As the Fund for Responding to Loss and Damage (FRLD) prepares for its operational phase at COP30 later this month, Pakistan is set to submit proposals ranging between $10 million and $20 million, despite concerns over the fund’s limited resources and bureaucratic hurdles, according to a news report.Â
Three years after its launch at COP27, the FRLD has accumulated approximately $300 million in funds, with an additional $700 million in pledges from developed nations. However, the fund has yet to disburse any financial aid to countries affected by climate change, a point emphasized by civil society leaders who have been vocal in their ‘Fill the Fund’ campaign.
Minister for Climate Change, Musadik Malik, said that Pakistan has not received any money from the FRLD, despite facing significant losses due to climate change. With allocations prioritised for Small Island Developing States (SIDS) and Least Developed Countries (LDCs), Pakistan and other nations must compete for a share of approximately $100-150 million from the fund’s total pool.
Malik highlighted that the FRLD is expected to operationalize $250 million for its call for proposals at COP30, with half of this amount earmarked for island states and LDCs. Pakistan is working on several project proposals, though specific details are yet to be shared as they are still in development.
The FRLD’s seventh board meeting, held last month in Manila, was marked by discussions over the fund’s operationalization, though some key decisions were deferred. The meeting highlighted the ongoing ideological divide between the Global South, which seeks immediate, grant-based assistance, and the Global North, which insists on establishing governance frameworks before disbursing funds.
