We are excited and grateful for the recent news of Canada’s commitment to increasing its support for people around the world affected by a changing climate.
At the G7 meeting held in mid-June, Prime Minister Trudeau announced that Canada would double the amount of money it provides to developing countries for climate finance, including support for vulnerable people to adapt to the effects of climate change they are already experiencing.
“We are confident this support will have a tremendous impact on the lives of millions of people around the world, particularly small-scale farmers,” says Canadian Foodgrains Bank executive director Andy Harrington. He notes that although small-scale farmers have contributed little to climate change, they are some of the people most-affected by it, including things like drought and flash flooding.
He also notes that “while a greater percentage of this funding will be in the form of grants, we encourage further commitments to expand their use.”
Grants enable countries to implement their own adaptation plans without the burden of needing to repay a loan, and help to set them up for success further along down the road.
This announcement is the result of years of advocacy work. Over the last several years, people in the Foodgrains Bank network have sent more than 25,000 postcards to members of Parliament, met with MPs, written hundreds of letters, and engaged with elected officials through social media.
For Harrington, the announcement is a solid example of how a network of people committed to change can make a difference.
“We’re grateful for everyone who raised their voice in some way over the past several years in support of small-scale farmers around the world,” says Harrington. “When we speak together with a unified voice, we can become a powerful force for change. This is a clear example where our collective voices were heard by those in power, listened to, and acted upon.”
