Only two days left to get it right: a Loss and Damage Fund that promotes human rights

The Center for International Environmental Law advocates for a human rights-based approach to the Loss and Damage Fund being finalized at COP28. The author argues that hosting the fund under the World Bank would undermine its autonomy, restrict direct access for affected communities, and impose inadequate safeguards. The statement calls for a Governing Instrument that explicitly recognizes human rights obligations, ensures the representation of Indigenous Peoples and marginalized groups on the Board, and establishes an independent grievance redress mechanism.

• Hosting the Loss and Damage Fund under the World Bank is viewed as a move that would compromise the fund's autonomy, limit direct resource access for communities, increase debt for vulnerable countries, and allow historic polluters to avoid responsibility.
• A rights-based fund requires the inclusion of non-Party Board members, specifically representing Indigenous Peoples, women, children, youth, persons with disabilities, and civil society organizations, rather than an 'active observer model' similar to the Green Climate Fund.
• The document rejects attempts by developed nations to limit the fund's scope only to least developed countries and small island states, arguing that climate vulnerability affects marginalized people across all developing countries.
• To ensure accountability and prevent harm, the fund must have its own dedicated social and environmental safeguards and an independent, centralized grievance redress mechanism, rather than relying on the World Bank's existing systems.

APA

Vandamme, L. (2023). Only two days left to get it right: a Loss and Damage Fund that promotes human rights. Center for International Environmental Law. https://www.ciel.org/only-two-days-left-to-get-it-right-a-loss-and-damage-fund-that-promotes-human-rights/

Chicago

Vandamme, Lien. Only two days left to get it right: a Loss and Damage Fund that promotes human rights. Center for International Environmental Law, 2023. https://www.ciel.org/only-two-days-left-to-get-it-right-a-loss-and-damage-fund-that-promotes-human-rights/.

Wikipedia

{{cite press release |last1=Vandamme |first1=Lien |title=Only two days left to get it right: a Loss and Damage Fund that promotes human rights |publisher=Center for International Environmental Law |date=3 November 2023 |url=https://www.ciel.org/only-two-days-left-to-get-it-right-a-loss-and-damage-fund-that-promotes-human-rights/ |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@misc{vandamme2023only, author = {Vandamme, Lien}, title = {{Only two days left to get it right: a Loss and Damage Fund that promotes human rights}}, publisher = {Center for International Environmental Law}, year = {2023}, month = nov, url = {https://www.ciel.org/only-two-days-left-to-get-it-right-a-loss-and-damage-fund-that-promotes-human-rights/}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }