Side event on 'Addressing Climate Change induced Displacement through Loss & Damage and Community-Led Interventions

Date: 23 Jun, 2025

Venue: Bonn, Germany

Climate change is increasingly becoming a driver of human displacement, disrupting lives, livelihoods, and entire communities through sea-level rise, extreme weather events, desertification, and other environmental stresses. This side event will explore the intersection of climate-induced displacement and the growing need for equitable and effective Loss and Damage (L&D) responses that center the experiences of the most affected populations.

Bringing together community leaders, civil society organizations, international agencies, researchers, and government representatives, this panel will highlight the multifaceted impacts of climate change on human mobility—ranging from internal displacement and cross-border migration to the erosion of cultural identity and sovereignty. Special attention will be paid to the disproportionate burden borne by Indigenous Peoples, small island developing states (SIDS), women, and youth, and how current L&D mechanisms must evolve to meet their needs.

Through case studies, field experiences, and policy analysis, panelists will showcase community-led adaptation and response strategies that promote dignity, agency, and resilience. These include early warning systems, climate-resilient infrastructure, legal frameworks for displaced persons, and grassroots financial tools such as climate funds and solidarity networks.

The event will also provide a platform to discuss key opportunities and challenges in operationalizing the Loss and Damage Fund to support displaced populations, and advocate for stronger alignment between L&D frameworks and international human rights and migration standards. Participants will leave with actionable insights into how to co-create solutions that are just, inclusive, and grounded in local realities.