FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE, 16 June, 2022
Bonn, Germany, — The climate negotiations at the 56th session of the Subsidiary Bodies to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (SB56) yet again failed to reflect the urgent reality of billions of people suffering from climate inaction and climate-induced loss and damage. Just days after the United Nations’ Stockholm+50 Conference, where governments finally recognized the need to phase out all fossil fuels, negotiators representing the wealthiest countries resumed decades-long patterns of procrastination and inaction, seemingly oblivious to the severe impacts facing those made vulnerable to climate change.
Historical emitters seem intentionally oblivious [and act as though they are impervious] to the stark warnings from the latest IPCC reports earlier this year and recent climate catastrophes all around the world. Despite repeated and concrete demands from developing countries and civil society to finally deliver real solutions to the mounting crisis, rich countries consistently stalled progress.
Instead of financing the needed transition to renewables, polluting countries are shopping for new sources of oil and gas to feed their fossil fuel addiction, spurred by Russia’s brutal war in Ukraine. Derailing discussions on finance for loss and damage hurts the people and communities who have done the least to cause this climate crisis but are most harmed by its impacts, undermining their human rights, including the rights to water, food, health, housing, and a healthy and sustainable environment. This is a worrying signal, as we look ahead to the climate talks (COP27), in Egypt in November.
At the conclusion of the SB56, members of the CIEL delegation issued the following statements:
“Even the least controversial discussions around loss and damage, about setting up a network for technical assistance to developing countries, have led to no concrete outcomes. Repeated demands from developing countries and civil society for developed countries to finally deliver on finance for loss and damage have once again gone entirely unrecognized. Rich countries have even blocked any concrete discussions about this in Egypt later this year. While Parties are talking about loss and damage, communities around the world are living the dire reality of sea level rise, floods, drought, displacement, and hunger. The disconnect between the urgency in these halls and how it is felt in the real world is revolting.”
Lien Vandamme, Senior Campaigner, Center for International Environmental Law
“While largely absent from the official agenda, climate finance loomed large. Addressing the climate crisis requires significantly more finance from those countries most responsible for this crisis. This needs to be reflected not only in the new climate finance goal but also in real transfers of money to those who need it most, and without adding to their debt burden. Nor should funds go to false solutions or offsets in carbon markets. The Bonn agenda also failed to consider further progress on the creation of an effective independent grievance mechanism under Article 6. As the details on the carbon markets are beginning to be fleshed out, Parties must prioritize putting in place the necessary procedures for having an effective mechanism, so that communities harmed have an avenue for remedy.”
Erika Lennon, Senior Attorney, Center for International Environmental Law
“The UN climate negotiations showed a complete lack of accountability in the context of public participation, where the gap between empty promises and the actual actions of countries remains mind-boggling. Despite many rhetorical reaffirmations of the importance of the participation of civil society in the implementation of the Paris Agreement, some delegations stubbornly refuse to acknowledge that public participation in climate decision-making is a human right—even if they recognize this principle in their own national legislation. The hypocrisy went so far as to prevent key civil society groups from providing input into the review of opportunities to enhance public participation itself.”
Francesca Mingrone, Staff Attorney, Center for International Environmental Law
“The contrast of the dire messages delivered by the IPCC and the fossil-fueled war raging in Ukraine with the inability of governments to take decisive steps to address root causes and impacts of climate change could not be greater. Developed countries must urgently make credible commitments to address loss and damage and immediately phase out fossil fuels. If they fail to do so, they bear the responsibility for a collapse of the COP27 climate talks, in Egypt in November.“
Sébastien Duyck, Senior Attorney and Campaign Manager Human Rights and Climate Change, Center for International Environmental Law
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Media contact:
Rossella Recupero, Communications Associate, press(at)ciel.org
Posted on June 16th, 2022