NICOLA Sturgeon has welcomed a $3million pledge, on top of the £2m already promised by the Scottish Government, to alleviate the impacts of climate change on some of the world’s most vulnerable communities.

The funding will form part of the Glasgow Loss and Damage Facility, if it is agreed by negotiators at COP26.

The Glasgow Facility will aim to support the most vulnerable communities, particularly small island developing states, which have been most affected by climate change while contributing the least to its effects.

The $3m pledge came from a group of philanthropies, including the Children’s Investment Fund Foundation, the European Climate Foundation, the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation, the Open Society Foundations, and the Global Green Grants Fund.

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Commenting, First Minister Sturgeon said she was “absolutely delighted” by the development.

She went on: “Sparked by @scotgov #COP26 commitment to £2m for climate change loss and damage, a group of philanthropy organisations have pledged already a further $3m if negotiators agree a new Glasgow Loss and Damage Facility.

“Ball now firmly in court of #COP26 negotiators to get this facility agreed and for more countries to start pledging funds to help developing nations deal with the damage climate change, caused by the industrialised world, is already doing - it is reparation not charity.

“I’m proud that leadership @scotgov gave this week in being first country to pledge funds for loss and damage has seen our £2m become almost £5m already, and put loss and damage firmly on agenda.

“Whatever else happens that’s one positive outcome from Glasgow.”

In a joint statement, the philanthropies pledging the extra $3m said: “The creation of a Glasgow Loss and Damage Facility at COP26 could signal a new era for global climate solidarity, but it must go beyond technical assistance and start to mobilise the billions of dollars needed annually by communities suffering from the worst impacts of climate change.

“We need to support those on the front line who are dealing with the tragic and irreversible impacts of climate change on a daily basis. We are in a climate emergency.”

They added that estimates for residual damages from climate impacts are around 1.2 trillion US dollars.

Acknowledging that £5m would be “merely a start” the group said it was “encouraging developed country Parties to provide meaningful finance towards the Facility – not just for technical assistance, but support for lingering repercussions from climate impacts, prioritising the most vulnerable communities”.

Laurence Tubiana, the chief executive of the European Climate Foundation, added: “Since the Paris Agreement and the 1.5C IPCC report, we have seen the climate crisis effect every year on every continent. No country will be spared.

“We need to see more support for loss and damage, and not just for technical assistance, from countries but also non-state actors. We have a responsibility here – especially as climate impacts worsen.”

The news that Scotland would double its initial £1m pledge to £2m was welcomed internationally, with one climate change leader saying it showed Sturgeon was the "true leader" at COP26.