Thank you for contacting me about proposals for a loss and damage fund.

I am aware of calls for an international loss and damage fund to help communities severely impacted by the effects of the climate crisis such as heatwaves, wildfires, sea level rise, hurricanes, floods and droughts.

The Glasgow Climate Pact, agreed at COP26 last November, committed to funding the Santiago Network – a body that aims to build technical expertise on dealing with loss and damage, such as helping countries consider how to move communities away from threatened shorelines. It also established the Glasgow Dialogue on Financing Loss and Damage. The Glasgow Dialogue aims to bring stakeholders together to discuss arrangements for the funding of activities to avert, minimise and address loss and damage, giving visibility to the frontline communities and those most vulnerable to the adverse effects of climate change. The first Glasgow Dialogue took place in Bonn, Germany, from 7-11 June 2022.

I share concerns that the Government backtracked on promises made at COP26 at the talks in Bonn this summer. I believe this sends the wrong message to our allies and partners in the global south.

While we accelerate the pace of the net-zero transition I believe we need to rebuild the ‘high ambition coalition’ of vulnerable and ambitious developed countries that was mobilised to bring about the Paris Agreement of 2015. That means finally delivering on the promises made to developing countries, including for the $100 billion of finance to help them fight the climate crisis. It must also include progress on the issue of loss and damage, which will be critical to the reassembly of that coalition ahead of COP27 this November. I believe will be important to retain the trust of, and secure buy-in from, climate-vulnerable states.

I can assure you I will follow any developments in the run up to COP27 closely. Thank you once again for contacting me about this issue.