Let COP27 deliver the loss and damage fund

Former President Uhuru Kenyatta with other leaders during the 26th United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP26) in Glasgow, Scotland. [PCS]]

The road to Egypt is clearer now as the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change's COP27 draws nearer.

What is unclear is whether Africa's asks will get desired hearing, commitment and action to ease the pains of economies and humans directly affected by tangible effects of the raging climate crisis. After years of poor countries' demands that the rich pay for effects of their huge contribution in Greenhouse Gas emissions that have caused global warming that is responsible for the climate crisis, there is inadequate action. And it is deliberate.

The COP27 should guarantee smoother negotiations, especially on key asks by the poor global south; climate finance, special needs and circumstances status, adaptation, as well as loss and damage. The $100 billion yearly reparation by rich nations by 2020 largely remains a commitment. Several nations hide behind donations to Africa when disasters strike, which is unreliable. We can budget with the money sent through the laid framework, which then ceases to appear like a favour but remains a right, as per the Paris Agreement.

Special needs and circumstances status means poor nations do not receive funds in form of loans, but grants, to tackle the climate crisis. Loaning the same overburdened poor nations to deal with a crisis they did not cause, then earning interests from them is punishing them while at the same time earning from them.

Mind you, firms from same rich nations are funding fossil fuels projects that will leave Africa poorer and increase its carbon footprints. It is immoral to construct while destructing a people's future.

Adaptation refers to adjustments people are forced to make in the face of existing or foreseen climate induced problems. It may mean rebuilding, creating early warning systems, opting for drought resistant crops, all for the sake of people, ecosystem and livelihoods. The Glasgow's COP26 achieved a commitment to double adaptation funding to $40 billion by 2025. The irony is this amount needs to have hit $300 billion by 2030, according to the UN. Without deliberate action, even the $40 billion by 2025 will remain a song.

"Loss and Damage", as an item, is a thorny issue that won't be formally discussed easily, despite the fact that it forms part of the UN agenda, and that the poorer nations grapple with the huge losses in disasters. The question of fairness has always arisen, while elite nations want the matter made a component of adaptation.

Loss and damage occur when the adaptation limits are exceeded, where it is no longer possible to adapt to effects of climate change. Further, despite losing actual property, and sometimes lives, which can be visible, tangible and quantified, the damages these disasters cause victims may be long-term, health related, and more destructive. While the COP26 saw EU's willingness to discuss loss and damage, the "how" remains a bone of contention. While richer nations want loss and damage addressed through existing climate funds, insurance schemes, among other funding, the global south wants a specific loss and damage fund. This cannot be guaranteed if the global north does not yield ground.

The African Group of Negotiators, despite pushing the other agenda, must make the rich nations' actions match their promises, by pushing the loss and damage button harder.

The climate disasters come with several other waves, including diseases, social and mental issues, broken families, permanent disability, fear and trauma, and brokenness that many never recover from. The loss is real, the damage may be worse, though hidden.

The writer is Interim Communications Manager at GreenFaith. [email protected]