International Climate Finance & Policy

The Brazilian Presidency had promised that COP30 in Belém would be the “COP of truth” and “COP of implementation”, held in the spirit of Mutirão with the global community working together to face the climate emergency. It faced a reckoning instead.

Skirting the Belém climate talks and leaving the Paris Agreement does not erase the continued legal obligation of the United States to provide climate finance to developing countries - and at a scale that is commensurate with the country’s global responsibility as the historically largest emitter.

The Baku-to-Belém Roadmap aims to close the gap between the disappointing COP29 target of US$300 billion annually and the envisioned US$1.3 trillion in climate finance per year by 2035. Will it find support at COP30?

Brazil is positioning itself as an important player for multilateralism and international law in global crises and geopolitical upheavals. This raises high hopes for COP30 in November under the Brazilian presidency – but the challenges are also immense.

Human rights expert Lotte Leicht explains how the International Court of Justice’s advisory opinion reshapes the climate debate: states are legally bound to prevent climate harm. At COP30, states can no longer treat climate action as optional.

The recent ICJ ruling is a landmark decision for the fight against climate change, addressing state responsibility for ambitious, scientifically supported climate action. It also clears the path for potential climate reparations in the future.

In 2025, the new Fund for responding to Loss and Damage (FRLD) hopes to set up the interim procedures and modalities for a start-up phase by COP30 as a test case to inform its long-term approach. Can developing and developed countries overcome conflicting visions to agree on early interventions to swiftly deliver for vulnerable communities?

From climate justice at COP29 to the future of the transatlantic relationship under a new president, our 2024 answered questions, raised new ones, and even included a visit from Luisa Neubauer and Helena Marschall. Dive into a whirlwind year!

COP29 was expected to deliver a global goal for climate finance that meets the challenges of the future. It failed to do so. Instead, it launched international carbon markets that create new loopholes for fossil fuel emitters.

COP29 in Baku will decide the future of global climate finance. As developing nations demand $1 trillion in annual support, tensions rise over who should contribute and how funds are allocated. Will this summit deliver on the promise of climate justice and equity?

The new Loss and Damage Fund (FRLD) aims to support climate-vulnerable countries against escalating damages. Despite meeting setup milestones, key questions on funding scale, the operational model, and access policies remain unresolved. Can the FRLD truly deliver?

We, the undersigned civil society organizations, movements, groups and individuals, highlight the urgent need to address serious human rights concerns in Azerbaijan in the lead-up to its hosting this year’s United Nations Climate Conference (COP29).

At its second meeting, the Board of the Loss and Damage Fund (LDF) in Songdo will decide on crucial procedures to operationalize the fund swiftly. Key decisions will shape the fund’s future, impacting how quickly it can deliver aid to those affected by climate impacts.

Associate Director Liane Schalatek explains what happened at the first board meeting of the new Loss and Damage Fund, and provides key insight into where the board should go from here.

Climate finance is high on the agenda of this year's international climate negotiations. Climate finance expert Liane Schalatek explains the key sticking points and what civil society calls for.

The new Board of the Loss and Damage Fund (LDF) faces a daunting task in 2024 to further operationalize the Fund. Key priorities include setting access modalities, allocation parameters, and a resource mobilization strategy to deliver funds to vulnerable countries and marginalized communities.

We looked back at our work in 2023. Highlights include: four new team members, German Green Party co-chair Ricarda Lang's visit, 2022's labor and environmental Grow the Future cohort, and updated info for Climate Funds Update. But that's just a small taste!