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Japan Times
06-05-2025
- Business
- Japan Times
U.N. document shows U.S. seeks to weaken global development finance efforts
The United States is seeking to weaken a global deal aimed at helping developing countries struggling with the impacts of climate change and other issues, an internal United Nations document showed. The administration of U.S. President Donald Trump opposes draft reforms of the world's financial system intended to help developing countries, including around taxation, credit ratings and fossil fuel subsidies. It also wants mentions of "climate," "gender equality" and "sustainability" stripped out. The previously unreported document sheds light on how the Trump administration is seeking to imprint an "America First" agenda, including opposition to efforts to slow climate change and promote diversity, on the institutions at the heart of fixing global systemic crises. The once-a-decade 4th International Conference on Financing for Development (FFD4) in Seville, Spain, in June aims to influence the strategic direction of the world's development finance institutions. Countries agreed at FFD3, for example, to broaden tax cooperation efforts so that developing countries could help set the rules and as of last May more than 140 countries were involved. "This conference is about bringing the world's leaders together and setting the underlying rules and priorities for financing development goals over the next decade," Tom Mitchell, executive director of the International Institute for Environment and Development, said. Compiled by the permanent representatives to the U.N. of Mexico, Nepal, Norway, and Zambia, with help from the U.N. secretariat, the April 11 negotiating draft is annotated with the positions of the 193 nations involved in the discussions. At U.N. negotiations over the FFD4 document in March, the U.S. mission said the draft at that time was too long and prescriptive and denounced "the ever-widening definition of sustainable development." U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has acknowledged the need to overcome multiple challenges ahead of the once-a-decade 4th International Conference on Financing for Development in Seville, Spain, in June. | REUTERS "The international financial institutions have independent mandates and authorities, and we do not support attempts in the U.N. system to dictate their priorities or activities," the U.S. statement from acting U.N. Economic and Social Council representative Jonathan Shrier said. The U.N. does not hold direct authority over the multilateral development finance institutions. With ongoing changes at the World Bank and International Monetary Fund in the fight against climate change already facing pushback from U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, the document showed it was seeking to water down the U.N.'s reform prescriptions. Among specific points in the text that refer to the systemic reform, the document shows the U.S. wants to remove a reference to a "package of reforms" for sustainable development. It wants to replace a line promising to "commit to reform the international financial architecture" with a pledge to "recognize the need to enhance its resilience and effectiveness in responding to present and future challenges and crises." Such changes in language signal the degree of shared commitment that can then be used as support for action or inaction in future talks. U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has acknowledged the need to overcome multiple challenges ahead of the conference, but urged "all countries to be at the table in Sevilla focused on solutions," spokesperson Florencia Soto Nino said in an email. The Treasury Department and State Department both declined to comment. The White House did not respond to a request for comment. While the U.S.' position on development has become tougher under Trump, the negotiating document shows it remains supportive of efforts that include developing countries working more closely with the private sector, and fostering innovation and financial literacy. A key goal of the global reforms is to better help poorer nations cope with weather disasters, which are worsening due to climate change, and to boost economic development using low-carbon energy rather than traditional fossil fuels. Trump has quit the U.N. Paris climate agreement, slashed U.S. foreign development aid by more than 80% as part of a government overhaul led by billionaire Elon Musk and embarked on a trade war that is hurting many poorer nations. Among areas of the FFD4 document that the U.S. objects to is a call for countries to explore "global solidarity levies" that could include taxes on highly polluting activities or on the superrich to finance sustainable development. If included, the levies could be taken up in U.N. negotiations on taxes this year and would bolster a task force led by France, Kenya and Barbados that aims to develop such taxes among smaller groups of countries. Other countries to object include Russia, Saudi Arabia and China. Filippo Grandi, United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees addresses members of the Security Council at U.N. Headquarters in New York on April 28. | REUTERS The U.S. is also seeking to delete a paragraph calling for companies to pay tax to the countries where economic activity occurs; a paragraph on helping developing countries bolster tax transparency; and another on phasing out inefficient fossil fuel subsidies, the document shows. Many of the world's poorest countries struggle with high debt and the costs of rebuilding after disastrous storms, but the FFD4 document shows the U.S. wants to strike out a paragraph on reforming the credit-rating system. That includes a push for raters to take a more forgiving approach to poorer nations that voluntarily restructure their debt to invest in green projects, it showed. The U.S. also opposes a commitment to ensure countries receive "adequate and uninterrupted funding on appropriate terms of social protection and other essential social spending during shocks and crises," the document shows. While the U.S. has considerable influence as the biggest shareholder in both the World Bank, which provides loans and grants to developing countries, and the IMF, and is currently reviewing its role in both, the draft deal is likely to change further as countries continue negotiations in May, before reaching consensus on a final document in mid-June. The U.S. position puts pressure on other countries to accept a weaker deal, since the talks aim to adopt a deal by consensus.
Yahoo
22-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
I study local government and Hurricane Helene forced me from my home − here's how rural towns and counties in North Carolina and beyond cooperate to rebuild
Last year was a record year for disasters in the United States. A new report from the British charity International Institute for Environment and Development finds that 90 disasters were declared nationwide in 2024, from wildfires in California to Hurricane Helene in North Carolina. The average number of annual disasters in the U.S. is about 55. The Federal Emergency Management Agency provides funding and recovery assistance to states after disasters. President Donald Trump criticized the agency in January 2025 when he visited hurricane-stricken western North Carolina. Though 41% of Americans lived in an area affected by disaster in 2024, according to the institute's report, the Trump administration is reportedly working to abolish or dramatically diminish FEMA's operations. 'FEMA has been a very big disappointment. They cost a tremendous amount of money. It's very bureaucratic, and it's very slow,' Trump declared, saying he thought states were better positioned to 'take care of problems' after a disaster. 'A governor can handle something very quickly,' he said. Trump's remarks have prompted a heated response, including proposals to fundamentally overhaul – but not abolish – federal disaster recovery. But I believe the current discussion about FEMA handling U.S. disasters puts the emphasis in the wrong place. As a scholar who researches how small and rural local governments cooperate, I believe this public debate demonstrates that many people fundamentally misunderstand how disaster recovery actually works, especially in rural areas, where locally directed efforts are particularly key to that recovery. I know this from personal experience, too: I am a resident of Watauga County, in western North Carolina, and I evacuated during Hurricane Helene after landslides severely impaired the roads around my home. Here, in short, is what happens after a disaster. Federal legislation from 1988 called the Stafford Act gives governors the power to declare disasters. If the president agrees and also declares the region a disaster, that puts federal programs and activities in motion. Yet local officials are generally involved from the very start of this process. Governors usually seek input from state and local emergency managers and other municipal officials before making a disaster declaration, and it is local officials who begin the disaster response. That's because small and rural local governments actually have the most local knowledge to lead recovery efforts in their area after a disaster. Local officials determine conditions on the ground, coordinate search and rescue, and help bring utilities and other infrastructure back online. They have relationships with community members that can inform decision-making. For example, a county senior center will know which residents receive Meals on Wheels and might need a wellness check after disaster. However, small towns cannot do all this alone. They need FEMA's money and resources, and that can present a problem. The process of applying and complying with the requirements of the grants is incredibly complex and burdensome. According to FEMA's website, there are eight phases in the disaster aid process, composed of 28 steps that range from 'preliminary damage assesment' to 'recovery scoping video' to 'compliance reviews' and 'reconciliation.' Getting through these eight phases takes years. Larger cities and counties frequently have dedicated staff that apply for disaster aid and ensure compliance with regulations. But smaller governments can struggle to apply for and administer state or federal grants on their own – especially after a disaster, when demands are so high. That's where regional intergovernmental organizations come in. Every region has its own name for these entities. They're often called councils of government, regional planning commissions or area development districts. My colleagues and I call them RIGOs, for their initials. No matter the name, RIGOs are collaborative bodies that allow local governments to cooperate for services and programs they might not otherwise be able to afford. Bringing together local elected officials from usually about three to five counties, RIGOs help local officials cooperate to address the shared needs of everyone in their area. They do this in normal times; they also do this when disasters strike. RIGOs operate throughout most of the U.S., in big cities and rural areas, in turbulent times and in calm. They serve different needs in different regions, but in all cases, RIGOs bring together local elected officials to solve common problems. One example of this in western North Carolina is the Digital Seniors project, launched during COVID-19. Here, the local RIGO is called the Southwestern Commission. In 2021, the RIGO area agency on aging coordinated with the Fontana Regional Library to help dozens of elders who had never been connected to the internet get online during the pandemic. The Southwestern Commission used its relationships with the local senior centers to identify people who needed the service, and the library had access to hot spots and laptops through a grant from the state of North Carolina. In rural areas, RIGOs work alongside regional business and nonprofits to allow local governments to offer regular services and programs they might not otherwise be able to afford, such as public transportation, senior citizen services or economic development. Part of that work is helping member governments navigate the maze of federal and state funding opportunities for the projects they hope to get done, often by employing a specialized grant administrator. Each small local government may not have enough work or revenue to justify such a staff member, but many together have the workload and funding to hire someone specially trained to abide by the rules of funding from states and the federal government. This system helps small local governments receive their fair share in federal grant money and report back on how the money was spent. Disasters rarely respect borders. That's why governments generally work together to distribute grant money for rebuilding communities. In the summer of 2022, eastern Kentucky faced deadly flooding after receiving about 15 inches of rain over four days – 600% above normal. The North Fork of the Kentucky River crested at approximately 21 feet, killing over two dozen people and damaging 9,000 homes and more than 100 businesses. The Kentucky River Area Development District, a RIGO representing eight counties, played a key role in the area's recovery. It secured millions in FEMA aid and maintained critical services, including expanded food delivery and transportation for elderly residents. Similarly, after disastrous flooding hit Vermont in 2023 and 2024, another RIGO, the Central Vermont Regional Planning Commission, jumped into action. It quickly provided emergency communication to the 23 small villages and towns in its region and has since supported local governments applying for grants and reimbursements. Today, it continues to assist in Vermont's disaster planning and flood mitigation. This is also part of the recovery process. Rebuilding after a disaster is a long, arduous process. It begins after national journalists and politicians have left the area and continues for years. That would be true no matter how Trump restructures emergency aid: The damage is massive, and so is the repair. For example, here's how western North Carolina looks six months after Helene: Most businesses have reopened, most folks have running water again, and people can drive in and out of the area. But many roads are still full of broken pavement. Mud from landslides presses up against the sides of the highway, and condemned housing teeters on the edge of ravaged creek beds. It is, in other words, too soon to see the full impact of local government efforts to rebuild my region. But RIGOs across the region are hiring additional temporary staff to help local governments get federal money and comply with complex guidelines. Their support ensures that decisions affecting North Carolinians are voted on by the city and county leaders they elected – not decreed by governors or handed down from Washington, D.C. Locally led rebuilding is slow and difficult work, yes. But it is, in my opinion, the most community-responsive way to deal with disaster. Jaylen Peacox, a graduate student in public administration at North Carolina State University, contributed to this story. This article is republished from The Conversation, a nonprofit, independent news organization bringing you facts and trustworthy analysis to help you make sense of our complex world. It was written by: Jay Rickabaugh, North Carolina State University Read more: If FEMA didn't exist, could states handle the disaster response on their own? Beyond bottled water and sandwiches: What FEMA is doing to get hurricane victims back into their homes New flood maps show US damage rising 26% in next 30 years due to climate change alone, and the inequity is stark Jay Rickabaugh receives grant funding from the National Science Foundation. Any opinions, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Science Foundation.
