COP19 (2013) established the Warsaw International Mechanism for Loss and Damage associated with Climate Change Impacts (the WIM) to address loss and damage associated with the impacts of climate change, including extreme events and slow onset events, in developing countries particularly vulnerable to the adverse effects of climate change.
The WIM has played a pivotal role in its first decade, 2013−2023, in driving the loss and damage agenda forward that culminated in putting in place complementary provisions for in-country support that focus on technical assistance and finance for responding to loss and damage.
Established as part of the WIM, the Executive Committee guides the implementation of the functions of the WIM and the Santiago network, established under the WIM by decision 2/CMA.2 (2019),catalyzes the technical assistance of relevant organizations, bodies, networks and experts for the implementation of relevant approaches at the local, national and regional level in developing countries that are particularly vulnerable to the adverse effects of climate change.
Action to address gaps in the understanding of and expertise in approaches to address loss and damage associated with the adverse effects of climate change, including, inter alia, the areas outlined in decision 3/CP.18, paragraph 7(a);
Collection, sharing, management and use of relevant data and information, including gender-disaggregated data;
Provision of overviews of best practices, challenges, experiences and lessons learned in undertaking approaches to address loss and damage.
Providing leadership and coordination and, as and where appropriate, oversight under the Convention, on the assessment and implementation of approaches to address loss and damage associated with the impacts of climate change from extreme events and slow onset events associated with the adverse effects of climate change;
Fostering dialogue, coordination, coherence and synergies among all relevant stakeholders, institutions, bodies, processes and initiatives outside the Convention, with a view to promoting cooperation and collaboration across relevant work and activities at all levels.
Providing technical support and guidance on approaches to address loss and damage associated with climate change impacts, including extreme events and slow onset events;
Providing information and recommendations for consideration by the Conference of the Parties when providing guidance relevant to reducing the risks of loss and damage and, where necessary, addressing loss and damage, including to the operating entities of the financial mechanism of the Convention, as appropriate;
Facilitating the mobilization and securing of expertise, and enhancement of support, including finance, technology and capacity-building, to strengthen existing approaches and, where necessary, facilitate the development and implementation of additional approaches to address loss and damage associated with climate change impacts, including extreme weather events and slow onset events.
The implementation of the functions of the Loss and Damage Mechanism is guided by the Executive Committee.
First-10-years-of-WIM
A decade of progress
2023 marks ten years since the establishment of the Warsaw International Mechanism for Loss and Damage and its Executive Committee. Work undertaken over the last decade has catalysed the development of a range of approaches, scalable solutions and good practices to manage the impacts of climate change that result in loss or damage to individuals, society and the environment it depends upon. It has also facilitated the undertaking of novel tools and sharing of the learnings thereof to enhance the understanding of the scale, temporal dimension and compound nature of climate-related risks and associated policy options.
Building bridges
The Warsaw International Mechanism for Loss and Damage has, in the last decade, successfully engaged an extensive array of communities of practice, ranging from academics, civil society, intergovernmental organizations, UN agencies, regional centres and the private sector, under one umbrella to channel knowledge and expertise to developing countries in a coherent and coordinated manner with regard to loss and damage. The thematic expert groups under the Mechanism comprise leading organizations and experts from adaptation, disaster risk reduction, climate science and observations, insurance, humanitarian affairs, migration, development, ecosystem restorations, biodiversity conservation, cultural heritage preservation, and indigenous and local communities.
Informing global action
The outcomes of the activities taken under the Warsaw International Mechanism for Loss and Damage gave critical impetus in directing international cooperation on loss and damage. At the mandated review of the Mechanism (which took place twice in the past ten years), the key findings and outcomes informed the Parties’ decisions on new provisions that further the support for implementing relevant actions in developing countries. The outcomes of the work under the Mechanism have also provided evidence of gaps in supporting the full spectrum of efforts by developing countries on loss and damage and identified the areas in which more support, including finance, is needed in this regard.
Charting the path forward
In the next decade, the Warsaw International Mechanism for Loss and Damage will continue to amplify good practices around the world. It will thrive to serve as the convening platform by bringing all the relevant players together for the furtherance of normative knowledge, practices, standards, principles and guidance in the international space, offering different modalities that gather data, information, expertise and other resources with an objective of continually advancing the understanding from intellectual and practical perspectives on matters that perpetuate international cooperation on loss and damage. Outcomes of this will feed into informed decision-making both at the national and international levels, as well as those providing technical assistance under the Santiago network and supporting financing.
Progression of support on Loss and Damage through the Warsaw International Mechanism
Initial scoping work from 2011-2013 that led to the establishment of the Warsaw International Mechanism for Loss and Damage
1. Assessing the risk of loss and damage:
Development of the technical paper on current knowledge of relevant methodologies and data requirements, as well as lessons learned and gaps identified at different levels, in assessing the risk of loss and damage associated with the adverse effects of climate change (FCCC/TP/2012/1)
An expert meeting on assessing the risk of loss and damage associated with the adverse effects of climate change (meeting report FCCC/SBI/2012/ INF.3)
2. A range of approaches to address loss and damage:
A literature review on a range of approaches to address loss and damage associated with the adverse effects of climate change (FCCC/ SBI/2012/INF.14)
Four regional expert meetings on 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 (Africa, Latin America, Asia, SIDS) (meeting report FCCC/ SBI/2012/29)
Development of the technical paper on slow onset events (FCCC/TP/2012/7)
Development of the technical paper on non-economic losses in the context of the work program on loss and damage (FCCC/ TP/2013/2)
An expert meeting to consider future needs, including capacity needs associated with possible approaches to address slow onset events (meeting report FCCC/SBI/2013/INF.14)
3. The role of the Convention in enhancing the implementation of approaches to addressing loss and damage
Development of the technical paper on gaps in existing institutional arrangements within and outside the Convention to address loss and damage, including those related to slow onset events (FCCC/TP/2013/12)
