Hot Air Continues to Rise at the G7

In 2009, rich countries pledged, that by 2020, they would provide £100bn per year to poorer countries, enabling them to cut their 'greenhouse gas' emissions. The rich countries didn't even get close to fulfilling their pledge. This year, the G7 reaffirmed their 'intention' to hold back global heating, to no more than 1.5 degrees Centigrade (https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2021/jun/12/all-hot-air-uk-commits-to-climate-action-but-not-to-new-funding). The G7 meeting, in Cornwall, has been big on protecting the natural environment and wildlife. They even had David Attenborough to remind them the planet had a climate change problem. The UK PM, who is keen on alliteration, promised to 'build back better for the world'. He pledged £500m towards a 'Blue Planet Fund' (echoing a title of one of Attenborough's BBC series). The money is earmarked for the protection of oceans and coastal areas in poor nations. This, however, is not new money. It was promised in 2019, as part of £11.6bn that the UK 'committed' to countering climate change 'over the next 15 years'. To use the PM's preferred grammatical device, this is 'persistently proposing (the same) pledges'. This recycling of pledges, might work on his own electorate, but it is unlikely to convince poorer countries, they will receive the necessary funding, anytime soon (if, at all). Without collective action, limiting global heating to 1.5 degrees Centigrade seems highly unlikely.