Climate change: “Loss and damage” fund payouts could take decades, scientists warn

The loss and damage fund—agreed at the 27th United Nations climate change conference (COP27) to help poorer countries respond to climate disasters1—could be derailed by arguments over “contested science” and take years to pay out, scientists have warned.Speaking at the World Science Forum in Cape Town on 7 December, Roger Pielke Jr, professor in the environmental studies programme at the University of Colorado Boulder, said, “One reason rich countries were happy to sign the loss and damage framework is because there’s a little bit of a secret there: arguments over loss and damage can go on for years, for decades, before any money changes hands.”The loss and damage fund was agreed as COP27 closed, with a transitional committee expected to meet before the end of March 2023 to make recommendations on how the fund will work. These proposals will then be put to countries at COP28 in November 2023.During his…
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