COP 29 PREVIEW: A Review of the Loss and Damage Fund’s Progress Since COP 28

Written by Web Daniel Sebakijje

As the world prepares for the 29th United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP 29) in Baku, Azerbaijan, it’s essential to reflect on the achievements of COP 28 in Dubai. The conference saw a record-breaking attendance of over 85,000 representatives from UNFCCC member countries, including a large delegation from Uganda, my motherland.

In fact, during the conference, the overwhelming number of Uganda’s representatives (over 600), caught the attention of citizens more than the actual issues discussed.

Social media was awash with attacks on the wastage of public funds on the government officials and their assistants, technocrats, and politicians on flights, allowances, and per-diems, but the Commissioner for Climate Change, Margaret Athieno Mwebesa who was Uganda’s focal person at the conference was quick to defend the humongous delegation, insisting that every one of them had a significant role to play in the various ‘thematic areas” as she pleaded with the public to instead support them as they ‘fight for our country’.

One of the significant outcomes of COP 28 was the agreement to establish a new funding mechanism for Loss and Damage. This development was particularly crucial for Uganda and other low-income countries vulnerable to climate change. To give perspective, globally, it is acknowledged that the developed countries are primarily responsible for climate change, yet the developing countries bear the brunt of its effects.

The highest rates of energy consumptions are founded in developed countries and this is a major cause of global greenhouse emissions. The rich countries attain their wealth through exploring and utilizing more energy in their industrial activities which is also higher than developing nations.

Research by Oxfam revealed that in 2019, the super-rich 1% were responsible for 16% of global carbon emissions, enough to cause 1.3 million deaths due to heat. In contrast, the poorest 66% of humanity (5 billion people) accounted for the same percentage.

It further showed that by 2030, the emissions of the 1% will be over 22 times more than the safe limit (the emissions allowed if we are to stay below 1.5°C global warming).

Yet a 60% tax on the incomes of the super-rich 1% of earners globally could raise US$6.4 trillion to fund renewable energy and a transition away from fossil fuels.

It is from such evidence and more that at COP 27 in Egypt in 2022, countries agreed to establish a fund to support the poor nations in addressing the ill effects of climate change.  And to show their commitment to the cause, in the first week of COP 28, they all agreed to operationalize funding arrangements for addressing loss and damage, with a new dedicated fund under the UNFCCC.

Where is the Will?

Nearly a year later, the total pledges to the Loss and Damage fund from these countries stands at a meager 800 million US dollars, which is grossly inadequate given the scope of the problem.

Take an example, Pakistan alone, in 2022, suffered arguably one of the worst storms in recent years, claiming over 1,500 people, causing $14.8 billion of damage and $15.2 billion of economic losses.

The United States of America, one of the developed countries, has committed only 17 million US dollars to the Loss and Damage fund, yet, by April 2024, they had given $175 billion to Ukraine, with most of this military-related.

At COP 29, Uganda and other African countries should press for concrete action on the Loss and Damage fund. The continent is already experiencing devastating climate-related disasters. It is already getting unusually hotter, we have started experiencing drought due to greenhouse gases according to scientists, our neighbor Kenya recently lost more than 200 lives to extreme floods, and there is a surge in vector-borne diseases like malaria and dengue fever in the region.

The fund is particularly crucial for mitigation, adaptation and resilience efforts like building shelters and stormwater drainage systems or stocking up for medicine and food, among others.

As we head into COP 29 slated for November 11 – 22 in Baku, Azerbaijan, the question remains, “Are the global rich genuinely committed to supporting the vulnerable in this fight against nature?” The Conference must prioritize operationalizing the Loss and Damage fund to ensure meaningful progress in climate change’s devastating impact on developing nations.