The Hindu Editorial Vocabulary– Nov 21, 2022; Day 373

Incremental (Increasing gradually by regular degrees or additions) win: On ‘Loss and Damage’ fund commitment at COP27

COP27 commits to a compensation fund, but leaves important questions for later

The two-week long climate conference in Egypt has drawn to a close (to gradually finish) with a symbolic victory in the form of a fund that will compensate some of the countries bearing the brunt of (to suffer the main part or force of it) climate change-linked natural disasters. However, progress on action to keep temperatures from rising beyond 1.5°C of pre-industrial levels was limited. The 27th edition of the United Nations Conference of the Parties was projected to be an ‘implementation’ COP that would have decisively resolved questions on how developed countries, responsible for the bulk of historical emissions (The act of emitting), would make good (Act as promised) on an old promise to provide developing countries $100 billion annually by 2020. And whether the world would commit to end all categories of fossil fuel, and not just coal. Despite hours of negotiations, these deadlocks (A situation in which no progress can be made or no advancement is possible) remain. COP27 will certainly be remembered as the COP of Loss and Damages (L&D). A nearly three-decade old movement, first initiated by the island nation of Vanuatu and the Alliance of Small Island States, has come to partial fruition (Enjoyment derived from use or possession). There will now be a dedicated fund to compensate the most vulnerable (Susceptible to criticism, persuasion or temptation) developing countries that are already bearing the brunt of climate change-linked natural disasters. L&D refers to impacts of climate change that cannot be avoided either by mitigation (The action of lessening in severity or intensity) (cutting greenhouse gas emissions) or adaptation (modifying practices to buffer (Protect from impact) against climate change impacts). They also include not only economic damage to property but also loss of livelihoods, and the destruction of biodiversity (The diversity of plant and animal life in a particular habitat (or in the world as a whole)) and sites that have cultural importance. This broadens the scope for affected nations to claim compensation.

The text approved at Sharm el-Sheikh only commits to a fund being created and leaves discussions for how it is to be set up and, most importantly, who will pay how much to it, for future COP negotiations. While there have been nominal commitments by Scotland and Wallonia (Belgium) to donate to such a fund, the estimated L&D is already over $500 billion. During negotiations this year, the European Union pressed hard for China, the Arab states and “large, developing countries” — and this could include India — to contribute on the grounds that they were large emitters (something that emits (= sends out) light, a noise, or a substance, especially the gas carbon dioxide). This already opens up fresh occasion for acrimony (A rough and bitter manner) in future COPs and given that barely a third of committed climate finance has made its way to developing countries, the L&D fund too might take years before it can meaningfully operate. While the gain is incremental, countries ought not to lose momentum and must work harder to ensure that COPs remain credible catalysts (Something that causes an important event to happen) and are not occasions for pyrrhic (Of or relating to a war dance of ancient Greece) victories.