‘Work on track’ after US pullout from climate damage fund – DENR

MANILA, Philippines – Environment Secretary Toni Yulo-Loyzaga said Tuesday, March 11, that work “remains on track” following the United States’ pullout from the board of the Loss and Damage Fund, which the Philippines hosts.

“We will continue to work towards climate and disaster resilience with like-minded international partners,” Loyzaga said in a message to Rappler.

Loyzaga did not offer more details if the board is expecting delays in fund disbursement to vulnerable countries experiencing the irreversible impacts of climate change. The environment chief led the Philippine delegation at the recent climate summit in Azerbaijan where Philippines’ host duties were formalized.

In a letter dated March 4, US representative to the board Rebecca Lawlor said “both the United States Board Member and United States Alternate Board Member will be stepping down, not to be replaced by a US representative.” 

This follows the US’ exit from the 2015 Paris Agreement, a historic climate deal where countries commit to reduce carbon emissions.

In December 2024, the board of the fund gathered in Manila for a weeklong meeting on the disbursement of fund. Under then-US president Joe Biden, the US signed a contribution of $17.6 million to the fund.

International climate group 350.org called the withdrawal a “gut punch to Asia’s frontline communities.”

“The US decision to walk away from the Loss and Damage Fund is more than just another broken promise — it’s a gut punch to the world’s most climate-vulnerable nations in Asia, where the climate crisis isn’t a distant threat but a daily reality,” Chuck Baclagon, 350.org Asia regional campaigner said in a statement on Tuesday.

Other parties with signed contributions to the fund are Denmark, Germany, Netherlands, and the Walloon Region of Belgium.

– Rappler.com