Climate reparations

Climate reparations are a type of requested loss and damage payments for damage and harm caused by climate change, which may include debt cancellation. The term climate reparations differs from simple "loss and damage," in that it is based on the concept of reparations, that compensation holds countries accountable for historical emissions, and is an ethical and moral obligation.

"The idea behind calls for loss and damage funding is that the countries that have done most to pollute the atmosphere, and grown rich doing so, should compensate," according to The New Republic.

The High Commissioner for Human Rights has states that human rights obligations require that states cooperate toward the promotion of human rights globally, including adequate financing from those who can best afford it. This requires climate change mitigation, adaptation, and rectification of damage. The subject of reparations must be considered with equity to be the center of global response. This requires that the counties who have disproportionately created the environmental crisis must do more to compensate for the damages they have cause, including respecting the most vulnerable countries. Generally, reparations are an effort to redress societal harm through the acknowledgement of wrongdoing and through in-kind and monetary means. Acceptance of responsibility, followed by undertaking that address and repair societal injustices and widespread harms are key principles of reparatory justice. In the context of climate change, it would require identifying those who have contributed the most greenhouse gas emissions with the harms they have caused and rectify the serious damage inflicted disproportionately on low income countries.