Debt payments by the 50 countries most vulnerable to the climate crisis have doubled since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, reaching their highest level in over 30 years. These nations now allocate 15.5% of government revenues to external creditors, up from less than 8% before the pandemic. Debt Justice, citing data from the World Bank and IMF, highlights the urgent need for comprehensive debt relief to enable these countries to address the climate crisis effectively. The charity’s executive director, Heidi Chow, emphasized that record debt levels are hampering the ability of these countries to combat the climate emergency.