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Navigating Rising Seas – Insights from the WIM Executive Committee’s technical guide on sea level rise
13 Jun 2025
Virtual event
Adaptation & Loss and Damage
UNFCCC. Executive Committee of the Warsaw International Mechanism for Loss and Damage (WIM ExCom)
English
1
Navigating Rising Seas – Insights from the WIM Executive Committee’s technical guide on sea level rise
13 Jun 2025
Virtual event
Adaptation & Loss and Damage
UNFCCC. Executive Committee of the Warsaw International Mechanism for Loss and Damage (WIM ExCom)
English
Background information

Sea level rise poses an increasing threat to coastal regions, amplifying risks such as flooding, saltwater intrusion, and the displacement of communities. These impacts have profound implications for livelihoods, ecosystems, infrastructure, and cultural heritage, particularly in low-lying areas and small island developing States. In response to these escalating challenges, the Executive Committee of the UNFCCC Warsaw International Mechanism (WIM ExCom) published a technical guide on sea level rise, providing a comprehensive and up-to-date assessment of coastal climate-related risks, immediate and long-term actions towards resilience, and available financing sources to support coastal protection and long-term sustainability. The technical work to develop the guide was co-led by four members of the expert group on slow-onset events of the Committee. 

Related Information

Warsaw International Mechanism for Loss and Damage associated with Climate Change Impacts

Executive Committee of the Warsaw International Mechanism for Loss and Damage 

Expert group on slow-onset events 

Technical guide on sea level rise 

Knowledge products by the Executive Committee of the Warsaw International Mechanism for Loss and Damage 

Santiago network

Access webcast

 

Webinar Navigating Rising Seas: Insights from the WIM ExCom's technical guide on sea level rise
Credit: UN Climate Change

Objectives of the webinar: 

This webinar will provide key findings of the technical guide on sea level rise, focusing on: 

  • Three main types of strategies: protect, accommodate, and retreat. A spectrum of related approaches for each strategy will be presented, from hard infrastructure (seawalls, breakwaters, flood barriers) to ecosystem-based approaches (mangrove restoration, coral reef rehabilitation, sand dune reinforcement) and social protection measures (insurance schemes, managed retreat, and inclusive adaptation planning). 
  • Ongoing practices and lessons from the applications of innovative coastal protection initiatives showcased in the technical guide.  

Sessions:

The webinar will be held in two different sessions to accommodate participants across the regions: 
First session: 04:00-05:15 CEST/UTC+2   
Second session: 17:00-18:15 CEST/UTC+2 

Registration:

To receive the link to connect, register here. The webinar will also be streamed live on the UNFCCC Youtube channel. 

Agenda:

Time Focus

First session: 04:00-04:10 CEST

Second session: 17:00-17:10 CEST  

Welcome and introduction

By WIM ExCom members

First session:

Speaker:

  • Ms. Friederike Eppen, member of the WIM Executive Committee

Second session:

Speaker:

  • Ms. Ashley Codner, member of the WIM Executive Committee

First session: 04:10-04:30 CEST

Second session: 17:10-17:30 CEST  

Deep dive into the technical guide on sea level rise

By the experts of the expert group on slow-onset events

First session:

Speakers:

  • Mr. Albert Salamanca, member of the expert group on slow-onset events
  • Mr. Akhilesh Surjan, member of the expert group on slow-onset events

Second session:

Speakers:

  • Ms. Elisa Calliari, member of the WIM Executive Committee
  • Ms. Mariya Aleksandrova, member of the expert group on slow-onset events
  • Mr. Jaroslav Mysiak, member of the expert group on slow-onset events

First session: 04:30-04:50 CEST

Second session: 17:30-17:50 CEST

Ongoing practices and lessons from the applications of innovative coastal protection initiatives

By country speakers

First session:

Speakers:

  • Mr. Christopher Bartlett, Senior technical adviser and climate negotiator for the Republic of Vanuatu
  • Ms. Litiana Talake, Adaptation Policy Advisor, Tuvalu

Second session:

Speakers:

  • Mr. Christopher Bartlett, Senior technical adviser and climate negotiator for the Republic of Vanuatu
  • Mr. Andrew Ross, Seascape Caribbean, Jamaica

First session: 04:50-05:10 CEST

Second session: 17:50-18:10 CEST

Interactive session with audience

Q&A and reflections on the country practices presented, as well as on ways in which the technical guide can be applied for catalyzing technical assistance under the Santiago network

First session: 05:10-05:15 CEST

Second session: 18:10-18:15 CEST

 Key takeaways by the speakers, and closing