COP27 debate on who should pay for climate loss and damage reopens old wounds

Rich nations at the COP27 climate change summit are attempting to weaken the unity of 134 developing countries that have teamed up to try to push through an agreement on a new fund to tackle worsening "loss and damage", observers of the talks said.

The European Union put out a surprise proposal on Thursday night, saying it would support the creation of a loss and damage response fund - a reversal from its stance in previous years.

..."The fund shouldn’t be used as a poison pill to fix old divisions around expanding the donor base - as much as that might be needed," said Mohamed Adow, director of Nairobi-based think-tank Power Shift Africa.

"A fund that doesn't specify the requirement for historic polluters to deliver finance and shifts the burden to undefined 'other sources' won't meet the needs of vulnerable countries facing the adverse impacts of climate change," he added.