The magnitude of “loss and damage” inflicted by the catastrophic consequences of climate change worldwide is unmistakable, as stated by United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, and “all parties must demonstrate that they acknowledge it.”
COP 27 President Sameh Shoukry and UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres affirmed this during a collective address on November 17th.
Their addresses highlighted the setbacks faced by COP 27 participants due to the inability of both developed and developing nations to come to a consensus regarding loss and damage as well as adaptation. Shoukry remarked:
“Adaptation continues to be impeded by procedural issues; ambitious results on financing have yet to emerge, and regarding loss and damage, parties are hesitating to make the tough political choices.”
The European Union (EU) will contribute €60 million to tackle loss and damage in Africa, as announced by Frans Timmermans, executive vice president of the European Commission, on November 16. Timmermans additionally mentioned that the EU and its four members—Denmark, the Netherlands, Germany, and France—will together provide €1 billion to assist Africa in acclimating to the shifting climate.
In his address on November 17, Shoukry mentioned having an extensive discussion with the UN Secretary-General concerning the status of funding strategies and addressing the loss and damage resulting from the adverse impacts of climate change.
Shoukry indicated that all parties should intensify their efforts to secure an agreement on the relevant matters; such an agreement would form the basis for a suitable response to the urgent and valid demand for sufficient funding to be organized for loss and damage at the earliest opportunity.
The United Nations had previously revealed that no consensus had been achieved on the issue, leading to prolonged discussions on loss and damage. However, Shoukry reassured everyone that the COP 27 presidency is diligently striving to ensure the swift resolution of all existing challenges.
No advancements observed over the years
Despite 31 years of advocacy, 26 COPs, and countless workshops and discussions, as noted in a publication from the loss and damage cooperation platform, there was no dedicated funding available to aid individuals in coping with the repercussions of climate impacts.
Loss and damage refer to the adverse, often irreparable impacts of climate change on both people and ecosystems beyond typical climate variability.
Significance
The ‘polluter pays’ principle, which asserts that those accountable for the damage must financially contribute to its rectification, and the obligation that developed nations have toward developing countries are associated in a document from the loss and damage collaboration. The report states:
“By one estimate, nations in the Global North are culpable for 92% of surplus historical emissions. Between 1990 and 2015, the carbon emissions of the wealthiest 1% of individuals globally were more than twice those of the poorest half of humanity. The entire continent of Africa emits less than 4% of global emissions.
“According to the African Development Bank (AfDB) Group, Africa was experiencing a loss of between 5% and 15% of its gross domestic product (GDP) per capita growth due to climate change. Developed nations must compensate for the harm they have contributed to, which manifests as loss and damage in developing regions.”
