2013•11•05     Bonn

Release of new evidence on loss and damage: Climate change-related loss and damage threatens livelihood and food security of vulnerable communities in Burkina Faso, Ethiopia, Mozambique and Nepal

Who: Dr. Koko Warner, United Nations University, Lead Author and Scientific Director, CDKN Loss and Damage in Vulnerable Countries Initiative

What: A virtual briefing releasing the new report “Pushed to the Limit: Evidence of climate change-related loss and damage when people face constraints and limits to adaptation.” Case study data available for Burkina Faso, Ethiopia, Mozambique and Nepal, as well as five additional cases published in a previous report (Loss & Damage Volume 1) from Bangladesh, Bhutan, the Gambia, Kenya, and Micronesia.

The report is released in the lead up to the high-level climate conference, COP 19 in Warsaw, Poland.

When: The virtual launch will take place, Thursday, 7 November, 11.00 Central European Time (CET)

How:

1. To join the virtual launch, please access this link 5 minutes prior to the launch event: https://ehs-unu.adobeconnect.com/loss-and-damage/
2. Under Username please enter your first and last name followed by media outlet: e.g. JohnDoe_Reuters.
3. Once logged in you will be able to interact with the speaker through both voice and chat functions. For more information, please consult this brief tutorial

Why: In the lead up to the high-level Climate Conference, COP 19 in Warsaw, Poland, the United Nations University is releasing findings from a new report on climate change-related loss and damage in vulnerable communities. The research report finds that despite adaptation efforts, vulnerable communities are already experiencing escalating loss and damage that is threatening their most fundamental needs- livelihood and food security.

Based on 3269 household interviews (Volume 1 & 2), the scientific case studies in the current report explore the impacts of floods and droughts in Burkina Faso, Ethiopia, Mozambique and Nepal (Volume 2). The report builds on earlier research conducted in Kenya, the Gambia, Bangladesh, Bhutan and Micronesia (Volume 1). The following information can be made available under EMBARGO (07.11.2013, 11:00 CET): Full Report and Executive Summary, Press release, Fact sheets, High resolution photos from field research.

For more information or to receive a copy of the embargoed report or media materials, please contact:

Janine Kandel, Communication Officer, UN University, Bonn: , Tel + 49-228-815-0219

Sijia Yi, Communication Associate, UN University, Bonn: , Tel + 49-228-815-0284