By Anthony Adongo Apubeo
Bolgatanga, Nov. 4, GNA – A new report by ActionAid International has revealed that less than three per cent of global climate finance supports “just transition” initiatives that prioritise workers, women, and local communities in addressing the climate crisis.
The report titled, “Climate Finance for a Just Transition: How the Finance Flows,” indicates that only one in every 50 projects funded by major climate finance mechanisms meaningfully promotes a fair and inclusive transition from polluting industries to greener livelihoods.
According to the report, data from the Green Climate Fund and the Climate Investment Funds show that out of the US$22.7 billion allocated for climate change mitigation globally, only US$630, representing just 2.8 per cent, equivalent to one dollar out of every 35, goes toward just transition (helping communities and workers shift sustainably to low-carbon economies).
ActionAid warns that this limited funding leaves frontline communities most affected by climate impacts without adequate support, thereby deepening inequalities and exposing them to harmful practices.
As global leaders prepare to gather in Belém, Brazil, for COP30, the organisation has called on governments and financiers to act decisively to coordinate and fund just transition efforts globally, ensuring that no one is left behind in the move toward a greener and fairer world.
Mr Arthur Larok, Secretary General of ActionAid International, commenting on the report, said the world urgently needed to take action to prevent climate breakdown but stressed that polluters should bear the cost and not vulnerable communities.
“Our new report shows that just transition approaches are seriously underfunded, and people’s needs are at the bottom of the priority list. If this continues, inequalities will deepen,” he said.
Ms Teresa Anderson, Global Lead on Climate Justice and Author of the report, said just transition approaches were essential to ensure that climate action did not worsen poverty or job insecurity.
“No one should have to choose between a secure job and a safe planet. Without just transition, climate action risks unintended harm and backlash,” she said.
With COP30 set to begin in Belém, ActionAid and its allies are calling for the establishment of a “Belém Action Mechanism” to coordinate global just transition efforts, promote shared learning, and support implementation.
“This is a critical opportunity for global climate action to evolve for the better. COP30 must deliver a global plan for just transition to support those on the frontlines,” Ms Anderson said.
The report also highlights the situation in parts of the Global South, including Brazil’s Amazon region, where deforestation and industrial agriculture continue to threaten lives and ecosystems.
Ms Jessica Siviero, Climate Justice Specialist at ActionAid Brazil, said the Amazon and the Cerrado were critical ecosystems sustaining life on Earth, and called for a global shift toward agroecological practices that protect both people and the planet.
In Ghana, ActionAid said the lack of investment in inclusive green transitions could worsen inequality and threaten livelihoods, especially among farmers, women, and young people in the Northern, Upper East, Upper West, and parts of the Ashanti regions.
These communities, the organisation noted, were already experiencing prolonged droughts, crop failures, and food insecurity linked to climate change and destructive practices such as illegal mining (galamsey).
Mr John Nkaw, Country Director of ActionAid Ghana, said the report exposed a critical gap in climate finance that directly affected local communities.
“Farmers, women, and young people are bearing the brunt of climate impacts without the support needed to transition sustainably,” he said.
He called for investment in renewable energy, agroecology, and green jobs that protect livelihoods and ensure fairness and justice in Ghana’s climate response.
GNA
Edited by Caesar Abagali/Benjamin Mensah