COP's and their outcomes over the last five years
Over the last five COPs, the issue of loss and damage has gradually moved from discussion to more concrete action, although progress has been slow.
At COP24 in Katowice in 2018, countries continued work under the Warsaw International Mechanism on Loss and Damage. The focus was mainly on improving coordination, knowledge sharing, and technical support, but there was no agreement on creating a dedicated funding mechanism.
At COP25 in Madrid in 2019, the Santiago Network was established. This network was designed to provide technical assistance to developing countries that are particularly vulnerable to climate impacts. While this was an important institutional step, developing countries were disappointed that no finance facility was agreed at that time.
At COP26 in Glasgow in 2021, the Glasgow Dialogue was launched. This created a formal space for countries to discuss how to finance loss and damage. However, it still did not result in a new fund. Many vulnerable countries felt that discussions were moving forward, but not fast enough.
COP27 in Sharm el Sheikh in 2022 marked a major breakthrough. Parties agreed to establish a dedicated Loss and Damage Fund to support developing countries facing climate impacts that cannot be avoided through mitigation or adaptation. This was widely seen as a historic decision, especially for small island states and least developed countries that have long demanded such support.
At COP28 in Dubai in 2023, countries agreed on arrangements to operationalize the Loss and Damage Fund. Initial financial pledges were announced, and decisions were taken on governance arrangements and how the fund would function. Loss and damage was also reflected in the Global Stocktake, reinforcing its importance in global climate action.
My level of satisfaction is 3, Neutral. There has clearly been progress, especially with the agreement to create and begin operationalizing a dedicated fund. This represents recognition of climate justice concerns and the reality that some impacts cannot be adapted to. However, the scale of financial pledges so far remains far below estimated needs. Many vulnerable countries are already experiencing severe economic and non economic losses such as displacement, cultural loss, and ecosystem destruction. The pace of implementation and clarity around long term funding sources are still developing.
Historically, loss and damage negotiations have been sensitive because they raise issues of responsibility and fairness. While recent COPs show movement toward acknowledging these concerns, real world impacts are escalating faster than financial and institutional responses. For these reasons, progress feels meaningful but still insufficient.