Green Climate Fund criticized for prioritizing foreign aid over climate goals

The United Nations Green Climate Fund (GCF) has received and distributed over $20 billion to date, but critics argue the fund functions more as standard foreign aid rather than climate-specific assistance.

Critics claim that projects labeled as “climate change adaptation”—such as water supply systems in arid regions or flood protection—address long-standing environmental conditions rather than new climate shifts. Furthermore, some funded initiatives may increase CO2 emissions.

A primary example cited is the Jordan Desalination Project. While the GCF provides a minority share of the $6 billion budget, the project relies heavily on Jordan’s electricity grid, which is approximately 70% fossil-fueled. Although the project includes a solar facility, it reportedly covers only a small fraction of the energy required for continuous desalination and water pumping.