Deny, Distract And Delay

The developed world has so far derailed all discussions on loss and damage. Will this change at COP27?

- Avantika Goswami

GOP27 must be the place for action on loss and damage," António Guterres, the UN Secretary-General, told the media on October 3 at a meeting ahead of the Conference of Parties (COP27) to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). Countries vulnerable to climate change impacts have been demanding a loss and damage finance facility for a while now, and the recent events, from the crippling heatwaves and forest fires in Europe and the US to floods in Asia and protracted droughts in Africa, might finally convince the developed world to have a serious conversation on the topic at COP27 on November 6-18 in Egypt, the first such summit to be held outside Europe in six years. But the process might not be easy as a loss and damage finance mechanism is closely linked to the principle of "polluter pays" and as a result puts the onus on countries for their historical emissions.