Category: Loss And Damage

Vanuatu publishes a Draft Resolution requesting an ICJ Opinion on Climate Legal Liability

Vanuatu, as part of a coalition of 18 states, has recently made available and intends to commence negotiations on a draft United Nations General Assembly resolution that requests an International Court of Justice Advisory Opinion on climate change legal liability. In our analysis, we discuss some of the legal considerations around the draft text and speculate on what it might mean for loss and damage.
  • Loss And Damage

Inter-Parliamentary Union supports a Loss and Damage Fund, but US states it won’t get it past Congress

The Assembly of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) recently voted in favour of the emergency resolution put forward by Pakistan on the creation of “a Global Fund/Financing facility for climate Vulnerable Countries to Address Loss and Damage Associated with Climate Change", with more than 645 votes in favour. Parliamentary support is a key component in whether a loss and damage finance facility is agreed to internationally and can be highly influential on executive action. The US recently stated that while it is open to discussing the facility, anything that would need to go through the US Congress was a non-starter.
  • Loss And Damage

Four African countries part of a new group of 15 states seeking an ICJ opinion on legal liability for climate change

Mozambique, Morocco, Sierra Leone and Uganda have joined Vanuatu as part of a group of 15 nations called the "Core Group" which announced that they intend to bring a draft resolution to the General Assembly that requests an International Court of Justice opinion on the rights and obligations of states in relation to climate change. These opinions can be highly influential in subsequent legal proceedings, and can be used as a climate justice benchmark in climate litigation.
  • COP27, Loss And Damage

EU Unclear on its Position for a Dedicated Loss and Damage Finance Facility

The EU’s position on a dedicated loss and damage finance facility remains unclear after a recent EU Council resolution on the issue of climate finance. The US is outright unsupportive of dedicated funding. Talks at the Kinshasa Pre-COP earlier this month were generally optimistic on this issue but did not yield any clear direction on how negotiations will proceed at the COP. A task team has however been put together to ensure Loss and Damage is placed on the formal agenda.
  • COP27, Loss And Damage

Developing Country Blocs Reiterate Support for a Loss and Damage Finance Facility as Canada Pushes Back on Windfall Taxes

UN Secretary-General António Guterres, the LDC Group and the G77+China have reiterated their support for dedicated loss and damage finance. Denmark has also pledged initial funding towards loss and damage. However, the G20 has failed to seize an opportunity to advance country positions on loss and damage, and Canada has pushed back on suggestions that finance should come from oil and gas windfall taxes.
  • Loss And Damage

UNHRC weighs in on Loss and Damage and Tabling of Climate Resolution at UN General Assembly

In a recent resolution the UNHCR has expressly acknowledged Loss and Damage and the importance of meaningful engagement at the Glasgow Dialogue. This will have implications for the upcoming vote to be presented by Vanuatu at the United Nations General Assembly in September.
  • COP27, Loss And Damage, Uncategorized

African Climate Wire is an initiative of Climate Legal, a climate change law and policy specialist consultancy, based in South Africa and operating across the continent.

Our independent reporting is made possible with the generous support of the African Climate Foundation. Our opinions, findings, interpretations and conclusions remain our own, and do not in any way represent those of the African Climate Foundation.

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