Cook Islands Prime Minister, Mark Brown says he has welcomed New Zealand’s announcement of $1.3 billion in climate-related aid funding.

The funding is to last from 2022 to 2025 and at least half the money will go towards climate mitigation efforts in the Pacific.

The money is part of the global commitment by developed countries to give $100 billion to the developing world, New Zealand’s previous commitment was $300 million.

The announcement was made on Sunday by New Zealand’s Climate Change Minister ahead of the United Nations Climate Change Conference, starting next week in Glasgow.

In a press release from the Pacific Islands Forum, Brown said: “It is welcome news from New Zealand and aligns well with the call from the Pacific for ambitious action to build resilience and adaptation measures desperately needed by small island developing states.

“I am particularly pleased with intentions that at least half that funding will be for Pacific Island countries, and that’s a demonstration that New Zealand is aligned with its values as part of our blue Pacific.

“Adaptation is of critical importance to the Cook Islands and all small Island States,” he said.

Brown said in the press release the New Zealand announcement must inspire a wave of like-minded support from the world’s wealthy developed countries.

He mentioned the G20 and said those countries needed to do the right thing by their citizens, and the planet.

“It is also about innovative financing modalities that allow small island states, many of whom are already debt distressed, to access financing at 0 per cent interest and with 100 years amortization.

“Climate change will not disappear over the period of a normal loan of 10 to 20 years, but much more longer term, that is why we have to look at financing modalities that reflect that timespan.”

“A real commitment by all countries to $100 billion annually to assist adaptation measures is an absolute necessity for the short term. This represents 0.1 per cent of global GDP, a relatively modest price to pay today.”

Brown said, “globally, we are the most affected by a climate crisis we did not create, and can least afford.”