The topic of loss and damage is central to the conversation at COP26, which plays overtime in Scotland on Saturday. It deals with damage, if necessary irreversible, caused by climate change, beyond a country’s ability to adapt. Countries in the north are reluctant to engage too much on the issue, fearing the establishment of a third pillar of international climate finance (after mitigation and adaptation), which multiplies legal actions to gain damages.

At the start of COP26, Scotland, through its Prime Minister Nicola Sturgeon, made an unexpected announcement of one million pounds (about 1.2 million euros) to finance losses and damages to the countries of the south. A surprising and original announcement.