Defining Loss and Damage

The document defines loss and damage as the "residual impacts" that occur when climate change impacts exceed the limits of adaptation. It notes that while the concept is grounded in science—citing examples such as sea-level rise submerging territory or the loss of Arctic ice—political views within the UNFCCC remain varied. The briefing specifically focuses on four traits: the unavoidability of some impacts, the potential for irreversible and intolerable harm, and the attribution of these impacts to human-driven climate change.

• Loss and damage is scientifically defined as the "residual impacts" that occur when climate change effects surpass the capacity of humans or natural systems to adapt, such as the inability of crops to grow in salty soil or humans to live underwater.
• The Paris Agreement acknowledges the necessity of addressing loss and damage and promotes cooperation to improve support and understanding regarding risk management, although many related issues remain unresolved within the UNFCCC.
• The briefing identifies four central traits associated with loss and damage: the unavoidability of certain impacts, the possibility of irreversible and intolerable harm, and the attribution of these events to human-induced climate change.

APA

Stockholm Environment Institute (2016). Defining Loss and Damage. https://www.sei.org/publications/defining-loss-and-damage/

Chicago

Stockholm Environment Institute. Defining Loss and Damage. 2016. https://www.sei.org/publications/defining-loss-and-damage/.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=Stockholm Environment Institute |title=Defining Loss and Damage |date=19 September 2016 |url=https://www.sei.org/publications/defining-loss-and-damage/ |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{stockholmenvironmentinstitute2016defining, author = {{Stockholm Environment Institute}}, title = {{Defining Loss and Damage}}, institution = {Stockholm Environment Institute}, year = {2016}, month = sep, url = {https://www.sei.org/publications/defining-loss-and-damage/}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }