Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt. Wednesday, November 23, 2022. Stakeholders from
Caribbean small island developing states (SIDS) have welcomed the decision to
establish a loss and damage response fund from the recently concluded United
Nations Climate Conference (COP27) in Egypt.
“We have literally exhausted all of our efforts … to bring home the climate
action commitments our vulnerable people desperately need,” said the Hon.
Minister Molwyn Joseph of Antigua and Barbuda, chair of the Alliance of Small Island
Developing States (AOSIS), in a statement issued Sunday (November 20).
“Our Ministers and negotiators have endured sleepless nights and endless
days in an intense series of negotiations, determined to secure the establishment of
a loss and damage response fund, keep 1.5 alive, and advance ambition on critical
mitigation and adaptation plans,” he added.
AOSIS has represented the interests of some 39 SIDS and low-lying coastal
developing states for more than two decades in climate negotiations and sustainable
development processes.
Labelled a breakthrough decision, the agreement to establish a loss and
damage fund forms a part of a package of decisions from the international
negotiations.
It follows years of deliberations on the call for financial support to help
developing countries respond post climate-related impacts, including livelihoods
loss; and the addition of loss and damage to the COP agenda for the first time.
However, even as stakeholders celebrate, they are mindful of the work ahead
to operationalise the fund.
Executive Director (ED) of the Caribbean Community Climate Change Centre,
Dr. Colin Young, said while the hard fought-for loss and damage decision was
certainly welcomed, it is now time to ensure the fund becomes operational and
benefits SIDS and other developing countries.
“The details will need to be worked out; the criteria established and the
sources identified.
The design of the fund must be fit for purpose and not repeat the
mistakes of other funds that are very difficult to access and take years,” said the ED,
who was in Egypt from November 6 to 18 for the UN Climate Talks.
UnaMay Gordon, former principal director for the Climate Change Division of
Jamaica, and who has herself been on the frontlines at many global climate
negotiations, agreed.
“This was a great step forward, but it is the first step. Eyes will now focus on
construction of the transitional committee and the beginning of their deliberations. I
do hope the fight for loss and damage gets easier from here on,” she noted, fresh
from her participation in the Egypt COP.
“It should not be so hard to agree on something everybody agrees needed to
be addressed. But as I said earlier, good sense must prevail,” added Gordon, who is
also the Chairperson of the Board of Directors at the CCCCC.
AOSIS, meanwhile, has long championed financial support for loss and
damage in the developing world and only last month published a briefing document
detailing how a ‘fit-for-purpose multilateral fund designated as an operating entity
of the UNFCCC Financial Mechanism’ should work.
AOSIS’ membership (roughly 39 countries) which includes Caribbean SIDS,
have called for the design and operationalisation of the fund to include important
concepts such as “climate justice” when taking action to address climate change as
outlined in the Paris Agreement; and flagged the need for an operating entity that is
built to provide predictable support for ex-post response to loss and damage.
Beyond that, AOSIS has maintained that the programming of support should
take a “country-owned, country-driven, gender-responsive approach” and “with
operational modalities that realise enhanced direct access, especially through
existing regional and national entities.”
For further information, contact:
Mrs. Indi McLymont-Lafayette, Communications Specialist, Email: [email protected]
Advertise with the mоѕt vіѕіtеd nеwѕ ѕіtе іn Antigua!
We offer fully customizable and flexible digital marketing packages.
Contact us at [email protected]
