Gillian Martin

Recognising that “communities in the Global South, who have contributed least to global warming, are being hit hardest by the impacts of the climate crisis”, £540,000 in funding will be awarded to nine Latin American organisations supporting indigenous groups.

This will be used to preserve forests and lakes in the Andes, support the needs of marginalised groups, including women, and protect local ancestral knowledge, culture and language at risk of being lost due to migration forced by climate change.

It includes:

• £150,000 grant funding through the Climate Justice Fund to support a UN special rapporteur on climate change and human rights
• £100,000 funding to Regions4 to deliver a pilot project aimed at helping a community in the Global South reduce its vulnerability against climate impacts such as extreme weather or food and water insecurity and tackle inequalities.

Announcing the funding at the COP30 UN Climate Summit in Brazil, Climate Action Secretary Gillian Martin said: “The injustice at the heart of the global climate crisis is why Scotland became the first country in the world to establish a Climate Justice Fund more than a decade ago and why we have led the way in being the first Global North country to commit funding to address loss and damage.  

“The impacts of climate change are already being felt by communities across the globe – and this funding from the Scottish government will make a real difference to support those who have done the least to cause the climate crisis but are feeling its effects the most acutely.

“It also underlines our commitment to advancing human rights as the impacts of climate change are felt by communities across the globe.

“At COP30, I have advocated for a stronger role for devolved governments in international climate processes and policies. I have also amplified the voices of countries in the Global South – through Scotland’s role as Regions4 President and Under2 co-chair – and we will continue to play our part in tackling the climate crisis here in Scotland and across the world.

“Scotland is also taking action domestically to help ensure we reach our net zero targets. Our recently published draft Climate Change Plan sets out over 150 actions to reduce emissions up to 2040 across different sectors, and is the first climate plan in the UK to set out the costs and benefits of policies.”