Mongabay: Climate loss & damage fund ‘the furthest thing imaginable from a success’

Public Service Announcement!
I’m now collaborating with Mongabay on their weekly Newscast podcast, bringing you conservation news from all around the world. To celebrate-and to encourage you all to subscribe!-I’m sharing my inaugural episode as cohost with you today.
On this episode, I interview Brandon Wu of ActionAid USA about the Loss and Damages negotiations that took place ahead of COP28-and how the USA used its political weight to bully developing nations into accepting a deal unrecognisable from the premise of L&D.
Loss and Damages is, in effect, climate reparations-a fund paid into by developed nations, who are historically responsible for the emissions causing global warming, which developing nations can then use to respond to the chaos caused by climate change: floods, storms, crop failures, displaced populations. However, it was the vulnerable nations who were forced to concede at the negotiating table, walking away with a deal which serves the interests of the world’s most powerful.
Brandon gives an excellent overview and analysis of the situation, revealing how the USA used its muscle to twist the arms of developing nations at the final hour. I then discuss these details with my wonderful cohost, Mike DiGirolamo.
Mike and I have collaborated over the years on a couple of projects and I was truly delighted when he suggested we join forces on this project! Please join us as we uncover the most important stories in conservation and environmental journalism from around the world.
Subscribe to the Mongabay Newscast:
- Apple
- Spotify
- Mongabay website
- Download the free app on Apple or Android to access all episodes:

[@rapauli]

Wonderful! Thank you. More please.

[@voidisyinyangvoidisyinyang885]

Congrats on the Mongabay collaboration!

[@TennesseeJed]

Monga Bay is awesome!

[@TennesseeJed]

Rachel, I have always wondered if Rhett Butler (Gone Withe the Wind character) was a real name or writer's pseudonym.

[@Anyreck]

Interesting to hear how the watered-down climate loss&damage fund arose. And how most other funds to protect nature are really not effectively implemented. Would be worth interviewing some of the actual US gov. negotiators separately, to try work out why, in detail, US refuses to be pinned down with reparation obligations. Yes indeed, Mongabay has excellent reporting and is truly invaluable.

[@TheDoomWizard]

We're toasted!

[@KitKat-kg4ku]

Any funding should be contingent upon population reduction.