"After 30 years of deadlock, a new U.N. climate agreement aims to pay developing countries for loss and damage caused by global warming. But huge questions remain about how it would work."
"SHARM EL SHEIKH, Egypt — Negotiators from nearly 200 countries concluded two weeks of talks early Sunday in which their main achievement was agreeing to establish a fund that would help poor, vulnerable countries cope with climate disasters made worse by the pollution spewed by wealthy nations that is dangerously heating the planet.
The decision regarding payments for climate damage marked a breakthrough on one of the most contentious issues at United Nations climate negotiations. For more than three decades, developing nations have pressed for loss and damage money, asking rich, industrialized countries to provide compensation for the costs of destructive storms, heat waves and droughts fueled by global warming.
But the United States and other wealthy countries had long blocked the idea, for fear that they could be held legally liable for the greenhouse gas emissions that are driving climate change.
The agreement hammered out in this Red Sea resort town says nations cannot be held legally liable for payments. The deal calls for a committee with representatives from 24 countries to work over the next year to figure out exactly what form the fund should take, which countries should contribute and where the money should go. Many of the other details are still to be determined."
SEE ALSO:
"COP27 Leaves World On Dangerous Warming Path Despite Historic Climate Fund" (Washington Post)
"UN Adopts Historic Pact on Payments for Climate Damages" (Bloomberg Green)
"The 1.5C Climate Goal Died At Cop27 – But Hope Must Not" (Guardian)
"What Are The Key Outcomes Of Cop27 Climate Summit?" (Guardian)
"Cop27 Agrees Historic ‘Loss And Damage’ Fund For Climate Impact In Developing Countries" (Guardian)
"UN Adopts Historic Pact on Payments for Climate Damages" (Bloomberg Green)
"What Are People Saying About The COP27 Deal?" (Reuters)
"Loss And Damage: Fight Over Human Harm, Huge Climate Costs" (AP)
"UN Climate Deal: Calamity Cash, But No New Emissions Cuts" (AP)
"COP27 Summit Agrees To Help Climate Victims. But It Does Nothing To Stop Fossil Fuels" (CNN)
"Quote Box: UN Climate Deal On Historic Fund" (AP)
