In November of 2022, the coastal city of Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt, hosted the 27th convention of the United Nations Conference of the Parties, known as COP27. Since signing the Paris Agreement in 2015, the nearly annual conference has gained momentum as a global leader in sharing knowledge and developing frameworks to mitigate climate change worldwide. While the more recent COP28, held in Dubai in 2023, focused on conversations of energy production, this previous conference focused on urban contexts, as they deal with the urgent need for incorporating loss, damage, and climate reparations into climate action plans. As two years have now passed since COP27, it is important to revisit these discussions and hold governing bodies accountable for the promises made and the benchmarks set for climate change mitigation. One of the most ambitious plans from COP27 highlights an urgent debate in our urban environments: how will we define loss, damage, and climate reparations in the twenty-first century?
COP27's introduction of the Loss and Damage Fund is a prime example of the progress made to address climate impacts. As we look forward to the upcoming COP29, which will take place in Baku, Azerbaijan, in November 2024, the conference is expected to build on these efforts by launching a new climate fund. This initiative aims to continue the momentum of COP27 and COP28, further shaping how the global community tackles the complex challenges of loss, damage, and climate reparations.
