U.N. climate talks began in Egypt with a breakthrough agreement to discuss who pays for damages caused by increasingly extreme weather events — an issue that had exposed splits between rich and poor nations.
The deal, reported in advance by Bloomberg, will allow diplomats to officially debate the matter of so-called “loss and damage” for the first time during the two week conference in the Egyptian resort of Sharm el-Sheikh.
Egypt’s Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry, who took up his position as COP27 president Sunday, said the breakthrough was reached after 48 hours of intense talks. Delegates would aim to reach a conclusive decision on loss and damage “no later than 2024.”
