Financing loss and damage from climate change in Small Island Developing States

PhD Mid Term Review Seminar

Melanie’s PhD project looks at financing ‘Loss and Damage’ (L&D) from climate change in Small Island Developing States following the formal inclusion and recognition of the concept under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).

Her research aims to identify innovative financing structures for climate change impacts such as natural disasters, slow onset events such as sea level rise and as well as addressing losses that people suffer on a personal level due to displacement as a result of climate change impacts. She draws on data collected from stakeholder interviews withUNFCCC negotiators as well as fieldwork undertaken in the Caribbean.

The overall aim of the project is to develop a financing mechanism that incorporates all aspects related to L&D from climate change impacts.