Assessing Loss and Damage is fundamental to Global Stock Take

8 May 2018

Just a quick reminder from ECO to Parties: The Global Stocktake (GST) is about “achieving the purpose of the Paris Agreement and its long-term goals,” which has to be done in a comprehensive manner. An integral part of the Paris Agreement is Article 8 which demands assessing the progress on “averting, minimizing and addressing Loss and Damage”. Taking such progress into account in the GST is a litmus test of our collective progress towards these goals.

 

The Paris Agreement recognized loss and damage as the third pillar of climate action – alongside mitigation and adaptation. All three pillars are fundamentally connected: inadequate mitigation and insufficient adaptation will result in more loss and damage. Vulnerable countries, communities and ecosystems are already facing devastating impacts at “just” 1ºC of warming. The long-term temperature goal of the Agreement defined in Article 2.1(a) explicitly recognizes that achieving this goal would significantly reduce the risk and impacts of climate change. If we want to collectively progress towards this goal, an assessment of the risks and impacts of the gap between current ambition and the long-term goals should therefore be included.

 

Article 14 is very clear in this regard: The purpose of the GST is to take stock of the implementation of the entire Paris Agreement. So, taking stock of the progress on enhancing understanding, action, and support with respect to loss and damage as mandated in Article 8.3 is necessary. Furthermore, Article 14.1 makes it clear that the GST shall be done in a comprehensive and facilitative manner and in the light of equity and the best available science. Hence, the GST must consider all components of the Paris Agreement in a holistic manner by considering impacts on poor and vulnerable people and ecosystems, and include the best available science on Loss and Damage.

 

Therefore, when the textual negotiations begin, ECO urges Parties, especially the developed countries, to ensure the inclusion of loss and damage in a meaningful manner in order to achieve the real purpose of the GST, that would then guide the future course of action.