Financial discussions for climate ‘loss and damage’ stalls at COP23

German Chancellor Angela Merkel (right) talks to French President Emmanuel Macron during the 23rd Conference of the Parties (COP) climate talks in Bonn, Germany, on Wednesday, Nov. 15, 2017. World leaders arrive at the global climate talks in Germany on Wednesday to give the negotiations a boost going into the final stretch. (Photo by OLIVER BERG / dpa via AP)

BONN, Germany — Despite the push of developing nations to include financial mechanisms to address “loss and damage” caused by climate change, a draft decision released by working groups of the 23rd Conference of Parties (COP) on Tuesday night effectively stalled financial discussions for compensation during high-level UN climate talks here.

World leaders are currently in talks to craft a road map for the implementation of the Paris Agreement, a global climate accord that seeks to limit the rise of global temperatures well below 2°C and curb the effects of climate change.

‘Weak language’

Harjeet Singh, who leads the global climate advocacy of ActionAid, said that the language used in the decisions on “loss and damage” was weak.

One of the most controversial issues in the conference is on “loss and damage” or the irreversible effects of climate change such as deaths during super typhoons, sinking islands due to rising sea levels, and intense droughts.

Developed countries have deflected discussions on creating a fund that will be used to address the adverse effects of climate change suffered by developing countries.

In a negotiation last week, the European Union and Australia said that they were wary of attributing climate change as the singular cause of extreme weather events.

“Not all disasters are fed by climate change,” a representative from the EU said. /atm