Failure of UN Climate Negotiations to Address Damages and Loss

Despite nearly three decades of UN climate negotiations, the issue of damages caused by fossil fuels remains unresolved. Initial discussions around compensation and liability have been erased, and the term 'loss and damage' is now controversial. Island states like Vanuatu have been demanding payment for the damage caused by climate change, backed by evidence from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). These countries are experiencing economic costs greater than their annual incomes due to climate-induced disasters. The creation of a loss and damage fund has seen limited progress, with much of the money being in the form of loans, exacerbating countries' existing debt burdens. The failure to address damages adequately has led some countries to consider turning to the International Court of Justice.