The expert group on slow onset events of the Warsaw International Mechanism for Loss and Damage is calling for submissions of new policy-related ideas and solutions under the following three areas:
- Glacier retreat;
- Sea level rise and salinization;
- Desertification.
The group invites you to share unique, innovative and/or transformative policy-related ideas to advance efforts in addressing loss and damage associated with these three SOEs.
- Glacier retreats decrease the stability of mountain slopes, lead to increasing snow avalanches and lake outburst floods, affect biodiversity, the availability of water for irrigation and human consumption, tourism and cultural beliefs, and hydropower generation, spanning a range of timescales.
- Sea level rise and salinization threaten freshwater resources, livelihoods and living spaces of millions of people, as well as ecosystems in coastal areas.
- Desertification leads to ecosystem collapse, lowers food production and undermines agricultural livelihoods and ultimately results in areas becoming un-inhabitable.
The deadline for submission is 31 August 2021.
What are we looking for?
This call for new policy-related ideas and solutions aims at uncovering unique, innovative and/or transformative policy-related ideas linked to the three above-mentioned slow onset events – including existing solutions that hold a lot of promise for wider application and those that could lead to significant positive outcomes when implemented at scale. The expert group would like to learn about these ideas and provide a platform for presentation and discussion. Different social, political and economic contexts of each region will be taken into account in shortlisting of ideas.
The expert groups aims to promote new ideas for solutions to developing countries, using the UNFCCC Warsaw International Mechanism as the platform to elevate ideas across regions, countries, communities and other stakeholder groups.
Selection criteria
Submitted ideas will be reviewed based on the following criteria:
- Relevance and ambition;
- Ideas should hold the potential to be innovative but not fully explored or analysed;
- Being based on best available science and knowledge, including local and indigenous ecological knowledge;
- Taking into account good practices to address Loss and Damage associated with climate change impacts;
- Being feasible, measurable, robust and implementable;
- Scalable and replicable;
- Politically and socially acceptable;
- Do not harm but rather strengthen environmental, socio-economic responsibility and sustainability;
- Taking into account gaps in data and information.
How to submit your idea
You are invited to submit your policy idea through this online form.
Describe your idea, indicating your name and affiliation, and providing the following details:
- How would this policy idea contribute to addressing losses and damages from one of the three slow onset events?
- Who are the key actors that have to be involved in the implementation of the idea?
- In case the idea has already been tried out, how and where has it been implemented? (please share evidence);
- Which are possible hurdles/obstacles or challenges for the implementation of the suggested policy idea or solution?
- Share any additional information (this may include attaching or providing links to relevant graphics, photos or videos) about the idea.
You may alternatively submit the policy idea directly – answering the questions above – to loss-damage@unfccc.int
A selection of ideas will be showcased at relevant events to be organized under the Warsaw International Mechanism for Loss and Damage.
So, you have submitted your idea, what happens next?
The expert group will assess all submitted ideas based on the criteria defined above and might reach out to you to seek further information/clarification.
Questions?
If you have any questions, and for any clarification, please contact us: loss-damage@unfccc.int
We look forward to your submissions.
