Loss and Damage

This policy briefing sets out a number of the issues relating to the slow onset portion of the climate change loss and damage agenda. It is not meant to be an exhaustive analysis of this new and sometimes complex subject. Instead, it should serve to introduce the concept of loss and damage related to slow onset climate change hazards and provide sign posts to guide further investigation of the subject – in particular for those institutions, experts and country representatives participating in the current work programme on loss and damage under the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).

This document outlines initial thoughts by the ‘Loss and Damage in Vulnerable Countries Initiative’ to provide some conceptual and framing input into the loss and damage negotiations under the UNFCCC. Given both the preliminary nature of these discussions and the complexity of the issue of loss and damage, a precise definition may not be necessary and in fact may even be counter-productive at this early stage. Instead at this point in the discussion it may be more useful provide a spectrum of relevant scientific and policy perspectives and areas of expertise in an attempt to inform ongoing dialogue.

The Loss and Damage in Vulnerable Countries Initiative is focussing on: Building an understanding of the scope and significance of loss and damage associated with the adverse impacts of climate change; Developing and co-creating an approach and vision for loss and damage among decision makers and relevant stakeholders; Assisting least developed countries (LDCs) and other vulnerable countries to develop a coherent approach to the loss and damage debate; Identifying and beginning to take the steps needed to support a paradigm shift on loss and damage in the coming years.

Delegates to the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development 2012, also known as Rio+20, acknowledged that climate change is a cross-cutting and persistent crisis. They expressed great concern that the scale and gravity of the negative impacts of climate change affect all countries and undermine their ability, in particular developing countries, to achieve sustainable development and the Millennium Development Goals and threaten the viability and survival of nations.

From 23 to 25 July, the second regional expert meeting on loss and damage under this year´s UNFCCC work programme took place in Mexico City. Its aim was to increase the understanding of a range of approaches to address loss and damage associated with the adverse effects of climate change. While the first expert meeting took place in Addis Abeba in June to address African aspects on loss and damage, this meeting covered Latin America and the Caribbean. ...

The views expressed in this piece are solely those of the author. They are not meant to represent the views of organisations, institutions or countries mentioned here or elsewhere.

At COP17 in Durban, South Africa, negotiators were able to reach consensus on elements of the SBI Work Program on Loss and Damage which was established at COP16, for the period from COP17 to COP18 (2012). This section summarizes the major elements of the decision and its implications for LDC and other vulnerable countries in 2012, including on opportunities for these countries to utilize 2012 to articulate their needs and positions in the issue area.

Loss and damage from climate change impacts is the major theme of the adaptation negotiation in 2012.

The topic of loss and damage in the context of climate change is a major focus in the adaptation discussion under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) climate talks in

The 36th meeting of the Subsidiary Body on Implementation (SBI-36) under the UNFCCC was held in Bonn from 14 -25 May, 2012.