Progress and frustration on Loss and Damage at recent COPs
Over the last five COPs, loss and damage has clearly moved from a politically sensitive idea to a formal part of the climate regime, with the creation of a dedicated fund and clearer institutional architecture. Still, finance remains far below the real needs of vulnerable countries, and many details on access, scale, and non‑economic losses are unresolved, so the gap between promises and concrete support is still large.
There has been historic progress in recognising loss and damage and setting up mechanisms, but delivery is too slow compared to the impacts communities are already facing. My main concern is that negotiations often produce new pledges and structures without guaranteeing predictable, needs‑based finance. For these outcomes to be truly satisfactory, future COPs will need to focus less on designing new instruments and more on filling them with real resources, simplifying access for vulnerable countries, and ensuring that non‑economic losses and local voices are central to decision‑making.