RESILIENCE AS CLIMATE JUSTICE: INDIA’S FIGHT AGAINST LOSS AND DAMAGE

India faces growing loss and damage from climate disasters like floods and heatwaves, with millions displaced and significant economic and social impacts. The 2024 flooding of the Kosi River in Bihar was successfully managed through resilient infrastructure and coordinated action, preventing a major disaster. India’s 2024-25 budget allocates around USD 1.45 billion for flood control and irrigation in Bihar, aligning domestic investment with global Loss and Damage priorities.

The publication emphasizes the need for:

• Investing in resilient infrastructure to prevent loss and damage.
• Strengthening climate-smart agriculture and agrifood system resilience.
• Integrating Loss and Damage considerations into state-level planning.
• Linking domestic action with global climate justice through predictable, grant-based funding.

Ultimately, India’s experience shows that proactive resilience measures can reduce climate losses, supporting both economic stability and climate justice.