Cornish charity says G7 pledges on climate change are 'underwhelming'
Disaster relief charity Shelterbox says people affected by climate-related incidents need help now
A Cornish based charity has described the pledges made on climate change at the G7 summit to be “underwhelming”.
Disaster relief charity Shelterbox, which is based in Truro, said that while commitments had been made to tackle climate change in the long term those affected by climate related incidents that the charity responds to need help now.
The G7 summit saw world leaders involved in meetings held in Carbis Bay last weekend and climate change was among the issues on the agenda.
ShelterBox Chief Executive Sanj Srikanthan said: “The G7 Summit may have ended, but our work is just beginning. With the focus firmly on emissions targets with horizons decades away, we have rapidly lost sight of the shore – the millions of people suffering the effects of climate change right now.
“In the three days of the summit, almost 70,000 homes could have been wiped out by climate-related extreme weather. On our current trajectory, that number will only increase.
“It’s disappointing that there were no new commitments to tackling climate change and its impact on vulnerable communities. We need to go to COP 26 with a renewed call to support families with emergency shelter after disaster, as well as longer-term projects to build more sustainable, durable homes and livelihoods that can weather the coming storm.
“As long as the climate crisis continues to wipe out homes through drought, flooding, wildfires and extreme storms, ShelterBox will continue to support families who are on the front line of the destruction.”
ShelterBox Chief Executive, Sanj Srikanthan
The charity had been using the run-up to the G7 summit in Cornwall to highlight that if extreme weather events continue at the current rate the world could lose 8.35million homes a year between now and 2040.
“When we think of climate change and habitat loss, we tend to think of the natural world first – polar bears on melting ice caps, or forests in flames.
“Those things are important, but we must recognise that increasingly extreme weather is having a devastating impact on people too. It is causing irreversible damage, robbing families of homes, livelihoods and loved ones.
“ShelterBox provides essential shelter aid to help people rebuild their lives and repair their homes. Last year we supported families with almost 28,000 emergency shelters. Each of these homes is a starting point for them to rebuild and recover, but the need is still overwhelming. The number of displaced people is growing at a startling rate every year, and there is an unprecedented need for emergency shelter around the world.”
ShelterBox Chief Executive, Sanj Srikanthan