The issue of loss and damage has been discussed within the UN Framework Convention on Climate (UNFCCC) for many years. It relates to climate change impacts that are not or cannot be avoided through mitigation and adaptation. Common examples include sea-level rise and extreme weather events.
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Small island states, who are particularly vulnerable to climate change impacts, have been a driving force behind these discussions. In 2013, parties established the Warsaw International Mechanism (WIM) and, most recently, they established the Santiago Network aimed at mobilizing technical assistance to support developing countries as well as a new Fund dedicated to loss and damage.
At the June Climate Meetings, a dialogue convened for parties to take stock of these developments. Parties reflected on how to ensure coordination and collaboration within the loss and damage landscape, with many calling for regular meetings among the Mechanism, Network, and Fund. They also touched upon issues such as:
- the availability, affordability, and standardization of data for risk assessment; and
- funding reaching those on the forefront, with a trigger-based disbursement of funding, minimum percentage allocation for small island developing states (SIDS) and least developed countries (LDCs), and small grants channeled through programmatic approaches.
Parties also reflected on how to ensure UNFCCC processes are fit for purpose. Among the big issues addressed on Friday were: how to define what issues are discussed at which meeting and how to cluster these agenda items in a conducive way; and how parties want to address budgetary constraints in the Secretariat.
Delegates also heard a logistics briefing on the 29th meeting of the Conference of the Parties (COP 29) to the UNFCCC, which will take place in November 2024 in Baku, Azerbaijan. Many parties and representatives of observer organizations lamented that accommodation prices largely surpass typical rates for Baku and called for assurances that freedom of assembly will be upheld.
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All ENB photos are free to use with attribution. For the Bonn Climate Change Conference 2024, please use: Photo by IISD/ENB | Kiara Worth.
Glasgow Dialogue on Loss and Damage
Delegates gather for the Glasgow Dialogue on Loss and Damage
Jean-Christophe Donnellier, Co-Chair, Board of the Fund for responding to loss and damage
Aysin Turpanci, Subsidiary Body for Implementation (SBI) Rapporteur
Nasser Alshareef, Kuwait
Trigg Talley, US
Delegates raise their placards to speak
Kossivi Nevaeme Adessou, Togo
Global Stocktake Dialogue
The second roundtable for the GST focused on enabling and cross-cutting elements within domestic arrangements
Fukunaga Kenichiro, Japan
Yamikani Idriss, Malawi
Andreas Fazekas, European Commission, presented on the European perspective
Luca Lo Re, International Energy Agency (IEA)
Christopher Bartlett, Vanuatu
Multilateral Assessment
Delegates gather for the Multilateral Assessment
Aksana Melnikovich, Belarus
Gonzalo Guaiquil, SBI Vice-Chair, facilitated the discussions
Nicoletta Kythreotou, Cyprus
Kristi Klaas, Estonia
Delegates listen to the assessments presented
Joint SBI and SBSTA Chairs' Dialogue with Observer Organizations
Delegates gather for the joint SBI and Subsidiary Body for Scientific and Technological Advice (SBSTA) Chairs' dialogue with observer organizations
Nabeel Munir, SBI Chair, and Harry Vreuls, SBSTA Chair
Bert De Wel, Trade Unions NGOs (TUNGO)
Melissa Low, Research and Independent NGOs (RINGO)
Jennifer Brunton, Farmers
Informal Consultations Throughout the Day
Informal consultations on research and systematic observation
Informal consultations on the Just Transition Work Programme
A spin-off group meets during the informal consultations on Article 6.8
Informal consultations on Local Communities and Indigenous Peoples Platform (LCIPP)
Informal consultations on administrative, financial, and institutional matters
Civil Society Actions
Members of civil society demonstrate in the corridors, calling for financing for loss and damage and for polluters to pay up
As the negotiations continue, members of civil society demonstrate outside the venue, calling for an end to fossil fuels and for a ceasefire in Palestine, highlighting that the same systems of oppression have created both the climate crisis and the genocide
Around the Venue
UNFCCC Executive Secretary Simon Stiell and Mukhtar Babayev, COP 29 President-designate
Alpha Kaloga, Co-Chair, Santiago Network Advisory Board, speaks with Jean-Christophe Donnellier, Co-Chair, Board of the Fund for responding to loss and damage
Mariam Allam, Egypt
