As international delegates prepare for the COP31 climate summit in Antalya, Luxembourg’s climate movement and youth representatives are ramping up calls for tangible action in climate finance.
According to Votum Klima, the time for vague promises is over, and countries must now put real money on the table to address the intensifying climate crisis.
Action Solidarité Tiers Monde, a member of Votum Klima, argues that Luxembourg should contribute €600 million annually to international climate financing.
David Hoffmann from the organisation points out that current contributions are still far below that target, at approximately €64 million per year, and stresses that insufficient investment now will lead to even greater costs in the future. If countries do not invest, mitigate and adapt now, the higher costs will rise in the future, because climate damages are growing and the crisis is intensifying.
Votum Klima remains sceptical about placing the burden of climate financing on private investment, highlighting that such funding is rarely profitable in the areas where it is most needed.
Many essential adaptation projects – such as ecosystem restoration and resilient agriculture not reliant on high-tech solutions – lack financial returns, especially in vulnerable and low-income countries, where the risks for investors are extremely high.
Hoffmann also criticised the government for failing to follow through on its decade-old commitment to publicly disclose how much state aid still supports fossil fuels and to set a timeline for phasing these subsidies out. He calls for urgent action to finally deliver on these commitments.
Luxembourg’s climate youth delegates from the National Youth Council (Jugendrot) are also demanding a reallocation of state subsidies away from fossil fuels and towards preparing for climate change. Delegate Josephine Loschetter argues that government funds should be used to reduce risks and to encourage further private investment in climate adaptation, especially in countries most in need.
Unlike Votum Klima, the youth delegates believe there is still significant potential to attract private investment to climate adaptation if the right incentives are in place.
The youth representatives are also calling for revenues from the EU’s carbon border adjustment mechanism to be funnelled into climate finance for countries unable to afford their own adaptation measures.
In addition, they urge Luxembourg to equip schools with solar panels and heat pumps. Alexander Feil, one of the youth delegates, notes that their own research identified only a few high schools in Luxembourg, such as the Athenée and the European School, that currently have solar panels installed, while many others do not.
Finally, the climate youth delegates are pushing for greater opportunities for young people to participate in shaping climate policy. Ahead of COP31 in Antalya, both Votum Klima and the youth delegates have published detailed position papers outlining their demands.
The youth delegates’ position paper can be accessed online for more details on their proposals.
