The Graph of Climate Injustice

Oxfam’s “Bali blogger”, Karina Brisby reports back from the launch of the Graph of Injustice.

On the 10th anniversary of the Kyoto Protocol, Oxfam unveiled a huge “Graph of Climate Injustice”, directly outside the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Bali. You can see the highlights of the unveiling and presentation on YouTube.

Oxfam’s Senior Climate Change Researcher Kate Raworth, introduced the graph, outlined the significance of where the rich and high-polluting countries (known as Annex II) and the poorest countries (Least Developed Countries - LDCs) sat in relation to each other. By plotting countries’ per capita carbon emissions against their incomes per capita, the graph showed that while rich countries are most responsible for causing climate change, it is the least responsible and poorest countries who are having to bear the worst impact. You can see the graph’s full detail in this PDF

Ministers and delegates from Uganda, Tuvalu, Bangladesh and the Maldives also joined us today, to talk about the experiences of their people struggling to adapt to climate change. And, while their countries are far apart geographically, the delegates had a similar story to tell: they are all having to adapt at a much faster and bigger scale than rich countries, but without the resources and technology needed.

Adaptation finance would help developing countries plan and cope with the impacts of climate change, for example by improving shelter, introducing drought resistant crops, changing farming techniques to ensure stable food supplies, planting trees and helping communities find new ways to earn incomes without depending on the land. These are just a few of then many things need to be done.

Developing country officials and Oxfam want to see a commitment from rich countries for adequate adaptation financing for all developing countries (Oxfam estimates this will cost at least $50 billion year) as one key of outcomes of this conference. The Netherlands is one of the few rich countries which is actually honoring its obligations. Development Minister Bert Koenders urged the other rich countries to follow the Dutch lead by providing adaptation finance on top of their existing commitments to provide 0.7% of national income for meeting the United Nations Millennium Development Goals.

You can find out more about what Oxfam is demanding to be delivered on adaptation finance by reading our report.

Watch a video from today’s unveiling.