This submission intends to inform the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the right to development to present his reports to the Human Rights Council and the UN General Assembly in 2024 on climate justice and loss and damage and its impacts on the right to development.

Loss and damage from climate change is a reality for many small island developing states (SIDS) and least developed countries (LDCs) and is already adversely affecting the long-term social development, economic prosperity and environmental integrity of these highly climate vulnerable countries across the world.

This submission, which responds to questions 4 to 6 in the call for inputs for the 2024 reports, highlights the need for a climate justice lens to addressing loss and damage in a manner that supports the right to development, particularly through integrating a human rights-based approach to the administration and operationalisation of the historic Loss and Damage Fund (LDF).

In this regard, Climate Analytics Caribbean is of the view that following human rights principles should form the basis in the operationalisation and administration of the LDF moving forward:

  • Promoting cooperation and assistance at international, regional, national and local levels
  • Ensuring access to information, public participation, and access to justice
  • Enabling equality and justice in accessing the LDF to minimise discrimination.
  • Ensuring accountability and transparency
  • Enshrining historical responsibility and the “polluter pays” principle.
  • Promoting equitable and targeted support from the LDF
  • Prioritising grant-based, programmatic finance for loss and damage

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