Thunberg at protest – climate finance summit ended with no pledges

“The financial system must become more efficient and fairer,” French President Emmanuel Macron said on Friday. He also called on the governments of the US, China and several European countries to also participate in a carbon tax on shipping. “An international tax only works if everyone participates.” German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, among others, spoke out for more processing of raw materials in the countries where they were mined. It is important “that not everything that is pulled from the ground is transported, and that the little that is needed is pulled from the rocks somewhere in the world,” he said.

The tax on shipping is a “predominant proposal”. However, the interests of island states must be taken into account, some of which can only be reached by ship over long distances, for example in Oceania. Topics of discussion at the summit also included a pause in debt service if a country is hit by a climate catastrophe and funds for climate protection in poorer countries. Macron invited to help countries particularly affected by climate change. Austria was represented on Thursday by Minister of Economic Affairs Martin Kocher (ÖVP).

Climate activists protested
Climate activists criticized the lack of progress. For example, the Swede Greta Thunberg called for the exit from the financing of oil and gas. The rich countries and their banks should fund the transition from fossil fuels. Thunberg and other activists formed a human dollar sign on the Place de la République in Paris.