An article written by Dorothy Nalubega
In the recently concluded Glasgow Climate Pact, rich countries avoided and refused to commit to Loss and damage because the word ‘compensation’ would bind them responsible for causing the damage!
Loss and damage is when the effects of extreme weather conditions caused by climate crisis exceed what is possible to mitigate or adapt to, for example hurricanes, floods, cyclones, and landslides among others.
Ever since 2013 when it was brought on table, COP21 when it was accepted in the Paris Agreement as a third pillar that requires to be financed alongside mitigation and adaptation, COP24 Katowice when it was accepted in the Paris rulebook, COP25 in Madrid when it was ignored and now at COP26 in Glasgow where we had our hopes…
It is heart-breaking to learn that the rich countries refused it just because of a mere word in the text – “Compensation”!!!!!!, It hurts when you know they have the power, the money to pay for the loss and damage caused to the people in the global south who are already facing death, displacement, diseases, hunger etcetera yet they contribute the least to Green House Gas emission.. to see that you can do something about it but refuse…. Where is the conscience? Where is the Love? Do you have any empathy left at all? Do you have a stone in a place where your heart is supposed to be?
O.K….. We bend low because of our dying, suffering brothers and sisters from the small Islands states, Africa, global south……tell us what you want us to call that money, save the innocent people dying. Use the words you want if compensation is a problem for you but save the already suffering people. We cannot wait any longer. Stop the ego…Finance Loss and Damage. Dorothy Nalubega- Climate Change Campaigner, Feminist. Environmental and Women Rights Activist from Uganda