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Landmark win on Loss and Damage
By Ross Fitzpatrick, Christian Aid Ireland’s Policy and Advocacy Officer
COP27 managed to achieve what no previous climate conference has managed before - a political agreement between all governments to set up a Loss and Damage fund. After two weeks of fraught negotiations in Egypt, historically highemitting countries finally accepted the need for a dedicated fund to support communities in the immediate aftermath of climate disasters.
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This landmark decision represents a significant win and is the result of decades of campaigning by civil society organisations like ourselves. As Christian Aid Ireland’s representative at COP27, I met with then Taoiseach Micheál Martin and Minister Eamon Ryan as well as government officials throughout the negotiations to outline the key asks of our partners from the frontlines of the climate crisis.
Ireland’s constructive role as the lead negotiator for the EU in the Loss and Damage negotiations and the ultimate decision to establish a fund was due in no small part to the collective efforts of Christian Aid and other members of Irish civil society to influence key decision makers.
Despite the historic agreement on Loss and Damage, it would be naïve to label COP27 as a resounding success. The continued failure of countries to commit to phasing out all fossil fuels and get their own emissions down, the presence of a record 636 fossil fuel lobbyists, and the abysmal human rights record of the host country were a stark reminder of the powerful forces dedicated to undermining the efforts of the international climate justice movement.
The challenges between now and COP28 are immense. First and foremost, countries must urgently figure out how to raise the money needed to address Loss and Damage as climate disasters become more frequent.
Christian Aid Ireland will continue to push the Irish government to ensure that the Loss and Damage fund that is to be established is underpinned by the principles of equity and historical responsibility. We are grateful to all of you who stood with us and continue to stand up and speak out for what is right and just.
