Climate change and "colonial territories"

 
TL;DR: The UN's 2022 Loss and Damage Fund excludes colonial territories, leaving them vulnerable to climate change without adequate support. While these territories suffer from rising sea levels and extreme weather, their administering governments offer insufficient aid. Alternative legal and policy actions are becoming vital for climate justice.
 
In 2022, the UN established the Loss and Damage Fund to assist developing countries suffering from climate change impacts. However, this fund excludes colonial territories, leaving millions needing direct access to vital support. The fund only applies to sovereign states that are party to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). This limitation mirrors their exclusion from other global climate finance mechanisms.
 
There are 17 UN-recognized "non-self-governing territories," mainly small islands. These territories are highly vulnerable to the devastating effects of climate change, such as rising sea levels, severe storms, and coastal erosion. Despite contributing minimally to global greenhouse gas emissions, they remain under the political control of governments. They are among the biggest climate change contributors.
 
Though wealthy nations like the US and the UK are expected to aid these territories, the reality is often inadequate support, delayed responses, and unequal treatment compared to their mainland populations. For example, Puerto Rico received billions less in aid than mainland US states after Hurricane Maria despite suffering massive destruction. Other territories, such as Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands, face similar neglect in climate preparedness.
 
As these territories continue to experience the impacts of climate change, alternative legal avenues for climate justice are emerging. Some, like Bonaire and Puerto Rico, have pursued litigation against their governing nations and fossil fuel companies, demanding compensation for climate damages. These actions represent new strategies to seek justice and climate reparations for island territories left out of international funding mechanisms.
 
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