Video message by H.E. Carolina Schmidt on the launch of the Santiago Network website

The vision of the Santiago Network is to catalyze the technical assistance of relevant organizations, bodies, networks and experts, for the implementation of relevant approaches for averting, minimize and addressing L&D at the local, national and regional level, in developing countries that are particularly vulnerable to the adverse effects of climate change (Decision 2/CMA.2, para 43).

  Needs and gaps identified in the Regional Workshops In 2023, the UNFCCC Secretariat brought together relevant focal points from countries in the Latin America and Caribbean, Africa and Asia Pacific regions with expertise and direct involvement in dealing with the most pressing climatological hazards of the countries. The overall objective of the regional scoping workshops was to assist countries in articulating their needs for technical assistance for averting, minimizing and addressing loss and damage associated with climate change impacts in the context of the Santiago network.  The workshops aimed to engage countries in identifying and synthesizing information and insights on their experience in addressing major impacts of climate change, in particular major loss and damage resulting from hydro-meteorological hazards and extremes, as well as specific needs for technical assistance as well as where gaps exist at different stages of responding to and addressing the losses and damages. Summary reports were prepared for three different regions to capture the outcomes of the regional scoping workshops. During the first meeting of the Advisory Board of the Santiago network, held in Geneva, Switzerland from March 18th to 20th, 2024, the outcomes of the three regional scoping workshops were presented. The detailed presentation of the regional workshops can be accessed here.

The UN Climate Secretariat will be reaching out to interested organizations, bodies, networks and experts engage in providing technical assistance to developing countries. The Santiago Network will rely on its expanding network to catalyze and channel reliable technical assistance to support efforts and approaches to address loss and damage.

Information on the meetings of the Santiago network Advisory Board can be found below