Loss and Damage Fund Board Meets in Manila Amidst Funding Shortfall Concerns

As the 9th board meeting of the Fund for Responding to Loss and Damage (FRLD) is underway in Manila, Philippines, civil society organizations (CSOs), indigenous peoples groups, and climate justice advocates are raising alarms about the fund's insufficient capital and slow response to proposals. The FRLD currently holds approximately $250 million (around P15.3 billion) in funds. In contrast, the fund is considering 176 proposals totaling $2.8 billion (approximately P171.9 billion). This is more than 11 times the current budget, according to John Leo Algo, national coordinator for Aksyon Klima Pilipinas. Brandon Wu, director of policy and campaigns at ActionAid USA, stated at a virtual press briefing that proposals can be up to $20 million each, and developing countries alone require $400 billion annually. He added that the fund has received less than $500 million, which is less than what the U.S. spent daily to sustain the Iran war at its peak. Of the 176 proposals received, 81 are from Africa, 49 from the Asia-Pacific, 42 from Latin America/Caribbean, and 4 from Eastern Europe. The Philippines has submitted one proposal. However, Algo expressed concern that only four proposals, worth $77.4 million (approximately P4.8 billion), will be presented to the board for approval. These four proposals were among the first 10 submitted during the previous board meeting. He warned that this situation could unjustly leave hundreds of proposals, including the Philippines', out of consideration for urgent access to much-needed resources. He also pointed out that not all countries have the opportunity to make submissions well in advance due to limited capacities and resources. Tetet Lauron, a climate activist and representative for the Women and Gender Constituency at the Santiago Network Advisory Board, highlighted the impact of Super Typhoon Inday (international name Bavi), which is currently in the Philippine Area of Responsibility. "Storms have become so strong, they don't need to hit land to wreck havoc. And recovery sometimes takes 10-15 years," she said. Lauron explained that communities are confronting climate change impacts on top of their everyday concerns, despite contributing very little to the crisis. She called on the board to do better and act differently, noting that multilateral funds have been bypassing these communities. She is advocating for direct budget support and a system that allows communities to apply and receive support, harnessing local knowledge. "The inclusion of marginalized voices shifts the discussion and allows for local ownership," she stated, adding that "there is enough money going around." Harjeet Singh, convener of the Fill the Fund campaign and strategic advisor to the Fossil Fuel Treaty Initiative, summarized the ask as "Scale, speed, and access." He added, "Communities are still not getting the financial support they need." In addition to Super Typhoon Inday, Algo also pointed to the impending Super El Niño, urging, "It is time for the Fund to step up to its mandate, speed up its operations, and scale up its resources for the most vulnerable countries and communities." The 9th board meeting of FRLD takes place in Manila from July 8-10. The Philippines was elected to host the Board in July 2024 and formally signed the agreement to do so at the 29th United Nations Conference of Parties, or COP29, in Baku, Azerbaijan, four months later. Source: GMA News Philippines