African approaches to climate and disaster displacement as loss and damage: Gaps and prospects

A research agenda charting out proposals for future research on addressing knowledge gaps at the intersection of climate change, disasters, and human mobility in Africa in 2021 emphasised the need for a deeper examination of the characterisation of displacement as loss and damage. Such an inquiry is essential for advancing the effective implementation of international and regional climate frameworks. This article seeks to assess the extent to which climate and disaster displacement is presently addressed as loss and damage in law and policy on the continent and to propose some suggestions for its better integration. It proposes enhanced data collection and reporting on the economic and noneconomic costs and impacts of climate and disaster displacement, the adoption of a human rights-based approach and the provision of effective remedies for displacement as loss and damage.