A long time ago, in a conference hall far far away, COP26 saw the Scottish government put £2 million on the table – de-tabooing a tabooed issue. But since this show of solidarity, the plea of civil society and of First Minister Sturgeon has remained unanswered.
The Glasgow Dialogue must deliver a Loss & Damage Finance Facility. In the closing hours of the COP, Antigua and Barbuda reminded the Presidency of the compromise. We saw rich countries showing sympathy, but ECO felt the pain when we saw that once again they have gone back to their old ways, spending hours of the GD chatting about Avert and Minimise when what we need is to Address so people can recover from climate impacts and rebuild their lives and livelihoods.
They now want to discuss the issue next year, and ECO expects they will want to keep discussing and not paying. Such apathy towards vulnerable people and communities has consequences for people most at risk of losing their homes, farms, incomes, and lives.
As we go into an African COP -– the COP of the vulnerable – loss & damage must be on the agenda and this must lead to a Loss & Damage Finance Facility that provides needs-based, accessible support for people who are facing the climate emergency now.
If rich countries do not deliver, then this will be a betrayal those who come here each time seeking justice.