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Justification for my rating:

3 – Neutral

I would rate my satisfaction with the outcomes on loss and damage as 3 (Neutral) because the last five COPs have produced important progress, but the response is still not sufficient compared with the scale of the problem faced by vulnerable countries.

Historically, loss and damage negotiations were difficult because developing countries, particularly small island states and vulnerable developing countries, had long pushed for stronger recognition and financial support for climate-related losses that cannot be avoided through adaptation. A major institutional step came at COP19 in 2013, when the Warsaw International Mechanism (WIM) was established to address loss and damage from both extreme events and slow-onset impacts.

The biggest breakthrough came at COP27 in 2022, when countries finally agreed to establish new funding arrangements and a dedicated Fund for responding to Loss and Damage. This was significant because the issue had been debated internationally…

I agree with your observation that “the people who have the most power are not the ones who are most affected.” This was also one of the main conclusions I reached from my stakeholder mapping. My mapping similarly placed government agencies, international donors and key project management institutions in the Manage Closely quadrant because of their ability to influence funding, policy, regulations and project implementation.

One difference in our perspectives is that I gave slightly more emphasis to the distinction between formal power and influence. I placed local communities, NGOs and researchers primarily under Keep Informed, because although they may have limited formal decision-making power, they can have considerable influence through local knowledge, advocacy, community mobilisation and technical expertise. Your description of communities as both “implementers and beneficiaries” highlights why their influence can sometimes be greater than the formal mapping initially suggests.

I also agree with your point about the interdependence between stakeholders.…

Comparing Climate Resilience in the Philippines and Zimbabwe

In comparison with the Philippines, Zimbabwe faces different but related climate challenges, particularly droughts, floods, heatwaves and irregular rainfall, which are being intensified by climate change. Rural and low-income communities, especially those dependent on rain-fed agriculture, are among the most affected because climate shocks reduce crop yields, livestock productivity, water availability and household incomes. Similar to the mangrove restoration initiative in the Philippines, Zimbabwean communities use nature-based and community-led solutions, including water harvesting, conservation agriculture, tree planting, wetland protection and livelihood diversification to strengthen resilience. Government institutions, local authorities, NGOs and development partners also support communities through climate-smart agriculture, disaster preparedness, early-warning systems, food assistance and environmental conservation programmes. However, unlike the Philippines, where mangrove restoration provides coastal protection against storm surges, Zimbabwe is a landlocked country, so its adaptation efforts focus more on managing drought, water scarcity, land degradation and flooding. Both…

A climate change-induced impact affecting Mutare as a city is the increasing frequency of extreme rainfall and flooding, which can cause flash floods, damage roads and buildings, disrupt transport, and affect businesses and households. Heavy rainfall also increases soil erosion and can overwhelm drainage systems, particularly in low-lying and densely populated areas. These impacts disrupt normal livelihoods and place additional pressure on communities and infrastructure. In response, residents have adopted measures such as improving household drainage, avoiding flood-prone areas, and participating in community clean-up activities, while government and other stakeholders have been strengthening disaster preparedness, drainage management, early-warning systems, and climate-resilient infrastructure. Overall, these challenges highlight the need for Mutare to strengthen its resilience to changing weather patterns and extreme climate events.

One of the most compelling community-centered adaptation examples I have witnessed firsthand is the community-led embankment maintenance and mangrove restoration initiative in Dacope Upazila, Khulna one of Bangladesh's most climate-vulnerable coastal areas. Through my WASH field work in this region, I observed how communities, supported by local NGOs and government agencies, collaboratively designed and implemented adaptation measures to address salinity intrusion, flooding, and cyclone vulnerability.

Community Values: The initiative was deeply rooted in local values of collective responsibility known as "samaj" in Bengali culture. Community members, particularly women and elderly residents, actively participated in identifying vulnerable embankment sections and deciding which areas to prioritize for mangrove planting.

Addressing Challenges: The plan directly addressed the dual challenge of physical infrastructure degradation and ecosystem loss both critical drivers of flooding and salinity in coastal Dacope.

Vulnerability Assessment: Local knowledge was central to vulnerability mapping. Community members identified households most at risk based on proximity to…

Step 1: General Adaptation Goal

Improve flood resilience and livelihood protection for rural communities in northern Bangladesh.

Step 2: SMART Objective

By December 2027, establish community-based flood early warning systems and climate-resilient vegetable homestead gardens for 200 households across 5 flood-prone villages in northern Bangladesh, reducing crop loss by at least 40% and ensuring 80% of households receive timely flood alerts through local volunteer networks.

Breaking it down:

• Specific: Early warning systems + homestead gardens for 200 households in 5 villages

As a policy advisor for a climate-vulnerable developing country, I would prioritize advocating for dedicated Loss and Damage finance. Unlike mitigation or adaptation, loss and damage addresses irreversible climate impacts already occurring in vulnerable communities displacement, livelihood destruction, and cultural loss for which historical emitters bear clear moral responsibility.

Equity: Loss and damage funds directly target the most vulnerable populations who have contributed least to emissions but suffer most. This ensures climate finance reaches frontline communities rather than being absorbed by large infrastructure projects benefiting wealthier groups.

Efficiency: Dedicated funds reduce bureaucratic barriers that currently prevent Global South countries from accessing climate finance. Streamlined, grant-based disbursement rather than complex loan mechanisms maximizes impact and reduces debt burdens on already financially constrained nations.

Sustainability: Securing permanent loss and damage finance mechanisms creates long-term financial resilience, moving beyond emergency relief toward structured, predictable support for affected communities.

Drawing from Bangladesh's experience, coastal communities in Dacope…

The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) presents a compelling and complex case of how a climate-vulnerable, resource-rich nation can strategically leverage its natural assets to gain traction in international climate finance negotiations. Ahead of COP27, the DRC announced oil and gas auction blocks overlapping with its Congo Basin rainforest the world's second largest tropical forest and a critical global carbon sink. This was not simply an economic decision; it was a deliberate strategic signal to the international community: if wealthy nations fail to adequately finance forest conservation, the DRC may be compelled to exploit its resources for national development.

This strategy reflects a broader Global South frustration with the persistent gap between climate finance pledges and actual disbursements. The promised USD 100 billion annually under the Paris Agreement remains largely unmet, leaving countries like the DRC which contributes minimally to global emissions yet bears enormous climate vulnerability without adequate…