An African Perspective on Loss and Damage

The document analyzes the African perspective on 'loss and damage'—climate impacts that cannot be avoided through mitigation or adaptation. It highlights the failure of existing mechanisms like the Warsaw International Mechanism (WIM) and the Santiago Network to provide sufficient financial support, noting that developed countries resist dedicated funding due to concerns over legal liability. The authors recommend that African nations establish a transparent, inclusive position on the mandate of a potential Finance Facility, explore climate litigation against 'carbon majors', and integrate loss and damage assessments into their Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs).

• African countries face substantial economic and non-economic losses from climate change, with projected 'residual' costs between 2030 and 2050 expected to be double the amount needed for adaptation. In the developing world, annual loss and damage finance needs are projected to reach $200–580 billion by 2030.
• Existing international frameworks are perceived as ineffective; the Warsaw International Mechanism (WIM) is criticized for failing to take meaningful action, and the Santiago Network is currently described as primarily a website providing technical assistance rather than sustained finance.
• Developed countries have historically blocked the establishment of a dedicated loss and damage finance mechanism, such as the proposed Glasgow Loss and Damage Facility, because they fear such funding would be seen as an admission of legal liability for causing climate change.
• Current financial alternatives, including insurance and catastrophe bonds, are deemed insufficient for Africa due to high premiums, equity concerns, and their inability to address non-economic losses or slow-onset climate events.
• There is a growing trend of climate litigation and requests for advisory opinions from international tribunals, which may pressure developed countries to be more open to loss and damage finance negotiations.
• The authors recommend that African stakeholders prioritize several key areas for COP27, including defining the mandate of a Finance Facility, determining financial targets, updating NDCs to include loss and damage assessments, and pursuing litigation against 'carbon majors'.

APA

GILDER, A., & RUMBLE, O. (2022). An African Perspective on Loss and Damage. South African Institute of International Affairs. https://saiia.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/Policy-Insight-130-gilder-rumble.pdf

Chicago

GILDER, ANDREW, and OLIVIA RUMBLE. An African Perspective on Loss and Damage. South African Institute of International Affairs, 2022. https://saiia.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/Policy-Insight-130-gilder-rumble.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=GILDER |first1=ANDREW |last2=RUMBLE |first2=OLIVIA |title=An African Perspective on Loss and Damage |publisher=South African Institute of International Affairs |date=June 2022 |url=https://saiia.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/Policy-Insight-130-gilder-rumble.pdf |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{gilder2022african, author = {GILDER, ANDREW and RUMBLE, OLIVIA}, title = {{An African Perspective on Loss and Damage}}, institution = {South African Institute of International Affairs}, year = {2022}, month = jun, url = {https://saiia.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/Policy-Insight-130-gilder-rumble.pdf}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }