Evidence from the frontlines of climate change: loss and damage to communities despite coping and adaptation - Loss and damage in vulnerable countries initiative

Policy Report No. 9

The report states that the research approach developed for the Loss and Damage in Vulnerable Countries Initiative is a model for community-based assessment of loss and damage. It employs a variety of methods, including a household survey, focus group discussions (FGDs) and expert interviews. In addition, local meteorological and other relevant data was gathered and compared to local perceptions of changes in climatic stressors. The Loss and Damage in Vulnerable Countries Initiative carried out research to find out how the impact of climate change on society leads to loss and damage among vulnerable households

The research showed that many households surveyed employ a variety of approaches to get by, although many of these have longer-term erosive implications for livelihoods and well-being. If social vulnerabilities to climatic and other stressors are the source of loss and damage problems, then improving social resilience provides some of the solutions. 1. Support for communities to increase resilience 2. Improve sustainable development and welfare prospects for the communities 3. Comprehensive assistance to national governments 4. Increase profile of loss and damage in national policymaking.

The report also states about a desk study which consists of a literature review and an analysis of existing data about climate threats (e.g., drought, floods, cyclones, sea level rise) and impact sectors (e.g., crop yields, salinity intrusion and coastal erosion).