2023-12-01 14:05:17
@ Giuseppe Cacace/AFP via Getty Images
Reacting to the initial pledge made during the first day of COP28 to provide around US$420 million to fund the loss and damage fund, which aims to help communities in developing countries experiencing catastrophic weather events and other harms caused by global warming, Amnesty International Climate Change Policy Advisor Ann Harrison said:
“While the agreement on the operationalization of the loss and damage fund is a positive step taken after years of negotiations to address the enormous human rights harms that people and communities around the world have already suffered as a result of global warming, the financing promised today by a few countries is far below what is really needed”.
“The amount initially promised is barely enough to make the fund operational, and little else. Billions of dollars are needed to make a substantial difference to communities that desperately need help to rebuild their homes after storms, or to support farmers who lose their crops, or people permanently displaced by the crisis. climate.”
“Given the enormous and excessive profits that fossil fuel companies have accrued last year while continuing to destroy the climate, and that some of the current donor states are responsible for a large share of historical greenhouse gas emissions , the initial sum is disappointingly small. It is tiny,lside the $7 trillion in subsidies that many statesincluding some of these donors, grant annually to support the fossil fuel sector.”
“We urge States, especially developed countries and others, including high-income fossil fuel-producing nations, to make new and additional commitments to the fund in amounts that reflect the global nature of the climate crisis and the threat it poses. for billions of people.”
“The absence of any mention of human rights in the management of the fund is also very worrying, especially as it is likely to be managed initially by the World Bank, which has, at best, a mixed record in applying human rights.” human rights safeguards in its operations.”
“Amnesty International calls on the World Bank to commit to making the fund as accessible as possible and to provide grants rather than loans to avoid further indebtedness for developing countries.”
An agreement was reached at COP27 last year to create the loss and damage fund, but disagreements over how to finance and manage it have continued for most of 2023. The first contributions were promised today by the EU, which agreed contribute 245 million dollars, 109 of which come from Germany. For its part, the United Arab Emirates has committed to contributing another 100 million; the United Kingdom, 51 million; United States, 17.5 million; and Japan, 10 million. COP28 takes place in Dubai between November 30 and December 12 and is attended by a delegation from Amnesty International.
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