Pope Francis has urged world leaders not to allow new financial support for countries affected by the climate crisis to worsen the debt crisis low-income countries face.
The call from the Pope was relayed by Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Parolin at the COP29 climate talks in Azerbaijan.
Negotiations are taking place at the summit on how to provide money to countries that have contributed least to causing the climate crisis but who face unaffordable bills to cope with its impacts.
The majority of this money, known as ‘international climate finance’, is provided as loans to countries on the frontline of the climate crisis. This is adding to the debt crisis many of the same countries are facing, with governments having to choose between paying for measures to tackle the climate crisis or paying large interest bills on debts.
