The ACT2025 Podcast: Addressing Loss and Damage from Most Extreme Climate Impacts

In this fifth episode of the ACT2025 Podcast, we hear about loss and damage — the effects of climate change that are too severe to adapt to — and how the international community can and must support affected communities and countries.

Yamide Dagnet, Director of Climate Negotiations, WRI

“[Developed countries] need to show more compassion and also realize that it is in their interest to find solutions, to have a more solutions-driven mind instead of just pushing this issue away. Loss and damage is there to stay.”

Saleemul Huq, Director of the International Centre for Climate Change and Development (ACT2025 partner)

“If you don’t care about poor people in poor countries, which is very clear … care about your own children and grandchildren. Because what you are doing or not doing is going to affect them very, very severely. And it’s in your hands, you’re the only generation that has the ability to leave the world somewhat better, or a hell of a lot worse.”

Ineza Grace, Founder of the Green Fighter and Cofounder of Loss and Damage Youth Coalition

“Now more than ever the impact will be more tragic because more people are being vulnerable, more people are being exposed and there’s a need to protect what we can, so if they do not act urgently, there will be nothing to save. There will be no future for us if no tangible action is taken, and climate leaders really are working to protect the community.”

More About ACT2025

For the November COP26 climate summit in Glasgow, the stakes could not be higher: to prevent catastrophic climate change that will disproportionately affect low-income countries and their people. In the face of widespread climate impacts, some of the countries most at risk have strived to be as ambitious as possible with their climate action. But because the majority of major emitters and high-income countries are not making good on their commitments or finance pledges, climate-vulnerable countries face even greater risks in the future.

WRI and a coalition of organizations and experts from all over the world — mostly the global South — recently formed the ACT2025 consortium to ensure voices from countries most exposed to climate change are heard, empowered, mobilized and adequately supported in international climate negotiations. The ACT2025 Podcast is a new WRI miniseries looking at what’s needed to secure ambitious, just and equitable outcomes at COP26 and beyond, especially for climate-vulnerable countries.

Find more podcasts and resources on other aspects of ACT2025 here.

Useful links:

• ACT2025 Alliance Statement
• International Centre for Climate Change and Development
• The Green Fighter
• Loss and Damage Youth Coalition
• WRI Insights Article: How the Charcoal Industry Threatens DRC’s Forests
• WRI Report: Repurposing Agricultural Subsidies to Restore Degraded Farmland and Grow Rural Prosperity
• The Era of Loss and Damage from Climate Change is Upon Us
• Now is the Time to Focus on Loss and Damage from Climate Change

Mima Holt, Nate Warszawski and Chikondi Thangata contributed to the production of this podcast.