Despite advances, thedebate currently is broad, diffuse and somewhat confusing, while concepts, meth-ods and tools, as well as directions for policy remain vague and often contested.This book, a joint effort of the Loss and Damage Network—a partnership effort byscientists and practitioners from around the globe—provides evidence-based insightinto the L&D discourse by highlighting state-of-the-art research conducted acrossmultiple disciplines, by showcasing applications in practice and by providing insightinto policy contexts and salient policy options. This introductory chapter summariseskey findings of the twenty-two book chapters in terms of five propositions. Thesepropositions, each building on relevant findings linked to forward-looking sugges-tions for research, policy and practice, reflect the architecture of the book, whosesections proceed from setting the stage to critical issues, followed by a section onmethods and tools, to chapters that provide geographic perspectives, and finally to asection that identifies potential policy options. The propositions comprise (1) Riskmanagement can be an effective entry point for aligning perspectives and debates,if framed comprehensively, coupled with climate justice considerations and linkedto established risk management and adaptation practice; (2) Attribution science isadvancing rapidly and fundamental to informing actions to minimise, avert, andaddress losses and damages; (3) Climate change research, in addition to identifyingphysical/hard limits to adaptation, needs to more systematically examine soft limitsto adaptation, for which we find some evidence across several geographies globally;(4) Climate risk insurance mechanisms can serve the prevention and cure aspectsemphasised in the L&D debate but solidarity and accountability aspects need furtherattention, for which we find tentative indication in applications around the world; (5)Policy deliberations may need to overcome the perception that L&D constitutes awin-lose negotiation “game” by developing a more inclusive narrative that highlightscollective ambition for tackling risks, mutual benefits and the role of transformation.