In Part 2 of a four-part series on loss and damage, we discuss a few key examples of loss and damage that paint a fuller picture of the threat it entails. See Part 1 for an introduction to loss and damage and why advocates urge swift action to address it.

Extreme weather v. slow onset events

Loss and damage may occur from extreme events, such as hurricanes or heat waves, or from slow onset events, such as sea level rise or desertification.

Extreme events can have catastrophic effects, especially if adaptive measures are not adequately taken. Slow onset events, which have received far less attention, may also have pervasive, existential effects. For example, saltwater intrusion has led to the gradual salinization of drinking water sources in coastal Bangladesh. The salinity of drinking water in certain areas now exceeds recommended limits, which is particularly problematic for pregnant women who face elevated health and birth complications as a result.

Addressing loss and damage from each of these two sources will require different approaches, which is a challenge we will address in a later post.

Non-economic loss and damage

Some cases of loss and damage are repairable, such as damages to infrastructure. However, other cases are irreversible. Irreversible loss and damage cannot be recovered with money. These cases of loss and damage may be on an individual level, such as through the loss of life. They may also be on a community or even national level.

For example, extreme flooding damaged hundreds of pieces of historically significant artwork at French museum Musée Girodet last year. The Louvre, the Whitney Museum of American Art, and other museums have also been damaged as a result of extreme weather events. How does one put a price on this loss of culture? While valuations of artwork may provide insight in some cases, these amounts rarely represent the true value, particularly for grassroots or folk art.

Loss of culture is further underscored by Pacific Island states. Climate change is an existential threat to these small low-lying nations, which may disappear with continued sea level rise. To prepare for such a threat, Kiribati purchased land in Fiji for its citizens to migrate to in case the nation succumbs to the sea. Even if every citizen of Kiribati brings every item of cultural significance to the newly acquired land in Fiji, there is still a profound loss of culture associated with the loss of sovereignty.

These non-economic cases of loss and damage pose philosophical questions regarding the values of these intangible assets. Consideration of non-economic effects is an important component of an equitable mechanism to address loss and damage.

Loss and damage in the UNFCCC

In Part 3 of this series, we explore how loss and damage fits into the UNFCCC framework and advances (and setbacks) on the issue at COP 23. In later parts, we delve into potential financial mechanisms to address loss and damage, as well as challenges and ethics on the issue. Stay tuned!

 

Tasfia Nayem is a first-year Master of Environmental Management candidate at the Nicholas School of the Environment focusing on environmental economics and policy. Prior to Duke, she worked as a climate change communicator for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, where she helped develop and implement strategies to promote climate science literacy and better engage the public in climate action.