In the run up to COP26 all countries are expected to update their Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), the ‘climate plans’ that outline how countries will reduce emissions and adapt to the impacts of climate change. While NDCs are usually regarded as ‘technical documents’, they also play a political role in signalling issues or topics that are particularly important for a country. This policy Brief analyses a total of 250 NDCs -both latest and archived versions- to map how countries have referred to loss and damage in these documents. It finds that an increasing number of countries are including loss and damage considerations and responses in their latest NDCs, and thus sending a strong signal about the need to address loss and damage to fulfil the Paris Agreement’s goals.

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