With the current global average temperature now at around 1°C above pre-industrial levels, poor people in developing countries are already suffering devastation from climate change impacts. It is therefore critical and urgent for vulnerable countries and communities to adapt to climate change impacts. Being prepared for changes in climate and severe weather events can reduce the impacts on people’s lives, their livelihoods and food security. For too long, however, action in cutting emissions and scaling-up adaptation has been utterly inadequate. As a result, more and more of these impacts are exceeding people’s ability to adapt.
Loss and damage is therefore now part of the reality of climate change, and must be tackled. Key demands of governments at COP21 include:
- Emissions reductions: Limit global warming to below 1.5°C. Phase out the use of fossil fuels. Increase the use of renewable energy.
- Scaling up adaptation: Massively increase Financial and other support to catalyse adaptation action at a scale needed to substantially reduce future losses and damages.
- Address Loss and Damage: Anchor Loss and Damage, its mechanism and financial and technical support in the Paris agreement, and promote immediate action.
