South Asia is among the regions most affected by the non-economic consequences of climate change impacts that cannot be measured in money but deeply affect the fabric of lives, cultures, and ecosystems. These include the loss of homes and heritage, community displacement, the erosion of traditional knowledge, biodiversity decline, and the psychological distress caused by recurring climate disasters.
Climate change impacts are not only about economics, they are about people, identities, dignity, and belonging. From disappearing cultural sites and sacred lands to the trauma of migration and the disintegration of social bonds, these are damages that cannot be rebuilt with compensation alone
A people-centred response to NELD in South Asia must:
🔹 Integrate non-economic losses into national and regional climate
policies.
🔹 Document and protect cultural heritage, indigenous knowledge, and ecosystems at risk.
🔹 Provide psychosocial support for displaced and affected communities.
🔹 Ensure equitable climate finance that covers non-economic losses through grants, not loans.
Above all, addressing Non-Economic Loss and Damage means restoring hope, dignity, and connection for communities already bearing the cost of a crisis they did not create.
CAN South Asia calls on governments, international bodies, and civil society to prioritise Non-Economic Loss and Damage in climate action. By recognising and addressing these profound impacts, we can build a more just, resilient, and compassionate response to the climate crisis in South Asia.
