As climate impacts intensify around the world, millions of people are being forced to leave their homes due to floods, droughts, storms, wildfires, and other climate-related disasters. At COP31, a side event at the Senegal Pavilion will bring together experts, practitioners, and advocates to discuss how international loss and damage mechanisms can better respond to the growing realities of climate-driven human mobility.
The event, «Moving Beyond Crisis: Financing and Technical Assistance for Human Mobility and Loss & Damage,» will take place on 12 November from 4:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. at the Senegal Pavilion. Organized by the Platform on Disaster Displacement (PDD), Bread for the World, La Ruta del Clima, and the Lutheran Church of Northern Germany/ACT Alliance, the session will focus on one of the most pressing challenges of the climate crisis: ensuring that people displaced by climate impacts receive the support, resources, and protection they need.
Climate-related displacement has become one of the clearest manifestations of loss and damage. Every year, climate-related disasters displace millions of people, while countless others face the loss of livelihoods, land, cultural heritage, and social networks. These impacts often extend beyond economic losses, affecting health, security, identity, and community resilience.
At the heart of the discussion will be the role of international mechanisms designed to address loss and damage, including the Fund for Responding to Loss and Damage and the Santiago Network for Loss and Damage. Participants will explore how these institutions can be strengthened, adequately resourced, and made more accessible to the communities most affected by climate impacts.
A central question guiding the conversation is how climate finance and technical assistance can reach affected communities directly and equitably. The event will examine approaches that support locally led solutions, strengthen community-based organizations, and address both economic and non-economic losses experienced by displaced populations and those at risk of displacement.
As negotiations continue at COP31, discussions on human mobility, climate justice, and loss and damage are becoming increasingly urgent. Ensuring that existing mechanisms are capable of responding to the realities of displacement and migration will be critical for protecting vulnerable communities and advancing a fair and effective global response to the climate crisis.
Event Details
Event: Moving Beyond Crisis: Financing and Technical Assistance for Human Mobility and Loss & Damage
Date: 12 November
Time: 4:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Location: Senegal Pavilion, COP31
