The Sevilla Commitment: A Fundamental Pillar to Strengthen Trust in International Cooperation

The International Summit on Financing for Development, taking place in Seville, has generated high expectations surrounding the “Seville Commitment,” which serves as its central focus. However, the organizations participating in this event emphasize that there is still a long way to go in transforming promises into effective actions. Paula Sevilla, spokesperson for the International Institute for Environment and Development (IIED), highlighted that this summit represents a crucial opportunity to restore trust in international cooperation, particularly significant in light of the lessons learned from the pandemic, which revealed an alarming lack of global solidarity.

One of the critical points raised by the IIED is the need to ensure effective financing that reaches the communities facing the climate crisis. Sevilla stressed the importance of addressing the increasing external debt, which is preventing many countries from allocating resources to essential sectors like health and education. “Governments are allocating more funds to pay their debts than to care for their citizens, further exacerbating inequalities,” warned the expert during a protest held during the summit.

A notably excluded topic from the Seville Commitment is housing, despite the global cost-of-living crisis. Sevilla lamented this omission, pointing out that the lack of access to adequate housing has become a source of distress in both the Global South and Spain. Nevertheless, the IIED aims to leverage the summit’s document to mobilize specific resources to tackle this crucial issue.

Regarding the initiative presented by Spain and Brazil on improving global taxation on wealth, the IIED spokesperson noted that this could represent a significant step toward correcting structural imbalances. She emphasized the need for strong leadership from the Global North, where many large companies that evade taxes are concentrated.

Sevilla also criticized the lack of participation from the United States in the summit, stating that this absence represents not only a diplomatic obstacle but also a worrying sign, especially following the dissolution of its aid agency. “The living conditions for many people are alarming,” she stressed.

With only five years left to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals, the expert emphasized that real changes must materialize. “There is a lack of political leadership and willingness to cooperate. It is the organized communities that keep hope alive and hold the responsible parties accountable,” Sevilla concluded.