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Work programme on loss and damage

Approaches to address loss and damage associated with climate change impacts in developing countries that are particularly vulnerable to the adverse effects of climate change

 

Overview of the intergovernmental process

Recognizing the need to strengthen international cooperation and expertise in order to understand and reduce loss and damage associated with the adverse effects of climate change, the Conference of the Parties (COP) at the Cancun Climate Change Conference (COP16, 2010) established a work programme in order to consider approaches to address loss and damage associated with climate change impacts in developing countries that are particularly vulnerable to the adverse effects of climate change (decision 1/CP.16, paragraphs 25-29), as part of the Cancun Adaptation Framework. 

The COP, by the same decision, requested the Subsidiary Body for Implementation (SBI) to make recommendations on loss and damage to the COP for its consideration at COP 18.

Recent progress

Considering the outcomes of the implementation of the work programme to date, the COP at the Doha Climate Change Conference (COP18, 2012):

  • Decided to establish, at COP19, institutional arrangements, such as an international mechanism to address loss and damage
  • Agreed on the following interim activities:
    • Preparation of technical papers: One on non-economic losses and another on gaps in existing institutional arrangements within and outside of the Convention
    • Organization of an expert meeting to consider future needs, including capacity needs associated with possible approaches to address slow onset events

Parties will elaborate activities to further the understanding of and expertise on loss and damage at the next session (June 2013).

Overview of the implementation of the work programme

Since the launch of the work programme at COP16, a wide range of activities have been implemented. These and their associated outputs are summarized in the diagram below.

Adaptation - Loss and Damage - Chronological overview

The table below provides links to further information related to the activities undertaken in 2012 as mandated by Decision 7/CP.17 (page 5 of the report of the COP 17).

Overview of activities related to the three thematic areas of the Work programme on loss and damage
Thematic Area I :
Assessing the risk of loss and damage associated with the adverse effects of climate change and current knowledge on the same
Thematic Area II :
A range of approaches to address loss and damage associated with the adverse effects of climate change, including impacts related to extreme weather events and slow onset events, taking into consideration experiences at all levels
Thematic Area III:
The role of the Convention in enhancing implementation of approaches to address loss and damage associated with the adverse effects of climate change
 

 

 



















 
 
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pdf-icon Decision adopted at the 18th session of the COP (Decision 3/CP.18, page 21 of the report of the COP 19)

History of negotiations on loss and damage

 
Related work streams under the UNFCCC

Adaptation Committee

National Adaptation Plans

Nairobi Work Programme on impacts, vulnerability and adaptation to climate change

 
Submissions made in 2011

Views and information on elements to be included in the work programme on loss and damage. For submissions by Parties and IGOs, see FCCC/SBI/2011/MISC.1. 

Views and information on the thematic areas to be addressed in the implementation of the work programme. For submissions by Parties and IGOs, see  FCCC/SBI/2011/Misc.8, and Add.1. Click here for the Synthesis report.

Click here for submissions by Civil society.