G77+ and China group walked out of Loss and Damage talks at COP 19

The G77+ and China group of 133 Countries walked out of negotiations on “Loss and Damage” in the United Nations Climate Change conference in Warsaw, Poland on 20 November 2013.

The walk-out followed the developed countries' refusal to change their position that the matter would be discussed only after 2015—the year when the world is expected to sign a new climate agreement.

Loss and Damage refers to the demand for compensation from the countries for the damages caused by impacts of climate change which cannot be prevented even by adaptation.

Rich countries, including the US and Australia, have been against setting up a separate mechanism on compensation on Loss and Damage.

The developed countries continued to demand that the issue be discussed only after 2015 in a closed door meeting of representatives.

Loss and Damage

The issue of Loss & Damage –which is how countries should respond to climate impacts that are difficult or impossible to adapt to—has risen high on the negotiating agenda.

This issue emerged at 2012’s COP in Doha, with negotiators deciding to create “institutional arrangements” on loss and damage. To be effective, these institutional arrangements need to constructively tackle the needs of communities affected by climate impacts, including by systematically identifying harm, preventing loss and damage, engaging in recovery and response, and building solidarity in the face of unrecoverable loss and damage.

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