Honour Loss and Damage Fund pledges, developed countries urged
African leaders have urged developed countries to be transparent and accountable in their contributions to the Loss and Damage Fund in line with the principle of Common but differentiated Responsibility and respective capabilities.
The leaders who converged at the third Africa Regional Conference on Loss and Damage held in Lilongwe, Malawi from 21st to 22nd of March push for implementation of the Loss and Damage fund which was operationalised at Cop 28, held in Dubai last year.
The conference is aimed at providing a platform for African stakeholders to develop strategies for accelerating access to loss and damage funds.
It is here where the African leaders asked developed countries to stop shifting goal posts, cautioning them also against repackaging existing climate financing, humanitarian assistance and Official development assistance (ODA) as loss and damage pledges.
Africa contributes to less than 4pc of greenhouse gas emissions bearing the burden of rich countries that emit bulk greenhouse gas emissions.
Speaking at the conference, the former President of Malawi Dr. Joyce Banda, said it is time to minimise talks and implement what has already been committed.
Banda who is also the ambassador of Loss and Damage Fund, stressed that: “Climate Change is real noting that Climate Justice is a must.”
“Climate Change and its accompanying effects have become a major contributor to Africa’s worsening poverty. I am advocating for action and action now.” Dr. Banda said.
Dr. Banda decried the effects caused by Cyclone Freddy that hit Malawi killing over 1000 people, and destroying the infrastructure noting that not much assistance has been received.
She lauded Pan African Climate Justice Alliance (PACJA) for the support and great work they are doing to fight for climate change justice saying when all is said and done, it is human beings who are paying the price so people should be at the center of this war.
On his part, PACJA Executive Director Mithika Mwenda emphasized the importance of not losing sight of the real Climate Crisis issues while calling upon stakeholders to prioritise grassroots voices in the advocacy efforts to shape effective climate finance policies.
Pan African Climate Justice Alliance (PACJA) Executive Director Mithika Mwenda.
He said the USD700 million (Sh92.3 billion) Loss and Damage Fund pledge was insufficient noting that the establishment and operationalisation of Loss and Damage Fund was key but there was need to fight for more resources for the fund.
“The paltry pledges of USD700 million to the Loss and Damage Fund, fatally
insufficient to meet the recovery responses to a single episode of climate disaster such as that caused by Cyclone Freddy in Malawi estimated at USD900 million.” He said.
“We need more partnerships so that we build a bigger voice for the Loss and Damage Fund. We need go ensure that developed countries honor their pledges.” Said Mithika.
Adding that: “PACJA is ready to engage with partnerships of unprecedented proportions and this is where it starts.”
In a declaration at the two day Africa Regional Conference on Loss and Damage African states spelt out a number of issues they want to see done in regards to the Loss and Damage Fund;
The leaders declared the Advisory Board Decision in Geneva is null and void; condemning the apparent subversion of the laid-down procedures by the Advisory Board, and called upon appointing authorities, especially those from Africa and other developing countries, to investigate the possibility of collusion, carrot-dangling and manipulation by industrialised countries.
To this end they called on the Chair of the Committee of the Heads of State and Government on Climate Change (CAHOSCC) and Chair of AGN to pronounce themselves, and expeditiously compel the Advisory Board to respect and adopt the recommendations of UNOPS-UNDRR.
Similarly, the leaders noted that the Imperative of climate justice should inform global response to loss and damage; saying they stand by the principles of climate justice, CBDR-C, human rights including children’s rights, and gender equality, in addressing Loss and Damage.
This even as they urged for the implementation of locally-led, people-centred frameworks, ensuring genuine participation of frontline communities and civil society across the programme/ project cycles.
Consequently, the leaders declared that the Board should be driven by the best interest of people at the frontline of the climate crisis by rising above partisan interests and develop sound and adequate operational modalities, delivery mechanisms, access modalities, financial instruments and funding structures that facilitate adequate and timely access of the funds to vulnerable communities and countries.
Additionally, they said the Loss and Damage Fund pledges and replenishments should be honoured without delay, citing the previous Funds have faced deliberately-schemed long, tedious bureaucratic delays in deployment.
Further, the leaders declared that interim host of the Fund should work hard to gain their trust as a credible partner. They noted that the trust deficit that characterises the World Bank should not be allowed to jeopardise the progress made in the functionality and operationalisation of the Fund.
In their declaration, the African leaders also asked Developed countries should stop shifting goalposts urging to be transparent and accountable in their contributions to the Fund.
Finally they called upon all African Leaders and Institutions to stand with people by ensuring Loss and Damage Fund serves its purpose urging them to advance a shared and collective accountability in positioning African people above all
personal and partisan political and economic interests, and ramp up pressure on the
North to honour their commitments, upholding the imperatives of climate justice.
Loss and Damage
Loss and damage refers to the negative effects of climate change that occur despite mitigation and adaptation efforts. While mitigation addresses the causes of climate change (like reducing greenhouse gas emissions) and adaptation addresses its impacts (like building sea walls to prevent flooding), loss and damage is concerned with the unavoidable and irreversible impacts of the climate crisis.
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