At the start of this year’s SBs, ECO would like to remind you of an important fact: while inside the conference center, arrangements for the funding to avert, minimize and address Loss and Damage (L&D) will be discussed from tomorrow on at the Glasgow Dialogue, outside people are already paying for L&D! It’s the most vulnerable people being least responsible for the causes of climate change. According to a study by the International Institute for Environment and Development (IIED), rural Bangladesh households are spending almost US$ 2 billion a year to repair the damage caused by climate change and on preventative measures. This is twice the amount the government of Bangladesh spends, and 12 times more than international donors. This is the opposite of what we call climate justice!
ECO has noted that some countries in the Global North have recognized the problem. The communiqué by G7 ministers recently recognized “the urgent need for scaling-up action and support, as appropriate, including finance, technology and capacity-building, for the implementation of relevant approaches to averting, minimising and addressing loss and damage in developing countries”. This is a good first step, but mere recognition does not help people rebuilding destroyed homes or dealing with non-economic damages such as loss of biodiversity, culture or language. Try fixing your roof or rebuilding your livestock equipped solely with a G7 communiqué… Countries must back up their words now with action by providing new and additional L&D finance to respond to this escalating climate emergency – and support those most vulnerable to it. Two processes during the SBs are important for this:
First, the Glasgow Dialogue, which resulted from the blockage by developed countries of the G77+China proposal for a L&D finance facility, and was the weakest compromise from COP26. The Glasgow Dialogue needs to result in concrete outcomes that provide needs-based, new and additional support for the most vulnerable people and countries in addressing L&D – otherwise the dialogue will be viewed as an utter failure. Most importantly, the dialogue must result in an agreement on a L&D finance facility at COP 27 and its full operationalization over the course of the dialogue. To this outcome, the Glasgow Dialogue must become an official agenda item at the SBs and the COP. We demand that all Parties fight to secure the rightful place of L&D on the formal agenda!
Second, the operationalization of the Santiago Network on Loss and Damage. The Network must fill the gap in action concerning the third function of the Warsaw International Mechanism for Loss and Damage (WIM), which is “enhancing action and support”. The Network can do so by establishing a body that would catalyze technical assistance for the implementation of needs-based approaches to address L&D in developing countries.
ECO demands that SB56 lays the ground for historic progress at COP27! The people on the frontline of the climate emergency need technical assistance to address L&D now – and the Santiago Network could provide exactly this. And the Glasgow Dialogue delivering a L&D finance facility to unlock new and additional climate finance to help them rebuild their lives and livelihoods could fulfil their need for financial support. If not now, when?