Scientific Study

Deal on compensation for climate impacts represents major milestone for climate justice. The 27th UN Climate Change Conference (COP27) has ended with an historic deal to create a new fund, in which countries responsible for high carbon emissions will compensate vulnerable countries suffering from climate impacts. “Creating the loss and damage fund is a first, important step. It is an important moment in the global climate justice movement,” said Dr Siobhan McDonnell, a COP27 negotiator on loss and damage for the island state of Palau. Harjeet Singh, Head of Global Strategy at Climate Action Network International, agreed: “COP27, in many ways, was a turning point in dealing with the consequences of climate change.” This timely breakthrough has been agreed during a year of relentless climate extremes—from flooding in Pakistan to drought in the horn of Africa. https://doi.org/10.1016/s2542-5196(22)00331-x