New Books in Political Science Lisa Vanhala, "Governing the End: The Making of Climate Change Loss and Damage" (U Chicago Press, 2025)
Nov 12, 2025
Lisa Vanhala, a Professor of Political Science at UCL and author, dives into the complexities of climate change governance. She discusses her eight years of research on UN negotiations and the stark contrasts in how rich and poor countries experience climate loss. Vanhala reveals the intricate dynamics of negotiation rooms, the gaps between agreements and implementation, and the historical milestones of loss and damage frameworks. She also highlights the challenges of funding and the importance of framing in shaping policies, especially regarding climate migration.
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Governance Faces The Reality Of Endings
- Climate governance must confront both irreversible endings and its shifting goals over decades.
- Lisa Vanhala argues the UNFCCC's original aim to prevent dangerous interference has been undermined by escalating impacts.
What Loss And Damage Encompasses
- Loss and damage covers impacts we cannot mitigate or adapt to, including intangible harms.
- Vanhala highlights poor fit of the term 'non-economic losses' for culturally vital losses like life and community ties.
Two Competing Framings Shape Policy
- Two dominant framings shaped policy: risk-management and justice/harm approaches.
- These framings produce different institutional designs, expertise, and power dynamics in the UNFCCC.
