Mogadishu
On Sunday, the UN climate meeting, COP27, will begin in Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt, amid mounting calls for wealthy nations to make up for the poorer, more climate-vulnerable nations.
It is anticipated that a significant portion of the tension surrounding COP27 will be related to loss and damage, or compensation monies given by affluent nations to weaker, lower-income countries that have little to no responsibility for greenhouse gas emissions.
With all eyes on whether wealthier nations agree to have the compensation included publicly on the agenda, delegates will officially start the two-week negotiation process by approving the conference agenda during the opening plenary session.
At COP27, diplomats from more than 130 nations are anticipated to advocate for the establishment of a specific loss and damage finance instrument.
High-income countries opposed a proposal for a loss and damage financing organization at COP26 in Glasgow last year, in favor of a new three-year dialogue for funding discussions.
High-income countries opposed a proposal for a loss and damage financing organization at COP26 in Glasgow last year, in favor of a new three-year dialogue for funding discussions.
Policymakers will choose today whether to add a session on loss and damage to the official schedule or keep it on the provisional agenda.
Matthew Samuda, a minister in Jamaica’s economic growth ministry, told Reuters: “I’m hopeful that it will go on the agenda. “There has been a softening of stances from many nations who would not have been willing to endorse it a year or two ago,”
Some others expressed worry about possible holdouts.
Saleemul Huq, head of the International Centre for Climate Change and Development, said, “We know the Europeans are assisting us. We must now determine whether or not the US will block independently.