Knowledge Support provided to the Executive Committee of the Warsaw International Mechanism for Loss and Damage

Introduction

The Chair of the Subsidiary Body for Scientific and Technological Advice (SBSTA) has invited collaboration under the Nairobi work programme (NWP) to address the knowledge needs arising from the Cancun Adaptation Framework, the Paris Agreement, and other relevant workstreams and bodies under the UNFCCC and the knowledge needs identified by Parties.

The NWP will support the vision of the Executive Committee of the Warsaw International Mechanism for Loss and Damage (WIM Excom), which aims to promote the implementation of approaches to address loss and damage associated with the adverse effects of climate change.

Strengthening partnerships and promoting collaboration on closing adaptation knowledge gaps and scaling up adaptation action, including at sub-regional level

Joint policy brief on technologies for averting, minimizing and addressing loss and damage in coastal zones

In 2014, the COP endorsed the launch of LAKI, an initiative that aims to address knowledge gaps to the implementation and catalyze climate change adaptation actions in the context of various sub-regions and thematic domains, and in a demand-driven process.
In 2018, the WIM Excom and the TEC jointly developed a policy brief on technologies for averting, minimizing and addressing loss and damage in coastal zones, which was published in 2020.
As NWP partner, the University of Michigan School for Environment and Sustainability was one of the drafters for the policy brief. The graduate students provided inputs to the chapter on technologies for coastal zone risk assessments, based on the findings of the capstone project that they undertook in addressing priority knowledge gaps in the Seychelles.
In 2019, an expert dialogue was held by the TEC and the WIM Excom to enhance the engagement of relevant experts in the preparation of the policy brief. The students of the University of Michigan presented the outcomes of their project at the expert dialogue.

Co-producing knowledge outputs and sharing information on relevant work and engagement opportunities with a global network of partners

Technical paper under the work programme for loss and damage

In 2013, NWP partner organizations provided inputs to the development of a technical paper on ‘Gaps in existing institutional arrangements within and outside of the Convention to address loss and damage, including those related to slow onset events.

Database of slow onset events organizations

In 2016, the WIM Excom created an online database of organizations that were working on slow onset events and the scope of their efforts. The database is available on the AKP and updated on a rolling basis as additional relevant information becomes available.

Communication and Outreach

As a knowledge hub, the NWP employs a variety of communication channels and platforms to collect relevant information and disseminate it in a usable format to Parties, partner organizations and other relevant organizations.

Adaptation Knowledge Portal for sharing and exchanging knowledge about climate change adaptation actions.
NWP quarterly eUpdate newsletter disseminated to Parties and NWP partner organizations.
NWP and Adaptation division social media accounts.
The annual NWP Focal Point Forum convened on the margins of COP.
Online database of partner organizations.

Promoting collaboration with constituted bodies on scaling up adaptation action

In 2020, the NWP reached out to the constituted bodies to discuss possible areas for collaboration and examine where the NWP could add most value to the workplans in line with their respective mandates. Formal letters were sent on behalf of the SBSTA Chair highlighting the work and mandates of the NWP and possible areas for collaboration.

Relevant information