Climate disasters have become increasingly frequent and intense, disproportionately affecting women, girls and marginalised communities in the Global South. In a world facing the escalating impacts of climate change, social protection has a crucial role to play in addressing climate-induced loss and damage, strengthening resilience, and advancing development goals. There is an urgent need for governments to expand social protection systems, and ensure that they address inequalities and fulfil human rights.

This briefing aims to make the case for the kinds of social protection schemes that can most effectively respond to loss and damage needs. It outlines how gender-responsive systems of social protection and the various tools and policies that they include can help to deliver a human-rights based approach to sustainable development while minimising and addressing climate-induced loss and damage.