Brandon Wu Profile picture
Director of Policy & Campaigns at @ActionAidUSA and head of international climate justice work. Opinions expressed are my own.
Nov 3, 2023 13 tweets 4 min read
THREAD: Why are we so suspicious of the World Bank as “interim” host for the L&D Fund? Because once you set up a bureaucracy it is no simple matter to get rid of it and move to something else. The World Bank's own Climate Investment Funds (CIFs) offer a valuable lesson. #TC5 🧵👇 CIFs were established in 2008 by developed countries & MDBs. CSOs & developing countries were concerned about CIFs operating outside of #UNFCCC governance. In response CIFs have sunset clause in their governance frameworks. See WRI's Future of the Funds wri.org/research/futur…
Sep 22, 2023 11 tweets 3 min read
Hopefully you're seeing all the #WBOutOfLDF tweets today as the #LossAndDamage Ministerial meeting is set for 10am-1pm Eastern. Why is it so important for the new L&D Fund to be established as an independent entity and not be housed under the World Bank? Short thread 👇 Image First (1), as the graphic indicates, the WB has a bad track record and a credibility problem. It's a massive fossil fuel financier, has funded countless projects that have violated human rights, and has been an extremely difficult partner for the Green Climate Fund.
Nov 11, 2022 7 tweets 2 min read
The mishmash of climate policies Biden just talked about at #COP27 run the gamut from good to meh all the way to actually bad and harmful. What we all need to keep in mind is (1) what it all adds up to; (2) what he's not saying; (3) who wins and who loses. There are some good initiatives happening, but what it all adds up to is... not enough. Even if Biden is right & the US meets its 50% by 2030 emissions cut target, our #ClimateFairShare is 195%. Missing that means missing 1.5 without throwing other countries under the bus.
Oct 21, 2022 5 tweets 2 min read
This is a bold headline. Great to see US acknowledging the need for #LossAndDamage finance. But the crux of the matter is the actual provision of funds, to which the US remains staunchly opposed. msn.com/en-us/news/wor… Key line: "US negotiators at next month’s UN climate summit in Egypt are discouraging any explicit push for new aid or funding." Instead, they want to discuss "financial arrangements" framing that doesn't imply an actual obligation of developed countries to provide money.
Apr 4, 2022 11 tweets 3 min read
New #IPCC Working Group III report/Summary for Policymakers highlights equity and the need for finance to support action in developing countries. But US & developed countries watered down a lot in their ongoing attempts to shift responsibility to the Global South. (1/11) SPM paragraph D.3.2 includes the text “Equity remains a central element in the UN climate regime, notwithstanding shifts in differentiation between states over time and challenges in assessing fair shares.” (2/11)
Nov 13, 2021 8 tweets 4 min read
Already seeing articles blaming India for #COP26 "phase down" instead of "out" coal language. REALLY important to see full context here. The problem is not India; the problem is the US & rich countries refusing to couch fossil fuel phaseout in the context of global equity. 🧵 The text targets "unabated coal power and inefficient fossil fuel subsidies" which leaves GIANT loopholes for CCS (and "efficient" FF subsidies) as well as leaving out oil & gas entirely. India earlier suggested that it address ALL fossil fuels in an equitable manner. #COP26
Nov 18, 2020 9 tweets 3 min read
Why this article in the @washingtonpost massively understates the level of needed U.S. climate action, and places the burden squarely on the poorest countries in the world while leaving rich countries largely off the hook: a thread. washingtonpost.com/opinions/2020/… (1/9) The report that the article is based on says the U.S. needs to reduce emissions by 54-69% by 2030 to be “1.5°C compatible.” This is based on assumptions about emissions cuts that need to happen elsewhere in the world, to reach the global goal of limiting warming to 1.5°C. (2/9)
Dec 11, 2019 7 tweets 5 min read
So. We staged an action at #COP25 to call out rich countries for refusing to support people impacted by the climate crisis & lobbying for carbon markets that would allow them to continue business as usual (plus profits). And then #UNFCCC security went berserk. (1/?) #UNFCCC security literally forced us out a side door into the cold European winter & closed a heavy metal door behind us. We were escorted off the premises by Spanish police w/armored cars. All for telling the truth about the rich countries blocking any real action from #COP25.