The Loss and Damage Fund, under its first director, Ibrahima Cheikh Diong, is scheduled to meet in early April in Barbados.

The Fund is intended to provide critical support to developing countries to respond to economic and non-economic loss and damage from the impacts of climate change.

CARICOM, as a member of the grouping of small island developing states (SIDS) which are especially vulnerable to climate change, has been at the forefront advocating for the Fund to be adequately resourced. The Fund was operationalised in 2024 and is accountable to, and functions under, the guidance of the Conference of the Parties (COP) and the Conference of the Parties serving as the Meeting of the Parties to the Paris Agreement (CMA). To date, the total pledged financial support for the Fund exceeds $730M. Developing countries need more than $400B each year to address loss and damage.

Ms. Amrikha Singh, Programme Manager, Sustainable Development explains the Region’s position: