India built 5 million energy-efficient fans using international funding

LIMA: India has built five million super energy efficient fans to reduce its energy consumption using the international funds given to developing world since 2003 to adapt to climate change, according to a new report by a UK-based think-tank.

At the same time, a major chunk of the $7.6 billion funds to adapt to climate change went to just ten countries while several poorer nations received very little.

"Among other results...funds have helped in financing 5 million super energy efficient fans in India," Overseas Development Institute (ODI), said in a statement on the sidelines of the ongoing climate change summit in the Peruvian capital here.

Super-efficient ceiling fans help to reduce energy consumption of fans and are seen in India as a household necessity.

Among the big gainers of the funds were Morocco, Mexico and Brazil receiving half a billion dollars in loans each.

"Mexico and Brazil are among the top 10 emitters of greenhouse gases and with Morocco, all have huge renewable energy potential," ODI said in a statement.

The rich oil states in the Middle East have received very little from international climate funds despite the countries being major emitters of greenhouse gases, the report said.

Conflict-affected and fragile states such as Ivory Coast and South Sudan received less than $350,000 and $700,000 respectively.

Several middle-income countries that are vulnerable to the impacts of climate change and have significant clean energy potential, such as Namibia, El Salvador and Guatemala, also received less than $5 million each.

In the latest report, ODI analyses a decade of contributions and spending to nine major international and two national funds set-up to tackle climate change.

It argues that getting climate financing right is crucial to securing an ambitious global agreement on climate change in Paris in 2015.