COP27: wins and losses from VOICE members’ perspective

A historical agreement concerning a loss and damage fund was signed at COP27, representing a further step toward climate justice. However, the global Conference of the Parties has disappointed in emissions reduction, climate mitigation and adaptation, and gender-just climate action.

In November 2022, Egypt hosted the 27th Conference of the Parties of the UNFCCC (COP27), which is considered an opportunity for many stakeholders to effectively advance on important topics around climate change.

Thanks to civil society’s pressure, countries have managed to agree on a loss and damage fund to provide compensation to vulnerable developing countries for the losses and damages that they face as a result of climate change. Governments agreed to establish a ‘transitional committee’ to make recommendations on how to operationalise the new funding arrangements and the fund at COP28 next year. The humanitarian community welcomes this historical agreement.

However, very little progress has been achieved to tackle climate change and its negative impacts on human societies and the natural environment. Countries must continue to raise ambition on emissions reductions, support a just transition out of fossil fuels, deliver on climate finance and unravel the details of the new loss and damage fund to help to make it operational as soon as possible. Some of the main causes of climate change are weakly addressed in the final texts: a meaningful push towards the 1.5°C limit is missing, risking climate impact escalation. The so-called ‘implementation’ COP fails to deliver new finance for climate adaptation and mitigation from developed countries to developing ones. Moreover, no substantial progress in advancing gender equality in climate action has been reached.

Please find below a list of statements and other documents shared by VOICE members on the main outcome of COP27:

Alianza por la Solidaridad – Damage and Loss Fund: Bittersweet victory for the most vulnerable (in Spanish)

CARE international – New fund but small funds:  Climate summit outcomes lag behind needs for gender-just climate action & Rosa van Driel at COP27

CARE Österreich – End of COP27: Important milestone and alarming delays (in German)

Christian Aid – COP27 loss and damage fund a victory for vulnerable but fossil fuels remain elephant in the room & Victoria Gill at COP27

Concern Worldwide – Concern welcomes landmark decision on climate loss and damage fund for world’s poorest countries

Mercy Corps – Creating Loss and Damage Fund at COP27 Was a Step Forward but Must be Accompanied by Investments in Climate Adaptation and Mitigation

Trócaire – Trócaire welcomes landmark COP27 agreement for Loss and Damage fund & The Last Word With Matt Cooper (Podcast) 

Welthungerhilfe – COP27: Fighting symptoms is simply not enough & Michael Kuehn on COP27