Dóchas Calls for Urgent Budget Action on Climate Change, Conflict and Hunger

The Government must use Budget 2024 to make meaningful progress in tackling the critical issues of climate change, conflict and hunger, which are devastating the lives of millions of people worldwide, according to Dóchas.   

The Irish network of international development and humanitarian NGOS said with a staggering 240 million people in 69 countries requiring urgent humanitarian assistance, it is time for the Irish Government to not only make good on its promise to spend 0.7% of Ireland’s GNI on Overseas Development Assistance in the countries and communities globally who need it the most, but also make real and tangible progress in addressing the climate emergency which is deepening hunger, food insecurity and driving conflict. 

If the number of people in need of humanitarian aid today formed a country, it would be the third largest globally at 360m people. And this “non-country” is growing at an alarming rate – up 30% since early 2022.

CEO of Dóchas, Jane-Ann McKenna, said climate change continues to be a huge threat to communities. “Over 70% of the world’s refugees and internally displaced people come from the most climate-vulnerable countries. Additionally, 93% of the country’s most vulnerable to the climate crisis are in debt distress. Climate change presents the single most existential threat to human life on this planet. We have to act now.”

She added: “For Irish NGOs who are working with local communities and organisations, the magnitude of the multiple crises and the chronic level of underfunding is having real and serious consequences. The gap between rapidly increasing humanitarian need and global funding is widening, forcing impossible choices as to who gets left behind. 

Ireland played a critical leadership role in galvanising energy, optimism and action on the SDGs during the UN General Assembly. We must now demonstrate that same level of determination and ambition in New York back in Ireland in Budget 2024 and beyond’’.

Dóchas is calling on the government to commit to taking ambitious, accelerated and transformative action to implement the SDGs nationally and in our ODA programme. Transformative change is needed to tackle the global food systems, climate emergency and end structural inequality. We must ensure that our funding is targeted at the real changemakers – local organisations, women's organisations and civil society organisations who work on the frontlines of response.