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WASHINGTON (AFP) – Experts and aid groups called Thursday for the United States to help poor countries deal with the effects of global warming, as Congress considers key climate change legislation.
Testifying before a Senate panel, humanitarian organizations called for US aid to help countries with "adaptation solutions" in response to the effects of climate change.
"Congress has a unique opportunity to invest in adaptation solutions today that will pay off both immediately and in the future," said David Waskow, climate change program director at Oxfam.
"We urge you to help ensure that at least three percent of the resources in comprehensive climate and energy legislation are devoted to adaptation efforts in vulnerable developing countries," he said.
Peter O'Driscoll, director of ActionAid USA said "there is no viable alternative to investing in climate adaptation: helping people, communities and entire countries face these consequences must be a central pillar of US foreign policy."
General Charles Wald, former deputy commander of US European Command, warned that serious climate change could pose a security threat.
"On the most basic level, climate change has the potential to create sustained natural and humanitarian disasters on a scale and at a frequency far beyond those we see today," he said.
"The consequences of these disasters will likely foster political instability where societal demands for the essentials of life exceed the capacity of governments to cope," Wald added.
The US House of Representatives adopted a major climate change bill in June, that called for a 17 percent reduction in greenhouse gases from 2005 levels by 2020.
The Senate is in the process of negotiating its own bill, but experts testifying Thursday warned that the current iteration does not provide sufficiently for poor countries struggling with climate change.
"I don't think that what's in the House negotiations gets us there yet," said Waskow.
WASHINGTON (AFP) – Experts and aid groups called Thursday for the United States to help poor countries deal with the effects of global warming, as Congress considers key climate change legislation.
Testifying before a Senate panel, humanitarian organizations called for US aid to help countries with "adaptation solutions" in response to the effects of climate change.
"Congress has a unique opportunity to invest in adaptation solutions today that will pay off both immediately and in the future," said David Waskow, climate change program director at Oxfam.
"We urge you to help ensure that at least three percent of the resources in comprehensive climate and energy legislation are devoted to adaptation efforts in vulnerable developing countries," he said.
Peter O'Driscoll, director of ActionAid USA said "there is no viable alternative to investing in climate adaptation: helping people, communities and entire countries face these consequences must be a central pillar of US foreign policy."
General Charles Wald, former deputy commander of US European Command, warned that serious climate change could pose a security threat.
"On the most basic level, climate change has the potential to create sustained natural and humanitarian disasters on a scale and at a frequency far beyond those we see today," he said.
"The consequences of these disasters will likely foster political instability where societal demands for the essentials of life exceed the capacity of governments to cope," Wald added.
The US House of Representatives adopted a major climate change bill in June, that called for a 17 percent reduction in greenhouse gases from 2005 levels by 2020.
The Senate is in the process of negotiating its own bill, but experts testifying Thursday warned that the current iteration does not provide sufficiently for poor countries struggling with climate change.
"I don't think that what's in the House negotiations gets us there yet," said Waskow.
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