COP31 is mentioned in this positive essay and as I write there is currently a scramble to host the high-profile event in South Australia's capital so I thought I would take a look at one item on its original agenda and see how it was fairing - Loss and Damage.
Loss and Damage is basically where developed countries financially assist undeveloped countries so that they can make the transition to lower emissions.
Although mentioned on the first agenda it wasn’t discussed until COP6, and at COP9 it was ‘looked at,' and then at COP11 they agreed to establish a fund.
At COP12 a plan was adopted but they couldn’t agree on the funding and neither could they at subsequent meetings until ....
COP17 where it was agreed that the fund would distribute $100B pa.
But there were no pledges so nothing happened until ten years later at COP27 where $700 million was pledged. A fraction of what was needed.
At COP28 the text for the fund was finalised - the meeting's only achievement except for the wording on a non-binding agreement to ‘begin to move away’ from fossil fuels.
And we think COP31 is going to be any different?
My apologies to climate scientists who gave presentations at COP over many years in a futile effort to warn us about the threat that climate change poses.
I loved reading this piece, Katharine. Thanks for writing it!
COP31 is mentioned in this positive essay and as I write there is currently a scramble to host the high-profile event in South Australia's capital so I thought I would take a look at one item on its original agenda and see how it was fairing - Loss and Damage.
Loss and Damage is basically where developed countries financially assist undeveloped countries so that they can make the transition to lower emissions.
Although mentioned on the first agenda it wasn’t discussed until COP6, and at COP9 it was ‘looked at,' and then at COP11 they agreed to establish a fund.
At COP12 a plan was adopted but they couldn’t agree on the funding and neither could they at subsequent meetings until ....
COP17 where it was agreed that the fund would distribute $100B pa.
But there were no pledges so nothing happened until ten years later at COP27 where $700 million was pledged. A fraction of what was needed.
At COP28 the text for the fund was finalised - the meeting's only achievement except for the wording on a non-binding agreement to ‘begin to move away’ from fossil fuels.
And we think COP31 is going to be any different?
My apologies to climate scientists who gave presentations at COP over many years in a futile effort to warn us about the threat that climate change poses.