Photo by: Bloomberg
The failure of rich countries to honour their $100-billion-a-year climate-finance commitments is likely to be a key theme as world leaders converge on Glasgow, Scotland, for the COP26 climate talks. Developing countries, including South Africa, will want far stronger guarantees that money will be made available not only for mitigation, but also for adaptation and to protect the livelihoods of workers and communities linked to fossil fuel value-chains, including those South African firms and workers involved in coal transportation. Unless stronger promises are made and immediately kept, mistrust will grow, further emboldening sceptical politicians and coal incumbents to resist the transition. Photograph: Bloomberg