What needs to happen at COP27 and why does it matter
The change we need from COP27
For the seventh time in a row Practical Action is an official observer to the UN climate change conference because the communities we work with need to be represented.
Climate impacts are becoming more frequent and severe. The most vulnerable are hit the hardest and face the fallout from global economic shocks. The urgency is real but action from those most responsible falls well below what is needed.
That’s why we think it’s so important to use this opportunity to amplify their voices, put them at the centre of negotiations and help governments with evidence from the ground about the damage climate change is causing. We need finance and action now, to scale the solutions available to help people adapt.
More and better climate finance
The commitment made by wealthy countries to provide $100 billion per year to help poor countries tackle climate change remains unmet, and only a small number of countries are paying their fair share.
While climate finance pledges go unmet the costs of responding to climate change are increasing. Estimates suggest that climate adaptation efforts will cost $140-300 billion per year by 2030 and unavoidable losses and damages as much as $290-580 billion.
We want an increase in global commitments on climate finance in line with increasing needs, and for more of this finance to be provided as grants – not loans. It’s important that at least half of public climate finance is invested in adaptation efforts that help communities already facing the impacts of climate change shape a new future.
Support Locally Led Adaptation
At Practical Action we know from experience that people on the frontlines of climate change often know best what they need and how they could adapt. We’ve spent decades working in partnership with communities designing and delivering solutions grounded in local context that work for people and the planet.
By integrating Locally Led Adaptation in the Global Goal on Adaptation we can ensure that more support reaches the communities who need it the most, and that traditionally marginalised groups like women and indigenous peoples are included. On Wednesday 9 November we will be in the LLA Pavilion exploring these opportunities together with practitioners and adaptation experts.
Address Loss and Damage
Around the world people are feeling the impacts of climate change. It’s often the poorest people who have done least to cause the crisis who are hardest hit and who are paying the highest price.
Together with our partners in the Zurich Climate Resilience Alliance we have published recommendations on the polices and action needed to address losses and damages. One of the things needed is a new climate finance mechanism that ensures that it’s those with the most resources and largest emissions who bear the costs of climate impacts.
At COP25 in 2019 Parties agreed to establish the Santiago Network on Loss and Damage (SNLD) to catalyse technical assistance to respond to climate impacts in climate-vulnerable low-income countries. As the SNLD is urgently needed but still not functioning, Practical Action and partners have developed in depth advice on how to operationalise the SNLD based on our experience with other UNFCCC bodies and the need we see in the countries where we work.
Practical Action at COP27
The time for waiting is over. Practical Action are at COP27 to deliver now, for the world’s most vulnerable communities.
We already have solutions that work. Using alternative thinking and working with communities to build resilience, adapt to climate change, adopt regenerative agriculture at scale, access energy for sustainable livelihoods and manage waste, creating economies that work for people and planet. And from over 6 decades of experience, we have the evidence that demonstrates the potential of these solutions and have built trust amongst key decision makers across government, civil society, and the private sector to convene powerful alliances that can take the change we urgently need to scale.
We will continue to advocate for the most impacted communities who are least responsible for climate change. Calling for ambitious mitigation action, increased climate finance and the need to address loss and damage, whilst emphasising that decisions taken at the global level need to lead to national actions developed in collaboration with communities, their local knowledge and that empower marginalised voices.
We know that big change is possible, and we invite you to join us as we build a world that works better for everyone.