The stakeholder consultation and sensitization workshop on Loss and Damage was held in Thimphu, Bhutan on 24 January 2025. A total of 32 participants from various ministries, agencies, and organizations attended the consultation workshop. 

The Department of Environment and Climate Change (DECC), Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources (MoENR) is the National Focal Point for the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) for the implementation of the Paris Agreement. Article 8 of the Paris Agreement recognizes averting, minimizing, and addressing loss and damage due to climate change. During COP 27 at Sharm el-Shiekh, the Loss and Damage Fund was established and operationalized during COP 28 in Dubai. Parties during COP 29 in Baku, Azerbaijan in 2024 acknowledged the progress made by the Fund for Responding to Loss and Damage (FRLD) and adopted the Board’s work plan for the timely implementation of the Fund.  

As a climate vulnerable country, it is important for Bhutan to be engaged in the global negotiations about the Fund and the consultation is a part of the engagements being planned within the country to sensitize stakeholders about the Fund, identify needs of relevant sectors/agencies/organizations. 

The resource persons/speakers for the workshop were from DECC, Department of Local Governance and Disaster Management (DLGDM), Bhutan Ecological Society (BES), College of Natural Resources (CNR), UNDP and former Transitional Committee member. The participants were briefed on:

1. Loss and Damage institutional arrangement under UNFCCC.
2. Fund for Responding to Loss and Damage (FRLD).
3. Case study and research findings on Loss and Damage conducted at district level, Bhutan.
4. Economic and Non-Economic Loss and Damage assessment methodologies/approaches.
5. UNDP’s perspectives on Loss and Damage.

The loss and damage needs of the relevant agencies and organizations were identified through brainstorming sessions during the workshop.