Fund life, not war, leaders tell UN climate summit
ANTALYA: With conflicts and defence spending surging worldwide, several leaders and environmental groups on Wednesday urged heads of state at the UN climate summit to redirect funds from wars to saving the planet.
In Antalya during the UN climate summit, leaders and environmental groups called on heads of state to shift funds from military conflicts to environmental preservation. Marshall Islands President Hilda Heine emphasized that the greatest security threat remains underfunded and urged for resources to be directed towards life, not death.
Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva lamented that climate change has been sidelined in favor of discussions about arms and tariffs. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan pointed out that nature suffers as much as people from war, citing the devastation in Gaza. Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiga detailed the severe environmental toll of his nation's conflict, including poisoned soil, deforestation, and birds building nests from drone fiber-optic cables.
Climate campaigner Tasneem Essop criticized the lack of discussion on soaring defense spending at the summit, noting that rich nations possess the resources to fund wars but avoid addressing this issue. Turkish COP31 president Murat Kurum acknowledged that defense funds should also support life preservation. Turkey plans to increase military spending by 229% in 2027, as NATO allies bolster their defenses.
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