Developing nations urge for a ‘Loss and Damage Finance Facility’

BONN, Germany  6 June 2922:  African civil society groups coalescing under the pan African Climate Justice Alliance have supported the call by the Group of 77 and China countries for a facility set aside to address the concerns for Loss and Damage. The call was made at the 56th session of the subsidiary bodies (SB-56) under the United Nations Climate Change Conference (UNFCCC) kick off in Bonn, Germany.

The ‘Santiago Network on Loss and Damage’ is an initiative launched by the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) to support technology transfer, knowledge and resources needed tackle risks due to the climate crisis.

 “Full operationalization of the Santiago Network on Loss and Damage at COP-27 is critical,” said Munir Akram, the Pakistan’s ambassador to the UN and the current Chair of the 134 member states that form the G-77 & China.

According to the G – 77 & China, substantial progress must be made at the ongoing conference in terms of agreement on its structure, operating modalities, and other aspects, while doing so in a manner that will ensure that the Santiago Network is fit for purpose in light of its functions as agreed in Warsaw, to catalyze and deliver on the ground the technical assistance and other support needed by developing countries to avert, minimize and address loss and damage arising from climate change.

For example in Africa, several communities in Malawi, Madagascar and Mozambique are yet to recover from different cyclones that bedevilled the region in the recent past. According to a recent study released by the World Weather Attribution (WWA) group, the tropical storms that hit the region earlier this year were made worse by the increase in global temperatures, making such communities eligible for support from the Loss and Damage Finance Facility.

“The G-77 & China is united in our ask for the establishment of a dedicated “Loss and Damage Finance Facility” as an intended tangible outcome to which the Glasgow Dialogue on Loss and Damage must contribute,” Ambassador Akram told delegates at the ongoing SB-56 conference in Germany.

However, the G-77 & China noted that main challenges remain in accessing GCF support due to a myriad of complexities surrounding the GCF NAP readiness Support Programme. Procedural complexities, un-standardized formats and long review processes of submitted proposals are but a few examples.

According to the latest report by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), vulnerable countries will not be able to adapt to global warming beyond the 1.5°C limit. The Working Group 3 for the report shows that countries are not on track, but also makes it clear that it is still possible to limit warming to 1.5°C.

The 56th session of the Subsidiary Body for Implementation (SBI) and the Subsidiary Body for Scientific and Technological Advice (SBSTA) will continue in Bonn until June 26, 2022.

The SBSTA and the SBI are bodies that give advice to the Conference of Parties (COP), and each has a specific mandate. They are both open to participation by any Party, and governments often send representatives who are experts in the fields of the respective bodies.