The Fund for Responding to Loss and Damage brings an opportunity to work hand in hand with migrants and displaced persons, including refugees, on implementing climate action that upholds their rights. Who are they and what can they bring to the table? Join this side event to find out.

The creation of the Fund for Responding to Loss and Damage presents an opportunity to increase the climate finance streams that reach people who are adversely affected by the climate crisis, including migrants and displaced persons.  

Displacement, planned relocation and migration are firmly embedded within the Fund's scope, and it is significant that it aims to disburse finance directly to communities. Under human rights law, migrants and displaced people are entitled to meaningful and informed participation in climate decision-making, including in the work of the Board of the Fund and the activities it finances. What is more, existing multilateral climate finance institutions and funds are also asked to include refugees and migrants in their work. Therefore, the Fund for Responding to Loss and Damage brings an opportunity to work hand in hand with migrants and displaced persons, including refugees, on implementing climate action, within its work and through complementary funding arrangements. 

This event will focus on bringing together representatives of migrants and displaced persons, including refugees, persons with high level decision makers to discuss their meaningful participation and engagement in the work of the Fund for 

Responding to Loss and Damage. The conversation will also consider modalities for viable and sustainable mechanisms to enable direct access for communities most impacted by the climate crisis, including those on the move.  

The event will ensure representation from the least developed countries (LDCs) and small island developing States (SIDSs), that are widely acknowledged as being disproportionately affected and often least able to cope with climate shocks and related crises and the associated movement of people. A minimum allocation has been attributed to LDCs and SIDSs in the Fund for Responding to Loss and Damage, that could be relevant for people on the move and their contributions. 

Speakers:

• IOM Director General, Amy Pope 

• UNHCR High Commissioner for Refugees, Filippo Grandi 

• Ms. Grace Dorong, Representative of refugees from South Sudan 

• Mr. Luvan Prado Sampaio Sampaio, Representative of Indigenous peoples from Brazil

• Mr. Opira Bosco Okot, Representative of refugees from South Sudan

• Mr. Ali Alzawy, Team Leader for Body Recovery Efforts, Libyan Red Cross, Representative of IDPs and host communities from Libya