Philippines Selected To Host The Board Of The Fund For Responding To Loss And Damage

The Philippines has been chosen to host the board of the “Loss and Damage” fund created by U.N. talks, marking another step towards providing financial help for countries to recover and rebuild from the impact of global warming. Last month, the World Bank’s board approved a plan for the bank to act as interim host of the fund for four years.

An archipelago of more than 7,600 islands

The Philippines must enact legislation before it can become host and Marcos did not say when it would take on its role. An archipelago of more than 7,600 islands, the Philippines, which also has a seat on the fund’s board, is frequently hit by typhoons and other climate-change induced disasters.

Attention on the Asia-Pacific region,

As host, Manila could focus attention on the Asia-Pacific region, where many countries struggle with limited resources, hindering their ability to respond to the effects of climate change. Who pays for loss and damage has been among the most intractable issues at U.N. climate talks, as developed countries blamed for producing the most emissions historically have been nervous about how much of the bill for redressing damage they might face.

U.N. “loss and damage” fund

COP27 in Egypt in 2022 however managed to establish a U.N. “loss and damage” fund dedicated to addressing irreparable climate-driven damage from drought, floods and rising sea levels, but did not decide on detail. Lidy Nacpil, coordinator of the Asian Peoples’ Movement on Debt and Development (APMDD), said it was up to the Philippines to demonstrate political leadership. They should demand developed countries fulfil their historical, legal, and moral obligation to provide reparations for climate devastation.