Baku, Azerbaijan — Members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) are working urgently to establish a funding system to address the loss and damage caused by natural disasters.
During a side event at the ongoing Conference of the Parties (COP) in Baku, Azerbaijan, representatives emphasized the need for such a fund, as ASEAN countries are frequently at the forefront of typhoons, climate hazards, and other climate-related events.
Notably, the Philippines hosts the United Nations Board of the Loss and Damage Fund. However, ASEAN member states are advocating for a region-specific system.
“The Philippines is doing its part in ensuring that we are responsive to the timely decisions of COP, particularly regarding the funding of loss and damage,” said John Adrian Narag of the Department of Finance. He added that the Philippines is “deeply committed to collaborating with all parties and stakeholders involved.”
“It is crucial to make this happen — a platform or hub for technical assistance,” said Jayvy Gamboa of the Manila Observatory.
According to a study by the ASEAN-German Climate Action Program, the ASEAN region is experiencing both rapid onset events, such as tropical cyclones, floods, droughts, and heatwaves, as well as slow onset events, including sea level rise, land degradation, biodiversity loss, and ocean acidification.
“The impact of sea level rise will not only disrupt communities, but it will also have significant implications for national sovereignty,” explained Prakama Raja Siregar of the Action Program.
The region aims to establish an institution focused on addressing loss and damage specific to ASEAN and to implement an insurance scheme to mitigate the impacts of climate change.
Additionally, a framework will be set up for all member states to follow, ensuring that discussions on these issues are conducted as an association.
Meanwhile, various civil society groups in the Philippines continue to call for climate justice, specifically through increased financing for developing countries.
These groups are advocating for $1.3 trillion from countries in the Global North to contribute to the loss and damage fund, with additional funds directed toward compensating for the damage caused by climate change.
“We support the call from our Philippine negotiators that loss and damage must be included in the finance code and made mandatory,” said Rodne Galicha, National Convener for Aksyon Klima Pilipinas, one of the largest civil society networks for climate action in the Philippines.
“Someone must take responsibility. We stand in solidarity with the people impacted by these typhoons. We demand climate accountability and climate justice,” said Joel Chester Pagulayan, Climate Justice Portfolio Manager of Oxfam Pilipinas.
The National Council of Churches in the Philippines is also calling attention to the agricultural losses caused by climate change.
“This is not a conversation about fundraising; it’s a demand for responsibility. It must be in the form of grants, not loans,” said Patricia Mungcal, Humanitarian Response Program Manager.
Greenpeace Southeast Asia also emphasized the scale of the needs, noting that developed nations have “refused to budge” on the question of how much they should contribute.
“I demand that our Philippine delegation continue to push for the interests of developing countries and the Philippines,” said Naderev Saño, Executive Director of Greenpeace Southeast Asia.
Under the Paris Agreement, countries are obligated to adhere to climate action plans. Negotiations are expected to continue until November 22. I Annie Perez