The need to adequately address ‘Loss
and Damage’ – the recognition that some climate related impacts are occurring
and will continue to occur despite efforts to reduce greenhouse gases – has
been a clear and repeated concern throughout the COP discussions so far.
Heard most frequently from those
countries at high risk of ‘Loss and Damage’ there is a concern that adequate
provision will not be made to support the most vulnerable in
dealing with unstoppable climate change impacts.
‘Loss and Damage’ can occur in human systems for
example by affecting jobs and livelihoods and in driving migration. This morning the United Nations University
Institute for Environment and Human Security presented new research about the frontline impact of climate change on
migration in Pacific Island States. The research found that 15 percent
of people in Tuvalu, 10 percent of people in Nauru and nearly 1.5 percent of
people in Kiribati have moved abroad over the course of the last ten years. Many others have tried to migrate and still more
have become “internal migrants,” placing strains on the already overpopulated
capitals. On the first day of the COP, the Prime Minister of Fiji
confirmed that his country was in discussion with neighboring Islands about the
potential to relocate their entire populations if the sea around them continues
to rise, demonstrating how real and immediate this problem is.
‘Loss and Damage’ also occurs in
natural systems such as biodiversity and the fate of coral reefs and the consequences
of the loss of these reefs, in terms of increasing coastal erosion and storm
surges, was highlighted by several governments and will be a major focus of
Ocean day tomorrow (3rd Dec).
During a press conference by the Climate Action Network today, creating
adequate provisions for ‘Loss and Damage’ was a key issue and seen as a major
plank in addressing the ocean generally.
Harjeet Singh of Action Aid said that it was in relation
to the ocean that ‘Loss and Damage’ becomes extremely important: “Its about
rising sea levels, its about oceans turning acidic, its about glaciers
melting. So how do we deal with that?
These are all new challenges and we need new solutions. We need a new,
permanent institution to deal with that.”
Although significant financial
pledges have been made to assist with various forms of adaptation, mitigation
and solutions development, as yet these continue to fall far short of what is
required and the need for more commitments and permanent solutions to ‘Loss and
Damage’ will continue as a strong demand.
