Loss and Damage is a growing focus in climate negotiations, recognizing irreversible climate change impacts beyond adaptation and mitigation. It includes economic loss and damage (e.g., infrastructure damage) and non-economic loss and damage (NELD) (e.g., cultural and biodiversity loss). These arise from extreme events (e.g., hurricanes, floods) and slow-onset events (e.g., sea level rise, desertification). As climate disasters intensify, supporting developing countries in assessing and managing Loss and Damage is crucial.
At UNEP Copenhagen Climate Centre, we are working to bridge the gap between local-level evidence and global policy action. Our work focuses on providing technical support, developing best-practice indicators, and enhancing institutional capacities to integrate Loss and Damage considerations into national policies and reporting mechanisms.
Our efforts in this space include:
Urban Loss and Damage:
– Urban Loss and Damage and Nature-based Solutions
Understanding the interconnections between urban climate impacts and Nature-based Solutions is a growing area of focus. We explore how Nature-based Solutions can contribute to addressing Loss and Damage in cities while enhancing resilience.
This activity is funded by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Denmark (Danida).
– Assessing and Managing Loss and Damage
UNEP Copenhagen Climate Centre is leading a project titled “Assessing and Managing Loss and Damage: Local-Level Evidence to Inform Global-Level Action“. The initiative focuses on developing countries. Understanding and managing both economic and non-economic loss and damage caused by climate change at the local level. It develops city-specific frameworks for assessing Loss and Damage and creating tailored adaptation strategies. The project includes baseline assessments, vulnerability profiling, adaptation scenario development, future Loss and Damage estimation, and management planning. By 2025, it aims to deliver replicable methodologies, policy recommendations, and enhanced capacity to address climate-related impacts in developing countries.
This activity is funded by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Denmark (Danida).
– Loss and Damage and Health Nexus
Climate change affects health in profound ways, including physical and mental health consequences. Our work centres around the critical nexus of Loss and Damage and Health. Our focus area include:
- Stocktake on Loss and Damage and Health within the NAPs, NDCs, Health NAPs (HNAPs) and Health Vulnerability Assessments
- Mental Health: The impact of Loss and Damage on mental health, particularly in vulnerable communities facing displacement and irreversible climate losses.
- Children, Youth, and Loss and Damage: Young people are among the most affected by climate change, yet their role in shaping Loss and Damage responses is often overlooked. We work on integrating children and youth perspectives into Loss and Damage initiatives.
This activity is funded by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Denmark (Danida).
Enhanced Transparency Framework for Loss and Damage:
UNEP Copenhagen Climate Centre is strengthening governance structures for reporting Loss and Damage under the Enhanced Transparency Framework. We support countries in improving transparency, reporting, and methodology development to enhance Loss and Damage governance. Our work includes developing standardized reporting mechanisms, improving data collection, and integrating Loss and Damage into national policies. We also build capacity by providing technical support and policy guidance to governments. By enhancing transparency, we help countries track climate-induced losses and strengthen accountability. This ensures a more effective global response to both extreme events and slow-onset climate impacts.
– Technical exchange focusing on Institutional Arrangements Related to Transparency in Loss and Damage
During the 60th UN Climate Change Bonn Climate Change Conference, the UNEP Copenhagen Climate Center hosted a technical exchange on Institutional Arrangements Related to Transparency and Loss and Damage reporting. The main outcome of the Technical Exchange is developing a collaborative action plan outlining actionable steps for capacity building, technical support, and international cooperation on Loss and Damage.
– Developing Best Practice Indicators and Reporting Tools
We organized a sectoral technical workshop to support developing countries in strengthening Loss and Damage indicators and reporting tools. These indicators are essential for engaging with the Santiago Network, accessing technical assistance, and contributing effectively to UNFCCC processes. Through this workshop, we aimed to improve data-driven decision-making, support climate finance access, and foster greater collaboration on global climate impacts.
– Assessing Climate Change Driven Losses and Damages
The UNEP Copenhagen Climate Centre supported both Panama and South Africa through Initiative for Climate Action Transparency (ICAT) projects to strengthen their systems for tracking climate-driven loss and damage. In Panama, the project developed a national monitoring and evaluation (M&E) system with 37 indicators, integrating loss and damage methodologies and contributing to policies like the 2023 Climate-Induced Displacement Strategy and a $50 million Green Climate Fund proposal. In South Africa, the project enhanced an M&E framework to track economic and non-economic impacts, integrating disaster databases and supporting the 2024 Climate Change Bill, while training local officials to improve data analysis and climate finance proposals. This activity is funded through ICAT.
Read more about the work in Panama here.
Read more about the work in South Africa here.
