At the 57th session of the Human Rights Council, we delivered a statement on the impact of loss and damage from the adverse effects of climate change on the full enjoyment of human rights. The statement was meant to inform the Interactive Dialogue of the Secretary-General on the same matter.

The statement delivered highlighted the importance that despite significant strides have been made with the recent establishment of the Loss and Damage Fund, the current international architecture for managing loss and damage remains inadequate. It is imperative to increase financial flows. Thus far, the resources pledged fall drastically short of what is needed to address the scale and scope of the crisis.

Amid these daunting challenges, the statement emphasised that financing a just and adequate response to loss and damage is far from impossible. International tax cooperation is a decisive, yet often underestimated tool for unlocking the financial flows required to fund the structural transformations needed to address the impacts of climate change and ensure frontline communities have the means to cope with loss and damage.

In that context, GI-ESCR welcomed the report of the Secretary General makes an express reference to the importance of developing human rights and equity-based progressive taxation, guided by the polluter pays principle to target the fossil fuel industry and major greenhouse gas emitters in particular. This is a critical step forward to direct the necessary resources to respond to loss and damages suffered by the most marginalised.

You may read the full report of the Secretary General here.

You may also consult the statement delivered here.