COP21: small island states hope for an agreement on climate damage

Small island nations facing flooding from rising sea levels are striking a deal with wealthy nations that would see loss and damage support measures included in the global climate deal to be finalized in Paris this week.

Developed countries have resisted such a move for more than a year, fearing it could make them liable for billions of dollars in compensation.

But EU climate commissioner Miguel Arias Cañete told the Financial Times that there was now a “growing understanding” that loss and damage provisions would be included in the Paris agreement, as long as they did not expose not the rich countries to new compensation claims. A draft text of the agreement was finalized on Saturday.

Arias Cañete said a meeting US President Barack Obama had with five island leaders last week during the Paris talks, known as COP21, helped pave the way for a compromise on this which has become one of the most contentious UN climate issues. talks in recent years.

“I am very happy that the United States is showing flexibility because from the very beginning of this process we have supported this concept – of course with adequate language. [on compensation],” he said.

Todd Stern, the US climate envoy, said the United States was “very engaged” on the issue and had long recognized the need to support countries that are extremely vulnerable to the impacts of climate change.

But he added: “There is one thing that we do not and will not accept in this agreement and that is the notion that there should be liability and compensation for loss and damage. This is a line we cannot cross.

“It’s not a US-centric position, but it’s a position that’s important to us.”

It remains unclear what kind of loss and damage measures could feature in the final deal delegates from nearly 200 countries are expected to seal this Friday. The draft text of the agreement called for the establishment of a “climate change displacement coordination centre” to relocate people affected by the severe storms and other extreme weather scientists say it is more likely as global temperatures rise.

The text also says plans to address “irreversible and permanent damage resulting from human-induced climate change” should be completed within four years.

Island country delegates said they were very pleased that rich countries no longer outright rejected the idea that their inability to tackle global warming meant that additional support was needed for small poor countries facing a threat. for their existence.

But James Fletcher of Saint Lucia, the small island state in the Caribbean, said the question of how to frame support for loss and damage in the Paris agreement was still a stumbling block. “We believe we already have avenues of liability and compensation under international law and international agreements,” he said.

“The discussion going on right now is a discussion between lawyers. How do we get to a text that allays the fears of the US, EU and other countries that we are creating a liability and compensation mechanism.

“And how do you respond to our concern not to give up rights that we currently already have under international agreements.”

UN climate talks have been held for more than 20 years without achieving the deep reductions in global emissions from burning fossil fuels that scientists say are needed to avoid dangerous levels of global warming.

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