Addressing loss and damage in the context of social vulnerability and resilience
11 December 2012

Policy Brief No.7 on Addressing loss and damage in the context of social vulnerability and resilience, presented by the Munich Re Foundation (MRF) Chair on Social Vulnerability and the United Nations University-Institute for Environment and Human Security (UNU-EHS), is now available online!  Two of IRDR’s Science Committee members, Anthony Oliver-Smith and Susan L, Cutter, contributed to the brief.

Officially launched in Doha on December 4, 2012, this policy brief derives from the knowledge of the seven MRF Summer Academies with the aim to highlight the relevance of research on vulnerability and resilience for the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC COP 18, 2012) discussions.

The concept of loss and damage associated with climate change is new for science and policy. This policy brief provides seven targeted recommendations focusing on how loss and damage should be designed to find policies and practices that significantly reduce losses and damages related to climatic stressors in much of the world. These recommendations feed in to the discussions on loss and damage in Doha in order to find a mandated COP decision of the Subsidiary Body on Implementation (SBI) work programme on loss and damage.

Read more about this initiative on the UNU-EHS website, or click to download Policy Brief No. 7.

Related News & Events
05 August 2025
IRDR proudly celebrates the successful conclusion of the 2025 Youth Climate Action and Disaster Risk Reduction Hackathon, held in Beijing under the theme “Empowering Youth for a Healthy Planet.” Co-organized with UNESCO, the Horizon Global Youth Development Program and other partners, the event brought together over 300 young innovators from 15 countries to co-develop solutions to urgent environmental challenges.
04 August 2025
IRDR commends the successful conclusion of Fudan University's second International Summer School on Climate Change and Related Risks. Supported by IRDR in collaboration with the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) and the MAP-AQ programme, the three-week flagship program brought together nearly 80 participants from 16 countries, fostering a dynamic global learning community under the theme “Human Activity and Weather/Climate Extremes.”
31 July 2025
UNESCO and IRDR co-organise this lumos at UTC 8:00 on 18 August, which will reflect the research and innovations from young generations with the topics including but not limited (1) vulnerability assessment of cultural heritages (tangible and intangible), (2) integrating traditional knowledge and advanced technologies for climate change adaption and disaster risk reduction, and (3) the role of culture in climate action through education, grassroots initiatives, and policy engagement.
Disclaimer of use | Privacy Policy | Terms of use | Contact us|
Copyright 2023 Integrated Research on Disaster Risk. All rights reserved.
+86 10 8217 8917
Room B713, No.9 Dengzhuangnan Rd., Beijing China 100094