Which countries might benefit from a loss and damage fund?
8/12/2022: The recent COP27 climate talks in Egypt agreed to establish a new fund for climate loss and damage, but not which countries might benefit from it. There are varying interpretations of the concept of vulnerability to extreme weather events.
Source: Climate Home News
EU law cracks down on deforestation-linked imports
7/12/2022: The European Union has finalized a law that will ban the trade of commodities associated with deforestation and forest degradation, such as beef, cocoa, soy and timber. Companies will be required to issue a due diligence statement verifying that imported goods don’t come from deforested land.
Source: Mongabay
Six key issues at stake for biodiversity COP15
2/12/2022: The 15th Conference of the Parties to the UN Convention on Biological Diversity is expected to adopt a plan to reverse the alarming trend of global biodiversity loss. Preparatory negotiations on the Post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework have achieved some consensus on its overall approach to protect 30% of land and sea by 2030.
Source: China Dialogue
COP27 was a mirage in the Sinai deserts
29/11/2022: Sunita Narain argues that the outcome of COP27 was the worst in the history of these negotiations. Decisions were either no-decisions or regressive. There is no meaningful approach to loss and damage unless it is framed in terms of liability and compensation.
Source: Down to Earth
UN calls for doubling of finance for nature-based solutions
1/12/2022: The second edition of the State of Finance for Nature finds that investments into nature-based solutions must double by 2025 to deliver goals for climate, biodiversity, and land degradation. Subsidies for nature-negative activities need to be phased out.
Source: UN Environment Programme
UN biodiversity talks approach ‘Copenhagen or Paris’ moment
22/11/2022: The UN biodiversity summit in Montreal in December will seek agreement to reverse nature loss and restore ecosystems by 2030. Negotiations on finance will aim to mobilize $200 billion per year and phase out subsidies for nature-destructive practices.
Source: Climate Home News
What was decided at COP27 climate talks
20/11/2022: Developing countries got the loss and damage fund they fought for at COP27, on the proviso that the burden of paying into it does not all fall on rich governments. A transitional committee will look into what funding is needed and where the money should come from.
Source: Climate Home News
African activists oppose local fossil fuel developments
17/11/2022: African delegations have exploited COP27 to embrace the new scramble for oil and gas in the continent. according to Greenpeace. However, African activists pledge concerted resistance to local fossil fuel expansion.
Source: Greenpeace International
UN climate summit set for tough negotiations in final week
11/11/2022: Developing countries showed a united front during the first week of COP27 on the need for a dedicated fund for loss and damage, ideally financed by taxes on fossil fuel firms. Notably, the conference is being attended by over 6,000 members of coal, oil and gas companies.
Source: China Dialogue
COP27: It’s Africa’s time to lead
7/11/2022: The lack of momentum at COP27 may create space for Africa to take charge of its energy and climate future. The response of richer countries to recent multiple global crises undermines established principles for climate negotiations.
Source: African Arguments