Scotland continues to stand up for climate compensation

We welcome the announcement today that the Scottish Government is pledging a further £5 million to address Loss & Damage, announced today by the First Minister in Sharm El-Sheikh at the UN Climate Conference, COP27. 

Last year the Scottish Government made headlines by becoming the first developed country to pledge money to the contentious issue of Loss & Damage at COP26 in Glasgow. Loss & Damage is UN jargon for compensation for impacts of climate change which are mostly experienced by the poorest countries of the world. The pledge of £2 million in Glasgow was heralded as “breaking the taboo” on the issue of finance for Loss & Damage, and this further commitment of £5 million shows that the First Minister is continuing to champion this vital issue even when the COP is not on Scottish shores. 

Ben Wilson, SCIAF’s Partner Advocacy Officer, who is an official observer at COP27 in Sharm el-Sheikh said:

"Developing countries have arrived at COP27 ready to fight for compensation to help deal with the impacts of the climate crisis that they did not cause. With this announcement today the First Minister has shown that she stands in solidarity with them, and we hope that this is a signal of intent that she will continue to be a champion of Loss & Damage throughout COP27 and beyond."

With funding from the Scottish Government’s first tranche of Loss & Damage money, SCIAF is delivering a £500,000 project in Southern Malawi to support communities impacted by climate-induced cyclones earlier in 2022. This project is helping communities to recover from these storms which destroyed homes, agricultural land and businesses, devastating the livelihoods of thousands of people.

Alistair Dutton, Chief Executive of SCIAF continued:

"SCIAF and its partners have already seen the tremendous benefits of the first cash announced for Loss & Damage at COP26. Its results really are life-changing – helping people get back on their feet again after cyclones have torn their lives apart. It’s such good news that the Scottish Government has committed more money to this vital issue, and we hope that projects like ours will help show other countries the way to do this type of work."