Barbados PM fights for shake-up of global climate finance

World leaders meeting in Paris on Thursday could give poorer countries access to hundreds of billions of dollars to tackle climate change.

Mia Mottley, Barbados' first female PM, is leading the global fight for this money and tells BBC News that her tiny country urgently needs help.

Poorer nations want more money because they did little to cause climate change but face its worst effects.

They also struggle to afford expensive projects like renewable energy.

Climate finance, including funding for flood defences or solar plants, has long been one of the biggest sticking points in climate negotiations.

But Ms Mottley has built a global coalition to support her demand that the international financial system be fundamentally reformed.

"We are all in this together", Ms Mottley told BBC News in Paris. "If we don't realise that, we will not act with the urgency that's necessary to save the planet and save lives."

The Barbadian prime minister is joint host of the Paris conference with President Emmanuel Macron of France.

Climate finance, including funding for flood defences or solar plants, has long been one of the biggest sticking points in climate negotiations.

But Ms Mottley has built a global coalition to support her demand that the international financial system be fundamentally reformed.

"We are all in this together", Ms Mottley told BBC News in Paris. "If we don't realise that, we will not act with the urgency that's necessary to save the planet and save lives."

The Barbadian prime minister is joint host of the Paris conference with President Emmanuel Macron of France.

Climate finance, including funding for flood defences or solar plants, has long been one of the biggest sticking points in climate negotiations.

But Ms Mottley has built a global coalition to support her demand that the international financial system be fundamentally reformed.

"We are all in this together", Ms Mottley told BBC News in Paris. "If we don't realise that, we will not act with the urgency that's necessary to save the planet and save lives."

The Barbadian prime minister is joint host of the Paris conference with President Emmanuel Macron of France.

cover photo:Barbados Prime Minister Mia Mottley says rich nations must help developing countries pay for impacts of climate change