Comment

Insights and expert analysis on climate issues.

Share

Free nomad 7vx YY97 Pi W0 unsplash

Filter

Reset
Cyclone Sidr, Pixnio
May 2017

“It’s complicated” – loss and damage in the IPCC Sixth Assessment Report

Olivia Serdeczny

The draft outline of the IPCC Sixth Assessment Report doesn’t contain an explicit reference to loss and damage but will deal with “residual risks”, “adaptation limits” and “attribution.” Should this outline be adopted at the next IPCC plenary, it would be a missed opportunity to bring the entire spectrum of loss and damage available in the scientific literature into focus and support vulnerable countries in preparing do deal with it.

Small island off the coast of Antarctica. Photo by Matt Palmer on Unsplash
May 2017

IPCC special reports on land, oceans and ice

In addition to the sixth assessment report and the special report on 1.5°C, the IPCC has two other special reports in the works: one on how climate change impacts land and another on oceans and cryosphere. Both are of great importance to vulnerable countries, like small islands. Although there will not be an explicit reference to the issue of loss and damage, thanks to a strong push by vulnerable countries both outlines now incorporate some of its core components, like climate change attribution, residual risk and adaptation limits.
Wharf Rd, Vanuatu. Photo by Tim King on Unsplash
August 2016

Piecing together the adaptation puzzle for small island states

Small islands are highly vulnerable to climate change but face severe adaptation constraints. To work towards overcoming some of these constraints, Climate Analytics and partners are initiating an integrated database containing information on climate impact projections, linked to examples of existing adaptation projects and embedded into a vulnerability and impact assessment framework. The database provides a structured overview of success-factors and limitations, piecing together fragmented knowledge and fostering knowledge exchange across regions in order to support science-based adaptation.