But cracks in that defense are starting to show. At last year’s climate summit, host Scotland became the first country to commit to a new loss and damage fund. This week, Ursula von der Leyen, president of the European Commission, endorsed the idea, followed by cash pledges by Ireland, Denmark and Belgium. On Wednesday, Mr. Xie, China’s climate negotiator, now the largest emitter on the planet, also supported the idea of a loss and damage fund but cautiously said China would not close the deal. contribute to that fund.
Many European nations stepped into the territory with colonial relations with developing nations seeking capital, a relationship that strengthens the claim in the eyes of some.
“The practice of colonialism has shifted the rich resources of Asia and Africa to Europe to industrialize their countries, which is also the root cause of climate change – the the consequences that we, the poor countries, have to bear,” President Ranil Wickremesinghe of Sri Lanka told a meeting this week. “Adding insult to injury, the damage caused by extreme weather conditions is increasing, and their impact is incredibly costly.”
But in the US, the idea of paying climate compensation to far-flung nations would be “a complete domestic political disaster”, says Paul Bledsoe, a climate adviser under President Bill Clinton and currently a lecturer at American University. He said it would “paralyze” Mr Biden’s chances of being re-elected in 2024.
“Culturally, America is incapable of meaningful reparations,” Bledsoe said. “Without going to Native Americans or African Americans, there is little or no chance that they will be given serious consideration of the climate impact on foreign nations. It is absolutely not the beginning in our domestic politics. “
According to a Morning Consult / Politico . survey released this week. But there is a clear partisan divide; Democrats are twice as likely as Republicans to say the United States needs to contribute more.
Pressed from all sides, Mr. Biden and his advisers have crept around money. Mr. Kerry agreed to discuss only the idea of a loss and damage fund.
