The First Minister announced new clean energy investments for Malawi, Zambia and Rwanda at COP28.
Speaking at the Under2 Coalition General Assembly, the First Minister confirmed funding for two initiatives to provide affordable and clean energy through the Scottish Government’s International Development Fund.
Operating theatre service KidsOR is to receive £324,900 for solar energy installation at 15 children’s operating theatres across Malawi, Zambia, and Rwanda to reduce carbon emissions and improve power reliability. The Scottish Government will also provide £250,000 to help people in Zambia and Rwanda access electricity and clean cooking methods through Sustainable Energy for All, an international organisation working in partnership with the UN with private and public sector support.
The First Minister said:
“Malawi, Zambia and Rwanda are key partner countries for Scotland’s international development efforts. As a country that has long benefitted from the industrialisation which has contributed to the current climate crisis, it is only right that Scotland contributes its fair share to support countries that have been disproportionately impacted by its consequences, and ensure we can meet the aims of the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals together.”
The Scottish Government has also pledged an additional £2 million to help marginalised communities cope with climate change.
Speaking at a COP28 panel discussion with delegates from Bangladesh, Sierra Leone and France, and a youth representative from Argentina, the First Minister announced the latest funding allocations which will fulfil the commitment to treble the Climate Justice Fund to £36 million over the course of this Parliament. The Climate Justice Fund aims to help those who suffer the most from climate change, especially in the Global South, and to include their voices in the global policy debates.
The funding will go to C40 Cities, a global network of mayors committed to halving their fair share of emissions by 2030, and GiveDirectly, a direct-funding charity supporting communities in Malawi with the impacts of climate-induced loss and damage.
Read more about the announcements below:
Scottish Government invests in clean energy at COP28
First Minister announces additional funding for Inclusive climate action