Highlights from the CoP17 high-level Government of Bangladesh side event: Loss and damage in vulnerable countries, 5 December 2011, Durban.

The topic of loss and damage in the context of climate change has gained increasing importance in the UNFCCC climate talks in recent years. Loss and damage involves the difficult task of trying to measure and assess the damage from climate change impacts in vulnerable countries. This side event by the Government of Bangladesh and involving DARA, CDKN and IIED, discussed issues around loss and damage with the aim of contributing to a common understanding of the issue.

Good progress was made in Durban on elevating the loss and damage debate in the international discussion. Kashmala Kakakhel from CDKN Asia reports on this progress here.

Highlights from discussions included:

Dr Saleemul Huq, lead author on the IPCC fourth assessment report and Senior Climate Change Fellow at the International Institute for Environment and Development, on migration and limits to adaptation.

Pasha Carruthers from the Cook Islands Delegation on the loss and damage issue for small island developing states (SIDs).

Sam Bickersteth, CEO of CDKN, on the importance of the topic of loss and damage in the context of climate change and the work being done by Bangladesh to lead Least Developed Country (LDC) parties and climate vulnerable countries to work together to develop mutual understanding on the issue and develop a Work Programme for submission to CoP 18.