Copping Out?

Loss and damage is a key considerations for Cop27. This is basically a move to agree to transfer some finance from big polluters to less polluting nations. We currently have a situation, where the latter are often disproportionately impacted by environmental damage they have a minimal role in causing. It's argued that these fund transfers should be seen as provision of aid for adaptation rather than as simple compensation (https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2022/nov/05/loss-and-damage-must-be-at-heart-of-cop27-talks-experts-say). 'The polluter should pay' is a very reasonable principle. It's very difficult, however, to see meaningful agreement being reached, when the Presidents of China, India and Russia (major polluters) are not even going to Sharm-el-Sheikh. Other countries are likely use the impacts of the cost of energy/living crises on their finances, to minimise financial transfers.