone when it's clear no one cares about the people affected?
. It's time for major reforms and trillions of dollars in grant-based climate finance. And while we're at it, can we please overhaul those Green Climate Fund principles to prioritize labor and justice? I'm so sick of this "absurd" situation 
It's not like we're talking about a simple change of crop here. We're talking about people's livelihoods.
! 3% is crazy low, think about all the people who are being forced to choose between their job and the planet