Loss and damage refers to harms and destruction caused by climate change impacts that cannot be avoided through mitigation or adaptation.
While it has gained increasing recognition in international climate change negotiations, turning the concept of loss and damage into tangible action for climate-vulnerable countries has been contentious.
Loss and damage is interwoven with issues of fairness and equity. The issue is highly disputed due to its connection with the historical responsibility of developed countries in causing climate change, as well as associated calls for compensation from developing countries.
At COP26, Scotland became the first government to pledge funds for loss and damage for countries in the Global South. However, most climate-vulnerable countries left disappointed by the failure of the Glasgow Climate Pact to secure the establishment of a dedicated loss and damage financing facility.
Developing countries have made it clear that they will continue to push for a new financing facility in the Glasgow Dialogue, a set of international discussions on loss and damage kicking off in June.
The Environment and Society Discussion Series is hosting two events on loss and damage ahead of that date. This first event outlines the key debates and discuss what progress has been made on advancing the loss and damage agenda within climate negotiations to date.
The second event focuses on solutions and possible ways forward, looking ahead to the COP27 negotiations in Egypt later in 2022, where loss and damage is expected to be a high-profile agenda item.
Participants
Dr Adelle Thomas, Senior Caribbean Research Associate, Climate Analytics
Professor Lisa Vanhala, Principal Investigator of Climate Change Loss and Damage and Professor of Political Science, University College London
Nisreen Elsaim, Chair, UN Secretary General’s Youth Advisory Group on Climate Change
Chair: Nina Jeffs, Schwarzman Academy Fellow, Environment and Society Programme, Chatham House
