The need for practical action to address loss and damage caused by the climate crisis is now urgent. Climate change impacts not only occur over a wide range of time horizons, they are also increasing in intensity and frequency, happening consecutively, overlapping, and interacting with underlying causes of vulnerability and marginalisation. In addition, the distribution of risk is unequal between households, communities and regions. In this briefing, we outline the complex and multidimensional nature of loss and damage risks and explain why addressing them requires a ‘layering’ of interventions. We also outline ten guiding principles that can help governments, decision makers and other stakeholders to deliver a suite of layered, practical, effective and sustainable measures that address loss and damage risks and impacts at national and local levels.