In a landmark achievement for climate justice, the Fund for Responding to Loss and Damage (FRLD) officially opened its inaugural call for proposals on November 11 at the COP30 climate summit in Belém, Brazil. Under the newly launched Barbados Implementation Modalities (BIM) – the Fund’s start-up phase – vulnerable developing countries can now apply for grants totaling at least $250 million to address irreversible climate impacts, from destroyed infrastructure and displaced communities to the erosion of cultural heritage and ecosystems.
This debut call marks the Fund’s swift transition from political agreement to tangible action, just three years after its creation at COP27 in Egypt and operationalization at COP28 in Dubai. Hailed by host Brazil as “the fastest global climate fund to become operational in history,” the launch represents a hard-won victory for frontline nations and a symbolic recognition of historical responsibility for climate change.
A Long-Awaited Step Toward Justice
The FRLD’s BIM framework, approved earlier in 2025 at Board meetings in Barbados and the Philippines, prioritizes grant-based funding (no loans) and country-led projects. Eligible nations – particularly small island developing states (SIDS), least developed countries (LDCs), and other highly vulnerable nations – can submit proposals worth $5–20 million each.
Key details of the call:
– Application window: Opens mid-December 2025, closes mid-June 2026 (six-month period).
– First approvals and disbursements: Expected from July 2026 onward.
– Focus areas: Broad coverage of economic and non-economic losses, including post-disaster recovery, salinity intrusion, sea-level rise, droughts, and cultural preservation.
– Access: Emphasizes direct or simplified modalities to minimize bureaucracy.
With pledges now approaching $800 million (though only around $400 million fully paid in), the initial $250 million allocation is a pilot to test procedures before a full long-term model and the Fund’s first replenishment in 2027.
Cautious Optimism Amid Stark Shortfalls
Delegates and activists welcomed the launch as a concrete breakthrough. “This moves money from negotiating rooms to affected people,” said Saidur Rahman Siam, a Bangladeshi youth delegate at COP30. Experts like Sumaiya Salim Sudha from ICCCAD urged rapid national preparation: “Institutions must collaborate with governments, civil society, and researchers to build competitive, evidence-based proposals.”
Brazilian officials underscored the Fund’s rapid setup as proof of effective multilateralism, while UNFCCC voices praised it as a “real beginning” for addressing climate injustice.
Yet the mood remains one of guarded hope. Estimates indicate developing countries face $400–900 billion in annual loss and damage costs by 2030, with 2025 alone projected at $395 billion or more. ” $250 million is a drop in the ocean,” noted activists from the Loss and Damage Collaboration, echoing calls from SIDS and LDCs for trillions in scaled-up, predictable funding tied to historical emissions.
Voices from the Frontlines
Indigenous leaders and community representatives at COP30 side events expressed frustration over limited direct access for local groups and inadequate reflection of traditional knowledge in governance. “The worst impacts hit our lands, but decisions happen far away,” one Indigenous delegate remarked, advocating stronger safeguards and community-level grants.
For nations like Bangladesh, the Philippines, Jamaica, and Pacific islands ravaged by recent superstorms and rising seas, the call offers a lifeline – but only if procedures remain accessible and funds flow quickly without excessive red tape.
The Road Ahead
As COP30 enters its final days, draft guidance to the FRLD Board is under negotiation, urging minimized bureaucracy, enhanced inclusivity (especially for women, youth, and Indigenous peoples), and robust resource mobilization. The 2027 replenishment looms as a critical test.
The FRLD’s first call is undeniably historic – a mechanism once deemed “impossible” is now accepting proposals. But for the millions already enduring climate devastation, its success will be judged not by launches or pledges, but by rapid, equitable delivery on the ground. In Belém, amid Amazonian heat and urgent protests, the world has taken a step forward. The question now: Will it run?
