Operationalizing the loss and damage fund: a case for equity and justice in India's climate response

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.

Suvha Lama, Jayshree Shukla, and Shalini Dhyani also co-authored the paper.

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