Cultural voices have focused strongly on loss and damage, elevating it as an independent pillar of climate action alongside mitigation and adaptation. International policy distinguishes between economic and non-economic loss. Non-economic losses and damages as defined by the UN includes losses of cultural heritage, indigenous/local knowledge, biodiversity and ecosystem services.  

The close link between cultural heritage and loss and damage was signalled at COP27 with the first ever reference to ‘cultural heritage’ in a COP cover decision coming in the context of loss and damage. The Sharm el-Sheikh Implementation Plan  noted ‘with grave concern’ the

growing gravity, scope and frequency in all regions of loss and damage associated with the adverse effects of climate change, resulting in devastating economic and non-economic losses, including forced displacement and impacts on cultural heritage, human mobility and the lives and livelihoods of local communities, and underlines the importance of an adequate and effective response to loss and damage.

(emphasis added)

Importantly, the COP28 decision operationalising the new loss and damage fund makes clear that attention to Non-economic Loss will be a core component of the fund’s  work.  For example, its governing provisions state that:

The Fund will provide support for responding to economic and non-economic loss and damage associated with the adverse effects of climate change. This support may include funding that is complementary to humanitarian actions taken immediately after an extreme weather event; funding for intermediate or long-term recovery, reconstruction or rehabilitation; and funding for actions that address slow onset events.

COP28 has designated the World Bank as the initial host of the Loss and Damage Fund, mandating that it provide direct access to resources for all developing countries. This includes support for subnational, national, and regional entities, along with small grants aimed at community needs. The decision also outlines that, in addressing loss and damage, the Fund should prioritise ‘environmental, social, economic, and development co-benefits’ and ensure a culturally sensitive, gender-responsive approach.

The operationalization of the Loss and Damage Fund was accompanied by funding commitments from France, Italy, Germany, UAE, the EU, Japan, and others. However, as Carbon Brief reported,

the pledges made are, at best, an initial down payment. Loss and damage pledges made at COP28 totalled 770.6 million USD of which 115.3 million USD are identified for funding arrangements, not the Loss and Damage Fund itself. These pledges make up only 0.2% of the loss and damage needs of developing countries which are more than 400 billion USD a year.

A key COP28 decision on loss and damage established the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR) as co-host of the Santiago Network. Originally agreed upon in 2019, the Santiago Network connects countries with technical expertise to address climate-related loss and damage. UNDRR’s mandate to reduce risks and losses in social, cultural, and environmental assets positions it well to incorporate technical assistance on cultural heritage within the Network’s work. This move builds on UNDRR’s experience implementing the culture-focused aspects of the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015–2030, enhancing support for safeguarding culture and heritage in climate adaptation.