Assessing and managing loss and damage: Local-level evidence to inform global-level action in developing countries

The UNEP Copenhagen Climate Centre supports India, Zambia, and Mauritius in assessing and managing climate-induced loss and damage (L&D). The project aims to increase awareness about the linkages between adaptation costs and disaster recovery costs, and the drivers of non-economic L&D, while enhancing understanding of policy options to manage L&D. The project aims to create a city-specific framework to assess climate change-induced loss and damage and develop tailored adaptation strategies. Unlike current efforts focused on district, state, and national levels, this approach addresses urban challenges and complements higher-level frameworks. It equips cities with data to advocate for disaster response and recovery funding.

Objectives:

1. Raise awareness about the costs and drivers of L&D.
2. Enhance understanding of policy options for managing L&D.

Envisaged Outcome:

• Improved ability of countries to manage L&D through a better methodological understanding of the economics and nature of losses and damages.

Methodology: The project is divided into five work streams:

1. • Baseline Assessment of Retrospective Loss and Damage: Assess past climate-related hazards and their impacts on urban systems, health, social systems, and economies over the last 50 years in two selected cities.
   • Establishing Vulnerability, Exposure, and Risk Profiles: Identify current risks and vulnerabilities, providing a baseline for future adaptation scenarios.
   • Developing Adaptation Scenarios: Develop various adaptation pathways with input from city stakeholders, aligned with long-term city plans.
   • Projecting Prospective Loss and Damage Estimates: Estimate future L&D under different adaptation scenarios, scored based on historical performance and stakeholder feedback.
   • Planning for Future L&D Management, Scaling, and Capacity Building: Create a replicable framework for L&D management, validate it, and develop a scaling and capacity-building plan, including a funding proposal.

Outputs:

• Develop a methodological approach for assessing L&D.
• Test methodologies in selected locations.
• Formulate policy recommendations to manage L&D.
• Build capacity to assess and manage L&D beyond the project scale

Assessing and managing loss and damage: Local-level evidence to inform global-level action in developing countries is implemented by the UNEP Copenhagen Climate Centre and funded by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Denmark (Danida).