Abbey Abramson

  Social funds and relief for climate change Social Funds, Relief, and the Politics of Disaster Why this chapter matters When a cyclone hits or monsoon floods surge , the need for immediate aid is critical. Picture a mother, clutching her child, waiting on a flooded rooftop for tarps, safe water, and cash for food or transport. Her resilience demonstrates why speed and integrity in disaster relief are crucial. Governments and aid agencies must act quickly. However, speed without safeguards can lead to favoritism, kickbacks, and 'ghost' beneficiaries. Help gets diverted, trust erodes, and next time, fewer heed the siren's call (IFRC, 2025). Relief leakage and procurement abuse are not victimless. They lead to hunger, untreated illness, polluted wells, and unsafe shelter. Audits and watchdog research from the Philippines and Bangladesh, along with open contracting reforms, demonstrate both the failures of relief and how social funds and rapid contracting can maintain integri...

  Climate adaptation funding and projects The promise and the paradox Each year, governments and development partners announce billions for “resilience,” “adaptation,” and “green recovery.” Ideally, these funds should flow directly to river dikes, drains, elevated roads, early-warning sirens, cyclone shelters, mangrove belts, drought-resilient wells, and climate-proofed schools. In reality, significant funds are lost due to paperwork, padded contracts, or unfinished projects that fail during floods. The paradox: as climate hazards intensify, the integrity of public spending becomes even more crucial (IPCC, 2023). This chapter provides a roadmap for understanding and improving climate finance. It maps the ecosystem in developing countries, illustrates funding sources, and then pinpoints where integrity typically breaks down. The chapter equips readers with a citizen’s 'money trail' checklist, progressively tracing how funds are intended to flow and where they get stuck or diver...

  Climate Finance and Policy for Justice Climate finance for climate justice Climate finance is essential for tackling the climate crisis, especially by helping poorer countries and communities most affected by climate change. These resources are necessary for reducing harmful greenhouse gas emissions, adapting to the effects of climate change, and building resilience against future challenges. However, major issues, such as a lack of funding, accountability, and fair resource distribution, make it hard to achieve climate justice. This section looks at why climate finance is so important , highlights key funding sources like the Green Climate Fund, investigates the challenges we face, and suggests ways to ensure that climate finance is fair and effective for everyone . The Role of Climate Finance in Climate Justice Climate finance refers to the financial resources allocated to support climate action, particularly in developing nations disproportionately affected by climat...