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# Ecological debt
- URL: https://www.opendemocracy.net/en/18273/
- Published: 2005-05-14T20:05:10.000Z
- Updated: 2019-02-14T22:33:20.000Z
- Author: openDemocracy Supporters
- Tags: #en, #Migrated, #Import 2026-04-09 18:15

Making the headlines on BBC online today, Andrew Simms of the New Economics Foundation accuses the British government of being [slow](http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk%5Fnews/4539031.stm?ref=opendemocracy.net) in contributing to two United Nations funds which are intended to help poor countries adapt to climate change.

Britains' [Department for International Development](http://www.dfid.gov.uk/?ref=opendemocracy.net) says the first payment is being made in June.

Tomorrow, Simms makes the case on openDemocracy for living "within ecological means" and honouring "ecological debts" - of the rich North to the poor South.

On the evidence so far, he says, we may be more stupid than frogs, which - contrary to popular myth - are actually smart enough to jump out of water before it gets too hot.

DFID papers on poverty and climate change can be found [here](http://www.dfid.gov.uk/pubs/files/climatechange/keysheetsindex.asp?ref=opendemocracy.net)

Under what conditions can aid, including that for climate adapation, work? It depends on the quality of both the donor and the recipient, says [Ngaire Woods](http://www.prospectmagazine.co.uk/article%5Fdetails.php?id=6869&issue=505&category=&author=62&AuthKey=91075359134d9b176c945e75c075acd2&ref=opendemocracy.net) (Prospect, May).

Caspar Henderson