Delegates at COP27 agreed on loss and damage for the first time in the history of climate negotiations. Read to know more about the new developments in the climate fund.
Small islands demand relief from major polluters
During the ongoing COP27 summit, small island nations stated that major polluting nations such as China and India should contribute to the climate fund. The fund is aimed at helping nations rebuilt following disasters driven by climate change. The prime minister of Antigua and Barbuda made the comments on Tuesday at the summit in Sharm El-Shiekh. (https://www.vidaliaonion.org/) The delegates at COP27 agreed to put the topic of damage and loss for the first time in the history of climate negotiations.
According to media reports, Gaston Browne, PM of Antigua and Barbuda stated China and India are major pollution emitters as per small island nations. Speaking on behalf of the Association of Small Island States (AOSIS) negotiating bloc, Browne stated that the emerging economies also have a responsibility to add to the climate compensation fund. “We all know that the People’s Republic of China, and India they’re major polluters, and the polluter must pay. I don’t think that there’s any free pass for any country and I don’t say this with any acrimony,” stated Browne.
COP27: More on the happenings
AOSIS is also asking for a full commitment toward launching a multibillion-dollar fund by 2024. Mohamed Nasr, the lead climate negotiator for Egypt revealed the goal will help in getting clarity on the way forward. “Now we have a starting point, so it is more streamlined and more focused and hopefully by the end of the two weeks we’ll have something that would identify the road map, the milestones to deliver,” stated Nasr.
“We’ll be looking at the different options. Is it a facility? Or is it a new fund? Is it the existing funds? I mean there are a lot of options. What we heard from many countries is that they want to keep their options open,” added Nasr. Milagros De Camps, another AOSIS negotiator and the Deputy Environment Minister of International Cooperation stated island nations are facing more powerful and frequent natural disasters. “We need specific funds fit for purpose. A separate operating entity. This is a matter of survival for small island developing states,” he added.
