Despite Asia-Pacific developing countries’ failure to nominate their two representatives, the United Nations has set a date for crucial negotiations over funding for climate victims.
By doing this, the block is under increased pressure to select its members, or else the world’s largest continent could be left out of discussions on establishing a loss and damage fund.
A breakthrough was reached at the Cop27 climate summit last November when governments decided to create a fund for communities most at risk from climate disasters.
They recommended that a 24-member transitional committee iron out the specifics of this fund, such as who pays for it, who receives benefits from it, and who is responsible for ensuring that money is spent as intended.
Governments agreed that the members of the committee, who are carefully divided based on wealth and geography, should be nominated by 15 December 2022.
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Yet, only ten of the 24 representatives had been selected two months after the deadline.
The developing nations of the Asia-Pacific region have not yet chosen their two nominations, according to the UN website.
Seven Asia-Pacific states, according to a source with knowledge of the discussions, wanted their candidates to be chosen.
These delays have led to worries that the procedure and crucial financing for victims of climate change may be postponed.
According to Saleemul Huq, a climate scientist from Bangladesh who has participated in all 27 Cop conferences, the delay is disturbing and will leave very little time for the job the committee must accomplish before Cop28.
But, the UN’s climate division informed committee members that the meeting will take place from March 27 to 29, according to a document seen by newsmen.
Story was adapted from Climate Home News
