What is Loss and Damage?
While we must do all we can to cut greenhouse gas emissions and adapt our societies to cope with global heating, major climate disasters are already happening, and more will follow.
These climate impacts are known as ‘loss and damage’, and they are expected to cost Global South countries between $290 billion and $580 billion every year by 2030. ‘Loss and damage’ refers to slow-onset catastrophes like sea-level rises as well as extreme weather events like hurricanes and floods.
At the moment, there is no international fund for loss and damage, so it’s the communities affected – often among the poorest people in the world – who are paying the price for a crisis caused mainly by the richest.
Small island nations and other countries vulnerable to climate change have been calling for finance for loss and damage at the UN since 1991. At COP26 in November 2021, thanks to pressure from campaigners and NGOs, people were talking about it much more than before.
Now we need to keep up the pressure to make sure COP27 establishes a loss and damage fund. Rich countries must contribute, but it’s also important to look at new sources of finance – paid for by oil companies and others who have profited from the fossil fuels that are causing the crisis.
Take Action
Nov 12 will see mass mobilisations across the country and put thousands of people on the streets to demand Climate Justice in solidarity with the Global Day of Action called by Egyptian groups at COP27. We are calling on faith groups to join these actions wherever they are closest to you.
If you’re in London, join our faith bloc:
Faith groups participating in the London march will be gathering at St John’s Waterloo before joining the main march at the Shell Building. Come with climate justice banners and placards, especially if these reflect your faith and spiritual traditions!
11.30am Meet at St John’s Church Waterloo (map)
12.00pm Leave to join march gathering at Jubilee Gardens (map), opposite Shell
1.00pm Main march sets off
2.30pm Arrive at Trafalgar Square (map) for speeches
4.00pm Finish
Additionally, we’re encouraging faith communities to:
- Tell your own stories of friends and family affected by loss and damage (and maybe it has affected you too) – and share these with your MP if you can
- Hold a screening of the short film below, followed by a discussion event to learn more about loss and damage together
- Hold a vigil or other interfaith action on Loss and Damage.
We’ve put together some resources to help with this:
- Guide to holding a discussion event
- Guide to holding a vigil
- Flyer to hand out at a loss and damage vigil (coming soon)
- Placards for a loss and damage vigil (feel free to adapt)
We’ve also brought together lots of first-hand stories from different parts of the world, recorded by some of the organisations we work with, to help create a clearer picture of what loss and damage really means:
Responsibility for the climate crisis lies with the world’s richest countries, which for hundreds of years have taken more than their fair share; and with fossil fuel companies, who hid the truth about climate change for decades and are still exploring for more oil and gas. It’s time to demand justice for those who are bearing the brunt.