Operationalizing the loss and damage fund
A case for equity and justice in India's climate response
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 19480470 |
|---|---|
| Authors | Suvha Lama (0000-0002-8417-5638, National Environmental Engineering Research Institute), Jayshree Shukla (0000-0001-7525-6420, National Environmental Engineering Research Institute), Shalini Dhyani (0000-0002-0915-5733, National Environmental Engineering Research Institute, corresponding author), Indu K Murthy (0000-0001-9520-1662, Center for Study of Science Technology and Policy) |
| Year | 2026 |
| Pages | 1-15 |
| Publication date | 2026-05-23 |
| Open Access | No |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | Climate and Development (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 1756-5529 • E-ISSN: 1756-5537 |
| Publisher | Informa UK Limited (PUBLISHER • GB) |
| DOI | 10.1080/17565529.2026.2674796 |
| OpenAlex | W7162189273 |
| Language | EN |
| References cited | 64 |
As global warming approaches the 1.5°C threshold, the Loss and Damage Fund (LDF) established at COP 28 represents a critical milestone; however, its operational framework remains contested. Using a synthesis of policy evidence and a case-study analysis of India’s diverse climatic vulnerabilities, this paper examines the structural barriers to an equitable LDF. The current leaning towards debt-based finance and insurance risk creates ‘vulnerability traps’ for the Global South, while a lack of standardized attribution methodologies for slow-onset events hinders fund accessibility. Key findings suggest that for the LDF to be transformative rather than symbolic, it must adopt a grant-based, values-based assessment framework that accounts for both economic and non-economic losses. Furthermore, India’s per-capita context and ‘subsistence and development emissions’ necessitate an inclusive definition of ‘particularly vulnerable’ to prevent strategic exclusion of emerging economies. Policy implications extend beyond India, suggesting that a South-South L&D Research Network can decentralize climate science and foster regional resilience. By transitioning to a justice-centred approach grounded in Common but Differentiated Responsibilities and Respective Capabilities, the LDF can move from reactive disaster relief to a proactive mechanism for global climate justice, providing a template for emerging and developing economies to navigate residual risks effectively
Climate change · Climate justice · Economic Justice · Environmental justice · Operationalization · Climate Change and Geoengineering · Environmental law and policy · Sustainability and Climate Change Governance
Ipcc, 2023
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| Highly cited | No |
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