Understanding Climate-Induced Cultural and Non-Economic Loss

This scoping paper examines cultural loss as a sub-type of non-economic loss and damage (NELD), including its different types, elements, implications, and potential ways that it can be addressed, including through documentation, preservation, and compensation. While some of the impacts of climate change can potentially be reversed (for example, through reconstruction, recovery, restoration, rehabilitation, or replacement), others damage or destroy irreplaceable values and assets. In particular, this is the case for non-economic loss (and damage) (NEL/NELD), which can affect individuals, societies, and the natural environment.