Why loss and damage is the 'most politically contentious issue' in climate negotiations

LONDON — From extreme storms to flooding to desertification, there are widespread fears over how the impacts of climate change are causing loss and damage — to lives, livelihoods, and land.

In Article 8 of the 2015 Paris Agreement on climate change, governments recognized “the importance of averting, minimizing and addressing loss and damage associated with the adverse effects of climate change, including extreme weather events and slow onset events, and the role of sustainable development in reducing the risk of loss and damage.”

But experts told Devex there has been a lack of progress around the issue, with high-income countries — historically the biggest polluters — failing to sufficiently engage.

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