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Consider us also as a resource to help uplift your stories, reports, actions, and events - contact Daela Taeoalii-Tipton atdtaeoalii-tipton@climatenexus.org.
SPOTLIGHT
The Loss and Damage Transitional Committee is having a surprise fifth meeting this weekend in Abu Dhabi after failing to reach an outcome during the late-night conclusion of what was to be their final meeting October 17-20.
The Committee’s mandate is to offer technical guidance for the establishment of the Loss and Damage Fund during the UN’s annual climate conference (COP28) at the end of this month. Yet it’s clear there are still many fundamentals – location, governance, beneficiaries and contributors – to iron out. Fault lines around the US proposal to have the World Bank host the fund, as well as questions on eligibility, have stagnated tense negotiations.
“The notion of running from responsibility like the plague doesn’t work if you are the most responsible historically and lives and livelihoods are being severely impacted today,” Avinash Persaud, representing Barbados at the meetings, told Devex.
Of course, the issue of loss and damage cannot be mentioned without paying tribute to climate justice titan Saleemul Huq, who passed away earlier this week. An attendee of every COP, he fought tirelessly for the Loss and Damage fund since the beginning. His last piece of writing was publishedin The Guardian today on the subject.Our deepest condolences to his family - his passing is felt worldwide. The International Institute for Environment and Development has created a book of remembrance for all who wish to share their memories and tributes. A full actualization of the “Huq Fund'' would be a fitting tribute to Saleemul’s enormous legacy.
Pete Betts, EU’s chief negotiator when the Paris Agreement was signed, also passed awaylast week after a year long battle with cancer. We thank Pete for his commitment to elevating global climate ambition.
Saleemul Huq & colleagues celebrating the passage of the Loss and Damage Fund, COP27
Will you be attending COP28? Let us know by filling out this brief form - we will be there reporting on daily events and would love to connect.
ON OUR RADAR
A draft COP28 “declaration on climate & health” is doing the rounds, with the COP28 Presidency asking governments to sign off by November 30th. There’s not one mention of fossil fuels in the 12 page document, or even the death/injury from climate impacts globally. Instead, the document refers to “sustained reductions” in emissions, healthy diets and a “ONE Health” approach.
In response, a letter from 40m+ health professionals was released today, calling for a fossil fuel phaseout “as the decisive path to health for all.”
NEWS
Climate Diplomacy
Pre-COP: A critical meeting before the big COP28 summit will tackle thorny issues (Axios), Migrant workers toil in perilous heat to prepare for Cop28 climate talks in UAE (The Guardian)
“Abatement”: How ‘unabated’ snuck into climate negotiations (E&E $)
COP PR: Inside the campaign that put an oil boss in charge of a climate summit (The Intercept)
Country pledges: India unlikely to join global cooling pledge at COP28 - govt sources (Reuters), China set to release long-awaited methane plan before COP28 (The Straits Times)
International Finance
JETP: In Vietnam, climate arrests spark calls to halt energy transition deal (Reuters), Exclusive: Indonesia to omit private coal power plants from its JETP investment plan (Reuters)
New fund: Insurer body plans infrastructure fund for climate-hit economies (Financial Times $)
GCF: Small islands struggle to get help from UN's flagship climate fund (Climate Home)
Carbon offsets: COP28 faces debate over controversy-mired carbon credits (Barron's), Thailand’s forest communities fall victim to country’s climate promises (Devex), A UN-backed carbon offsetting project is poisoning my neighbourhood (The New Humanitarian)
Impacts
Conflict: How climate change drives conflict and war crimes around the globe (Inside Climate News), When conflict meets climate change, in Gaza and beyond (France24)
Gender: The disproportionate impact of climate change on women: A closer look ahead of COP28 (Down To Earth)
Human rights: UBS and Santander’s ‘green’ bonds linked to deforesters and rancher accused of slave labour in Brazil (Unearthed), ‘Very disturbing’: crackdown on oil pipeline protests in Uganda concerns UN rights expert (The Guardian)
Migration: Migration to rich countries hits all-time high (Financial Times $)
At a glance: 30,000 people across fifteen G7 and emerging economies were interviewed to understand how to unlock support for international climate investment. Top line: messaging should connect climate and development finance initiatives with their positive impact on living costs, the future economy, and – especially in emerging economies – jobs.You can watch the webinar recording here and read the key insights and recommendations here. The Money Talks team are offering bespoke briefing sessions for organizations on the research to provide valuable insights and offer tailored recommendations – reach out to carrie@blacksands.co.uk to schedule time.
At a glance: Gas as a transition fuel hurts people living in poverty, and renewable energies are a better development and climate solution for both the climate and local communities.
