Dealing with the impacts of climate change

Contact Persons

Laura Schäfer

Head of Division – International Climate Policy

Vera Künzel

Senior Advisor – Climate Change Adaptation and Human Rights

Lisa Schultheiß

Policy Advisor – Climate Risk Management and Loss & Damage

Lina Adil

Policy Advisor - Climate Change Adaptation and Loss & Damage

News

Ein schlammiger Lastwagen liegt nach einem Unwetter auf einer Straße

Dealing with the impacts of climate change Blogpost | 21.12.2023

Unprecedented Fury: Extreme Weather Events of 2023

Scorching heat, heavy rainfalls, raging wildfires, deadly floods, and devastating storms – the manifestations of extreme weather events have become a common phenomenon around the globe. In this blog post we give an overview of the extreme weather events occurring in 2023 and show why it is imperative that nations, communities, and individuals take concerted action to mitigate the root causes of climate change, adapt to its impacts, and work towards a more sustainable and resilient future.

UN Headquarters Geneva

UN Climate Conferences Dealing with the impacts of climate change Blogpost | 02.11.2023

Why the success of COP28 depends on the fund for loss and damage

The climate crisis continues to intensify worldwide. However, the main culprits of the climate crisis have so far shown a lack of financial support for dealing with loss and damage. The decision to set up a loss and damage fund at COP27 was a historic milestone after several developed countries had blocked it for many years. At COP28 in Dubai, the fund must now be made operable and filled adequately.

Fig. 1. Overview of global climate tipping points (Own Illustration, based on PIK 2017).

Dealing with the impacts of climate change Blogpost | 16.02.2023

Tipping points and their impact on human security

Climate tipping points are thresholds in the Earth’s climate system. When passed, this system experiences abrupt and typically irreversible changes. In this blog series, we take a look at four of the most treacherous tipping points: the Amazon rainforest, the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation, Coral Reefs, and the West Antarctic Ice Sheet. We also provide an overview of their physical nature and their impact on human security, including the important issue of loss and damage, a topic which became a major discussion point at COP27.

Preview policy brief

Dealing with the impacts of climate change | 06.11.2024

Recommendations for a L&D (Finance) Gap Report

The issue of Loss and Damage is now firmly anchored within the UNFCCC. However, little knowledge exists on the aggregate (financial) needs of developing countries related to Loss and Damage. One way to close this knowledge gap is a dedicated report. Our policy paper provides recommendations for the preparation of a L&D Gap Report and how this Report should address finance.

Preview Paper

UN Climate Conferences Dealing with the impacts of climate change | 23.10.2024

Climate Justice for the Most Vulnerable

The debate on Loss and Damage in the context of the UNFCCC has a long and fractious history. As much of the Loss and Damage institutional framework is still in its early stages, there is room to develop synergies, connections, and functionality. Our policy brief ahead of COP29 looks into this potential. To spur the conversation on L&D, we address key points such as the L&D subgoal of the NCQG, a permanent agenda item, the WIM review, and progress on the FRLD.

Preview Calculating the Loss and Damage Finance Gap

Dealing with the impacts of climate change | 08.10.2024

Calculating the Loss and Damage Finance Gap

With the establishment of the Fund for responding to Loss and Damage, loss and damage finance has been firmly institutionalised under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. However, little knowledge exists on the financing gap that the Fund would ideally close. In our report, we discuss methodological challenges and propose solutions to change that.

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Dealing with the impacts of climate change | 22.01.2021

Global Climate Risk Index: Disastrous tropical cyclones were major threat in 2019

Mozambique, Zimbabwe and the Bahamas hit hardest by heavy storms and their direct implications in 2019 / Puerto Rico, Myanmar and Haiti with highest weather-related losses in the period from 2000 – 2019 / Climate Adaptation Summit starting today needs to discuss how to enhance support for vulnerable countries to deal with increasing climate impacts

Dealing with the impacts of climate change | 10.12.2019

Majority of countries show decline in emissions: Climate Change Performance Index sees opportunity for turning point

Climate Change Performance Index 2020: Decreasing emissions in 31 out of 57 high emitting countries / But more ambition and accelerated action needed / USA for the first time replaces Saudi Arabia as worst performing country / Sweden continues to lead

Dealing with the impacts of climate change | 04.12.2019

Climate Risks increasing worldwide - even for High-Income-Countries

Global Climate Risk Index: Japan and Germany hit hardest by heat waves and drought in 2018 / Philippines on rank 2 struck by tropical cyclones / Puerto Rico, Myanmar and Haiti with highest weather-related losses 1999 - 2018 / Nearly 500,000 people killed as a result of more than 12,000 extreme weather events that caused 3.5 trillion US-Dollars in damages

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