www.independent.co.uk Open in urlscan Pro
2a04:4e42:200::347  Public Scan

Form analysis
2 forms found in the DOM

POST

<form id="reg-lite-form" class="reg-form i-amphtml-form" target="_top" method="post" action-xhr="/internal-api/newsletter-component/submit/lite" verify-xhr="/internal-api/newsletter-component/verify" custom-validation-reporting="interact-and-submit"
  on="valid:AMP.setState({liteRegValid: true});invalid:AMP.setState({liteRegValid: false});submit-success:AMP.setState({ success: true })" novalidate="">
  <div [hidden]="success">
    <div class="sc-mwbru6-1 iAuvyH"><input class="newsletter-key" name="newsletters" type="hidden" readonly="" value="receiveClimate"><input name="regSourceNewsletter" type="hidden" readonly="" value="IND_Climate_Newsletter"><input
        name="regSourceSection" type="hidden" readonly="" value="News"><input name="regSourceMethod" type="hidden" readonly="" value="Article%2BSignpost">
      <div class="sc-lqqm6o-0 dFOSsy"><input type="text" id="reg-lite--form-email" name="_" class="not-logged-input is-pristine is-untouched"
          pattern="^(?=(.{1,64}@.{1,255}))([!#$%&amp;amp;'*+\-\/=?\^_`{|}~a-zA-Z0-9}]{1,64}(\.[!#$%&amp;amp;'*+\-\/=?\^_`{|}~a-zA-Z0-9]{0,}){0,})@((\[(25[0-5]|2[0-4][0-9]|[01]?[0-9][0-9]?)(\.(25[0-5]|2[0-4][0-9]|[01]?[0-9][0-9]?)){3}\])|([a-zA-Z0-9-]{1,63}(\.[a-zA-Z0-9-]{2,63}){1,}))$"
          required="" aria-controls="reg-lite--form-email-helper-text" aria-describedby="reg-lite--form-email-helper-text" placeholder="Email" value=""><label for="reg-lite--form-email"></label>
        <div class="error-text" visible-when-invalid="valueMissing" validation-for="reg-lite--form-email">Please enter a valid email address</div>
        <div class="error-text" visible-when-invalid="patternMismatch" validation-for="reg-lite--form-email">Please enter a valid email address</div>
        <div class="error-text" visible-when-invalid="customError" validation-for="reg-lite--form-email"></div>
      </div>
      <div class="sc-hav996-0 jMewHy sc-hav996-3 sc-mwbru6-2 iiKWbw cwDwew signup-btn lite-registration-submit form-submit"><button class="sc-hav996-2 eHaSMs form-submit" name="submitBtn" type="submit" disabled="" [disabled]="!liteRegValid"><span
            class="btn-text">SIGN UP</span><span class="sc-hav996-1 ctQBbf btn-loader"></span></button></div>
    </div>
    <div class="sc-76suco-1 kxJrUW newsletter__checkbox sc-mwbru6-3 kYLOIy" data-nosnippet=""><input type="checkbox" id="newsletter-checkbox" name="newsletters" value="receiveIndyOffers"><label for="newsletter-checkbox"
        class="sc-76suco-0 gJPuFP checkmark">I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our&nbsp;<a target="_blank" rel="noreferrer" href="/service/privacy-policy-a6184181.html">privacy notice</a></label>
    </div>
  </div><input type="hidden" name="^" data-action="signUpNewsletters">
  <div submit-success="true"><template type="amp-mustache">
      <div class="sc-z5n1ia-0 iHRfbq">
        <h2 data-nosnippet="" class="sc-z5n1ia-1 dnHnev">Thanks for signing up to the<br> <!-- -->Independent Climate<!-- --> email</h2>
      </div>
    </template></div>
  <div submit-error="true" data-nosnippet=""><template type="amp-mustache">
      <div class="sc-1sk658j-0 dVQBYa">{{ #verifyErrors }}<!-- -->{{ message }}<!-- -->{{ /verifyErrors }}<!-- -->{{ ^verifyErrors }}<!-- -->Something went wrong. Please try again later<!-- -->{{ /verifyErrors }}</div>
    </template></div>
</form>

POST

<form id="login-form" class="login-form i-amphtml-form" method="post" target="_top" action-xhr="/internal-api/user/login/commenting/submit" verify-xhr="/internal-api/user/login/verify" custom-validation-reporting="interact-and-submit"
  on="valid:AMP.setState({loginDisabled: false});invalid:AMP.setState({loginDisabled: true})" novalidate=""><input type="hidden" name="returnUrl" value="/climate-change/news/climate-disaster-debt-africa-world-bank-b2317573.html">
  <p class="sc-1krdwdi-5 jnuAzh">Log in</p>
  <div class="sc-1krdwdi-13 jUZKuh">
    <div class="sc-lqqm6o-0 dFOSsy"><input type="text" id="login-form-email" name="-" class="is-pristine is-untouched" required="" aria-controls="login-form-email-helper-text" aria-describedby="login-form-email-helper-text"
        placeholder="Enter your email"><label for="login-form-email">Email address</label>
      <div class="error-text" visible-when-invalid="customError" validation-for="login-form-email"></div>
    </div>
  </div>
  <div class="sc-1krdwdi-13 jUZKuh">
    <div class="sc-lqqm6o-0 dFOSsy"><input type="password" id="login-form-password" name="password" class="sc-1krdwdi-8 dBLvkg input-password js-hideshowpassword is-pristine is-untouched" required="" aria-controls="login-form-password-helper-text"
        aria-describedby="login-form-password-helper-text" placeholder="Enter your password"><label for="login-form-password">Password</label>
      <div class="error-text" visible-when-invalid="customError" validation-for="login-form-password"></div>
    </div>
  </div>
  <div class="form-errors" submit-error="true">Email and password don't match</div>
  <div class="sc-hav996-0 jMewHy sc-hav996-3 sc-1krdwdi-10 iiKWbw jlsSeQ"><button class="sc-hav996-2 eHaSMs form-submit" name="submitBtn" type="submit" disabled="" [disabled]="loginDisabled"><span class="btn-text">Submit</span><span
        class="sc-hav996-1 ctQBbf btn-loader"></span></button></div>
  <div class="sc-1krdwdi-2 cGpeGh"><a href="/forgotten-password" class="sc-1krdwdi-3 heyMHJ">Forgotten your password?</a></div>
  <div class="sc-1krdwdi-11 kXhynb"></div>
  <p class="sc-1krdwdi-6 knXBdI">New to The Independent?</p><a id="registerLink" href="/register" class="sc-1krdwdi-9 kzFAjO">Register</a>
</form>

Text Content

Jump to content

UK EDITIONCHANGE

US EditionAsia EditionEdición en Español
Sign up to our newslettersSubscribe
{{indy.truncatedName}}
Log in / Register
Buxton Rise Up
SubscribeMenu

 * News
   * News
   * UK
   * US
   * World
   * UK Politics
   * Brexit
   * Health
   * Business
   * Science
   * Space
   * News Videos
 * Sport
   * Sport
   * Football
   * Formula 1
   * Rugby Union
   * Cricket
   * Tennis
   * Boxing
   * UFC
   * Cycling
   * Golf
   * Sport Videos
 * Voices
   * Voices
   * Editorials
   * Letters
   * Tom Peck
   * John Rentoul
   * Mary Dejevsky
   * Andrew Grice
   * Marie Le Conte
   * Sean O’Grady
 * Culture
   * Culture
   * Film
   * TV & Radio
   * Music
   * Games
   * Books
   * Art
   * Photography
   * Theatre & Dance
   * Culture Videos
 * Lifestyle
   * Lifestyle
   * Shopping
   * Tech
   * Money
   * Food & Drink
   * Fashion
   * Love & Sex
   * Women
   * Health & Families
   * Royal Family
   * Motoring
   * Electric Vehicles
   * Lifestyle Videos
 * Travel
   * Travel
   * UK Hotel Reviews
   * News & Advice
   * Simon Calder
   * UK
   * Europe
   * North America
   * Asia
   * Inspiration
   * City Guides
   * Sustainable Travel
 * Premium
   * Premium
   * Editorials
   * Voices
   * Long Reads
   * Politics Explained
   * News Analysis
   * Today’s Edition

More
Best
 * Advisor
 * Home & Garden
 * Tech
 * Fashion & Beauty
 * Food & Drink
 * Kids
 * Books
 * Travel & Outdoors
 * Sports & Fitness
 * Deals

Climate
 * News
 * Voices
 * Sustainable Living
 * Explained
 * Climate Videos
 * Electric Vehicles
 * SGI

TV
 * Behind The Headlines
 * On The Ground
 * Decomplicated
 * You Ask The Questions
 * Binge Or Bin
 * Millennial Love
 * Watch on your TV

 * Today’s Edition
 * Crosswords & Puzzles
 * Most Commented
 * Newsletters
 * Ask Me Anything
 * Virtual Events
 * Courses
 * Vouchers
 * Compare
 * Indy100


THANK YOU FOR REGISTERING

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be
automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in


ClimateNews


COUNTRIES FACING MOST CLIMATE DISASTERS ALREADY ‘DROWNING IN DEBT’

NEARLY TWO-THIRDS OF MOST CLIMATE VULNERABLE COUNTRIES SLASHING SPENDING ON
VITAL PUBLIC SERVICES

Stuti Mishra
2 days ago
Comments

ARTICLE BOOKMARKED

Find your bookmarks in your Independent Premium section, under my profile

Don't show me this message again
✕
✕
Close

Cyclone Freddy: Fast-flowing mudflow tears through Malawi village during storm


SIGN UP TO THE INDEPENDENT CLIMATE EMAIL FOR THE LATEST ADVICE ON SAVING THE
PLANET


GET OUR FREE CLIMATE EMAIL


Please enter a valid email address
Please enter a valid email address

SIGN UP
I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The
Independent. Read our privacy notice


THANKS FOR SIGNING UP TO THE
INDEPENDENT CLIMATE EMAIL

{{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something
went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }}

Most countries that are vulnerable to climate disasters are drowning in debt,
which is hindering their capacity to effectively respond to climate-related
emergencies, a new study has revealed.

The research conducted by international charity ActionAid, released on the
sidelines of the World Bank and International Monetary Fund (IMF) Spring
Meetings, revealed that 93 per cent of countries in the Global South that face
most impact from a warming planet are also under significant debt distress.




Nine highly climate-sensitive countries, including Somalia, Malawi, and
Mozambique, are already reeling under debt distress, the report noted. Forty
countries highly susceptible to climate crisis are at moderate or high risk of
debt distress. Only four countries facing climate disasters are at low risk of
debt distress, the study said.



As World Bank shareholders gathered in Washington for their annual spring
meeting on Monday, discussions on economic policy options for Global South
countries took centre stage.



This report sounded the alarm for urgent need for debt cancellation for climate
vulnerable countries and a radical transformation of global debt management to
address this pressing crisis.


RECOMMENDED

 * The government must understand that migration and the climate crisis go hand
   in hand
 * World Bank says recoveries in Asian economies losing steam
 * Fears that Antarctic Ocean is headed for ‘Day After Tomorrow’ disaster moment

"The debt crisis and climate crisis are inextricably linked, creating a vicious
cycle that traps vulnerable countries in a downward spiral," warned David
Archer, ActionAid International's head of programmes and influencing.



Malawi, which recently bore the brunt of cyclone Freddy, displacing over half a
million people and causing widespread destruction, served as a glaring example
of a nation weighed down by debt.

"Our government is being forced to allocate limited resources to repay old
loans, leaving us ill-equipped to rebuild and recover from cyclone Freddy.
Climate disasters are becoming more frequent and devastating, with women and
girls bearing the brunt of the impact,” Pamela Kuwali, country director at
ActionAid Malawi, said.



The study also revealed that 38 out of 63 most climate vulnerable countries are
slashing spending on vital public services to service their debt, jeopardising
their ability to effectively respond to climate disasters.

Around 42 other African countries are at high risk of debt distress due to the
impacts of climate change and other factors. Another example of the debt
distress affecting climate adaptation is Ghana, which defaulted on its $28.4bn
external debt in December.



John Nkaw, country director at ActionAid Ghana, pointed out that Ghana is forced
to spend “more on debt servicing than on education and health”, perpetuating a
destructive cycle where the country lacked the necessary resources to invest in
climate adaptation, resilience, and disaster preparedness.

“We know that Ghana will need about 60 per cent of its debt cancelled if it is
to return to a path of sustainability – therefore we demand a proportion of debt
cancellation,” Mr Nkaw said.



“If freed of debt, we would be able to strengthen small and medium sized
businesses, invest in renewable sources of energy, smallholder farmers and
agroecology. But these choices aren’t an option.”

People wade through flood waters caused by last week's heavy rains caused by
Tropical Cyclone Freddy in Phalombe, southern Malawi

(AP)

Another factor compounding the debt distress is that the countries are coerced
into repaying their debts in foreign currencies, predominantly US dollars, which
compels them to invest in extractive industries like fossil fuels and
large-scale industrial agriculture, exacerbating environmental degradation and
worsening climate change impacts.

Mr Archer pointed the finger at the World Bank, IMF, and private banks based in
wealthy countries for hindering climate progress by imposing stringent
conditions on debt repayments for climate-vulnerable countries.

"These debts are entrapping countries in a detrimental cycle, forcing them to
cut public spending and invest in activities that harm the climate just to repay
their debts," said Mr Archer.


RECOMMENDED

 * World’s largest carbon-sucking factory starts operation in Iceland
 * ‘The climate crisis is a reality’: Africa’s summer of extremes
 * Against the odds: The fight to save sea turtles in Ras Baridi

The report called for immediate debt cancellation for countries most vulnerable
to climate change and a comprehensive overhaul of global debt management to
break free from this harmful entanglement.



International financial institutions are facing growing calls to make finances
available to poor countries facing increasing pressure due to climate crisis.
Countries like Pakistan, which are under critical debt burden and suffered
devastating floods last year, have demanded debt relief in the past.
Organisations are calling for urgent action to close the funding gap amid the
ongoing high level meetings.




MORE ABOUT

ActionaidIMFWorld BankClimate crisisdisasterDebt


JOIN OUR COMMENTING FORUM

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see
their replies

Comments


1/2COUNTRIES FACING MOST CLIMATE DISASTERS ALREADY ‘DROWNING IN DEBT’


COUNTRIES FACING MOST CLIMATE DISASTERS ALREADY ‘DROWNING IN DEBT’

People wade through flood waters caused by last week's heavy rains caused by
Tropical Cyclone Freddy in Phalombe, southern Malawi

Copyright 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.


COUNTRIES FACING MOST CLIMATE DISASTERS ALREADY ‘DROWNING IN DEBT’

Men transport their salvaged belongings in Chiradzulu, southern Malawi

AP








✕


SUBSCRIBE TO INDEPENDENT PREMIUM TO BOOKMARK THIS ARTICLE

Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later?
Start your Independent Premium subscription today.

Subscribe
Already subscribed? Log in


MOST POPULAR

April payment dates for benefits, pensions and cost of living top ups
Apprentice contestant claims Alan Sugar ‘went psycho’ and stormed out
Walmart removes T-shirt from store after shopper finds ‘hidden word’
Scientology filmmaker ‘surprised’ Tom Cruise hasn’t had a ‘reckoning’
Exact date £301 cost of living payment will be sent to 1 million Brits


POPULAR VIDEOS

Moment Elon Musk turns tables on BBC interviewer over ‘hate’ tweets
Ed Sheeran surprises busker singing his song on subway platform
Woman who gives out free meals in tears after allotment is ‘destroyed’

Gary Lineker shows support for charity allotment after it was vandalised
Howard Stern has just one question for conservatives boycotting Bud Light
Conservative deletes tweet after asking Twitter to choose between her and Lizzo
– and it backfiring massively
Flat Earthers are using a 2008 Hillary Clinton speech as evidence the planet
isn't round
Vandals sickeningly destroy allotment of woman growing food to feed those in
need




SPONSORED FEATURES

April payment dates for benefits, pensions and cost of living top ups
Apprentice contestant claims Alan Sugar ‘went psycho’ and stormed out
Scientology filmmaker ‘surprised’ Tom Cruise hasn’t had a ‘reckoning’
Rupert Murdoch, 92, told Jerry Hall he was divorcing her ‘in email’
Trump return in NYC to face James’ $250m business fraud lawsuit
Voucher Codes
Very Discount Code
Extra 20% off selected fashion and sportswear at Very
QVC discount code
At least 15% off beauty items at QVC
ao.com Discount Code
£10 off large kitchen appliances over £399 with this AO discount code
Samsung Discount Codes
25% off all orders & free next day delivery - Samsung student discount
Virgin Mobile Promo Codes
£50 cash with friend referrals at Virgin Mobile
Indy / Compare
Compare UK Broadband DealsCompare broadband packages side by side to find the
best deal for you
Cheap Broadband Deals in 2023Compare cheap broadband deals from providers with
fastest speed in your area
Fibre Broadband Deals April 2023All you need to know about fibre broadband
Best Apple iPhone Deals in the UK April 2023Compare iPhone contract deals and
get the best offer this April
Compare Mobile Phone DealsCompare the best mobile phone deals from the top
networks and brands


 * Get in touch
   * Contact us
   * 
 * Our Products
   * Subscribe
   * Register
   * Newsletters
   * Today’s Edition
   * Install our app
   * Archive
 * Other publications
   * International editions
   * Independent en Español
   * Independent Arabia
   * Independent Turkish
   * Independent Persian
   * Independent Urdu
   * Evening Standard
   * Novaya Gazeta
 * Extras
   * Advisor
   * Puzzles
   * All topics
   * Voucher codes
   * Compare
   * Independent Advertising
   * Syndication
   * Working at The Independent
 * Legal
   * Code of conduct and complaints
   * Contributors
   * Cookie policy
   * Privacy notice
   * Privacy settings
   * User policies
   * Modern Slavery Act




THANK YOU FOR REGISTERING

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be
automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in

Close

UK EDITIONCHANGE

US EditionAsia EditionEdición en Español
Subscribe
{{indy.truncatedName}}
Log in / Register

Buxton Rise Up
{{#items}}


{{#STAMPSMALL}}{{/STAMPSMALL}}{{#STAMPCLIMATE}}{{/STAMPCLIMATE}}{{#STAMPPREMIUM}}{{/STAMPPREMIUM}}{{TITLE}}{{#DESC}}{{DESC}}{{/DESC}}


   {{#children}}
 * {{title}}
   {{/children}}

{{/items}}

 * Today’s Edition
 * Crosswords & Puzzles
 * Most Commented
 * Newsletters
 * Ask Me Anything
 * Virtual Events
 * Courses
 * Vouchers
 * Compare
 * Indy100


Close the sidebar
✕

Log in

Email address

Password

Email and password don't match
Submit
Forgotten your password?


New to The Independent?

Register

Or if you would prefer:

SIGN IN WITH GOOGLE

Want an ad-free experience?

View offers

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy notice and Terms of
service apply.

Hi {{indy.fullName}}

 * My Independent Premium
 * Account details
 * Help centre
 * Logout

Close the sidebar