Breach of promise instead of a commitment to climate protection

Welthungerhilfe and terre des hommes criticise draft budget for 2010

Children at a standpipe. © Maedje(16.12.2009) Welthungerhilfe and terre des hommes are criticising the draft budget for 2010 that has been presented today in the German federal cabinet as a breach of promise. Contrary to the pious statements of federal chancellor, Angela Merkel, the draft budget does not contain a clear commitment to funding the worldwide fight against climate change and poverty.  

Dr. Wolfgang Jamann, Welthungerhilfe's Secretary General, comments: "The planned 67 million Euro increase in the budget of the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) to 5.881 billion Euros means a growth of only 1.2 percent, and therefore virtually nil real growth. The Federal Development Minister, Dirk Niebel, had himself demanded additional resources of at least 300 million. However, roughly an additional 1.7 billion Euros would be needed in 2010 and in each of the following years just to meet international obligations under the EU's plan for the phased scaling up of Official Development Assistance (ODA)". He added that this meant a loss of international credibility for Germany in view of the climate crisis and the worsening poverty situation.

"The federal government must urgently explain what has happened to the 420 million Euros of new and additional financial support pledged for climate protection measures in developing countries that was promised for 2010 at the Copenhagen Climate Confeence. In the BMZ budget there is only 23 million of truly new funding, the rest covers existing G8 undertakings on global food security. And, contrary to the Federal Chancellor's promise in Brussels, not a single additional cent is provided compared to the previous year for Germany's international climate protection initiative. This means Germany is further than ever from taking a lead role in terms of climate and  development policies", explains Danuta Sacher, the CEO of terre des hommes.

As regards development aid's share of gross national product, at 0.38 percent Germany is only in 14th place amongst the 22 largest donor countries. The German federal government has made a commitment to increase this percentage to 0.51 percent next year, and to 0.7 percent by 2015.