Watching primetime dramas is a cultural staple in many Filipino households. These shows offer commentary on social issues, stir emotions, and provide a sense of escapism.

So it felt almost poetic — if not a little tragic—that the 6th Board Meeting of the Fund for Responding to Loss and Damage (FRLD B6), the second such meeting hosted in the Philippines, unfolded like a drama come to life.

For observers crammed into the overflow room on the final day, watching the livestream on a projection screen, it was quite the viewing experience — but not in an entertaining way.

High hopes and missing chairs

The events at FRLD B6 felt like it followed the script of a typical Philippine drama. In the beginning, it was a lighthearted gathering, complete with the customary “family photo” [as it says in the formal agenda]. Pleasantries were exchanged, with a laugh or two in between. All participants shared tables for lunch, with one Board member even hosting one for the women in attendance.

The expectations were high given the agenda, especially for observers. The operationalization of the USD250-million Barbados Implementation Mechanism (BIM) was the main focus of the entire event, with details to be examined and decided to ensure that the call for proposals will be launched in the next Board meeting and developing countries will be able to access much-needed funding as soon as possible.

In a global climate finance landscape that feels mostly the same, the FRLD is supposed to be the unique one. It is meant to fill in the gaps that others could not fill in, tied to the justice-centric nature of L&D as an issue. Just like any great show, even the little details have to be done right.

There were many obstacles that needed to be overcome. The FRLD Secretariat lacks technical capacity – or overall capacity, especially with the anticipated pile of proposals from developing nations. While the BIM implementation is guaranteed to be through grants, the form of agreements, the criteria to be used for assessment, and who becomes the focal point in each nation needs to be agreed on as well.

Another agenda item was on policies on Active Observers [aka, the non-State actors in the Board meeting] and overall stakeholder engagement. The decision on this was successfully delayed by representatives of UNFCCC observer constituencies – coincidentally during B4 that was also hosted in the Philippines. This was because not enough time and details were given at the time for constituency-wide consultations on policies that directly involved them.

Yet Active Observers cannot even get desks for the entirety of the three-day meeting. It could be seen as a foreshadowing of the way this event eventually went.

Long story short, it was all rainbows and unicorns in the beginning. But let’s skip the middle part and head to the third day. After all, any primetime drama is only as memorable as its final act.

The final act

The final part of the entire meeting was about to begin, with the draft decision text on direct budget support decision/guidance to the Co-Chairs for engagement with the Interim Truste [World Bank] briefly flashed on the screen. Within seconds, signs were clear that a heated argument was about to erupt. The livestream was requested by a Board member to be cut off for about five minutes. It ended up lasting around an hour and a half.

In classic UNFCCC fashion, conflict between developed nations and developing countries ensues every time the topic of money is discussed. That usually happens at the global climate negotiations, which is about to enter its 30th season in November. But that was on display in this meeting under the FRLD, intended as an implementing entity and not a space for negotiations.

Yet the following minutes featured all the classic elements of the drama seen in climate COPs: fingers being pointed, voices being raised, emergency huddles between factions, among others. 

Dramas usually take extra time in its closing stretch for the biggest conflicts to be resolved. And this one was no different; following the COP blueprint, this went overtime, eventually ending even later than the previous Board meeting hosted in the Philippines. 

With others having to catch their flights, whichever Active Observers were left to watch – but without knowing what exactly was being discussed. It ended so late that another Board member graciously paid for delivered food for the remaining Active Observers.

With a few short breaks in between, the closing stretch finally resolved the big conflict, which mostly concerned details of the BIM operationalization and engagements with the World Bank. It produced a bunch of decisions, although most of these were procedural. Translation: the BIM operationalization, resource mobilization, or engagements with stakeholders, all to be continued in the next Board meeting.

Next episode preview?

But much like any family, they fight and they make up. Those who could stay, Board members and observers alike, toured the natural and historical sights around Cebu. At least for the day, it was almost like last night never happened.

Yet it did happen. Even one of the Co-Chairs formally ended the meeting saying to Board members that there is a short time period between B6 and B7, with so many storylines remaining unresolved. 

To sum up, FRLD B6 was essentially a primetime drama set in the Philippines: lots of hype, but ended up being formulaic, familiar, and with disappointing outcomes. Let’s hope the next meeting will be much better. 

After all, this is not a spectacle. The most vulnerable communities, the most vulnerable nations, and our collective future is at stake here. We will be watching the next episodes – but not remain just looking at our screens.