Task Force on Displacement

The Task Force on Displacement (TFD) was established in 2015 at COP 21, with its mandate later extended at the recommendation by the ExCom in 2018.

In its first phase, the TFD developed recommendations for integrated approaches to avert, minimize and address displacement related to the adverse impacts of climate change.

The second phase (2019-2022) TFD catalyzed a wide range of actions and the production of knowledge products by its member organizations.

In its current phase work of the TFD focuses more broadly on strategic workstream (d) of the current five-year rolling workplan of the ExCom, which aims to enhance cooperation and facilitation in relation to human mobility, including migration, displacement and planned relocation. In particular, this strategic workstream focuses on better understanding the impacts of climate change on human mobility, disseminating and facilitating the uptake of the recommendations developed in the first phase, as well as facilitating stakeholder engagement for further action.

Establishment of the Task Force on Displacement

The Conference of the Parties (COP), at its 21^st session in Paris, established the Task Force on Displacement to develop recommendations for integrated approaches to avert, minimize and address displacement related to the adverse impacts of climate change. (Decision 1/CP.21)

The Executive Committee of the Warsaw International Mechanism for Loss and Damage (WIM Excom) is entrusted by the COP to operationalize the Task Force on Displacement.

Task Force on Displacement within the UNFCCC process:

At the successful delivery of a set of recommendations, the WIM Excom extended the mandate of the Task Force on Displacement, in 2018, to continue its work on human mobility under strategic workstream (d) of the WIM Excom’s five-year rolling workplan.

Phase 1 (June 2017 - April 2019)

In fulfilling its mandate during the first phase of implementation to provide a comprehensive assessment of broader issues of displacement related to climate change, the Task Force on Displacement engaged in technical work on the following themes:

Policy/Practice – National/Subnational
Policy – International/Regional
Data and assessment
Framing and linkages

As a result, the COP, at its 24^th session, adopted a set of recommendations based on the assessment and, presented by the WIM Excom in its annual report (2018).

For more information related to results of the implementation of the first phase workplan, click here

Recommendations on integrated approaches to averting, minimizing and addressing displacement related to the adverse impacts of climate change

The COP, at its 24^th session, adopted a set of recommendations on integrated approaches to averting, minimizing and addressing displacement related to the adverse impacts of climate change, presented by the WIM ExCom in its annual report (2018).

You can find the recommendations here

Phase 2 (April 2019 - September 2022)

Since April 2019, the Task Force on Displacement began its second phase of implementation with the new terms of reference. The Task Force on Displacement’s new Plan of Action (2019 – 2021), building upon the activities under strategic workstream (d) of the WIM Excom as well as the recommendations arising from the outcomes of its first phase of implementation, was subsequently approved by the WIM Excom in October 2019.

For more information related to the implementation of the second phase Plan of Action, click here

Phase 3 (September 2022 - present)

In its third phase the work of the TFD focuses more broadly on strategic workstream (d) of the current five-year rolling workplan of the ExCom, which aims to enhance cooperation and facilitation in relation to human mobility, including migration, displacement and planned relocation.

The TFD implements its third Plan of Action adopted in September 2022.

Approach

Through an inclusive approach, the Task Force on Displacement complements, draws upon the work of and involves, as appropriate, existing bodies and expert groups under the United Nations Climate Change Convention, as well as relevant organizations and expert bodies outside the Convention.