Loss & Damage Mechanism | Environment for UPSC 2024 (Pre & Mains) PDF Download

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LOSS AND DAMAGE 
Page 2


 
LOSS AND DAMAGE 
INTRODUCTION 
Climate extremes, many now clearly attributable to 
human-caused climate change, cause devastating 
impacts across the globe.  
Loss and Damage – which means climate impacts 
exceeding the adaptive capacity of countries, 
communities and ecosystems – is already happening 
and has ramifications for Small Island Developing 
States (SIDS) and Least Developed Countries (LDCs).  
These are impacts of slow onset processes like sea level 
rise or rising temperatures, and extreme events such 
as floods, hurricanes and tropical cyclones.  
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LOSS AND DAMAGE 
INTRODUCTION 
Climate extremes, many now clearly attributable to 
human-caused climate change, cause devastating 
impacts across the globe.  
Loss and Damage – which means climate impacts 
exceeding the adaptive capacity of countries, 
communities and ecosystems – is already happening 
and has ramifications for Small Island Developing 
States (SIDS) and Least Developed Countries (LDCs).  
These are impacts of slow onset processes like sea level 
rise or rising temperatures, and extreme events such 
as floods, hurricanes and tropical cyclones.  
DETAILS 
The history of L&D in the context of climate 
negotiations dates back to 1991 when the 
Alliance of Small Island States called for a 
mechanism that would compensate countries 
affected by sea level rise. 
 Over time, more and more vulnerable countries 
realized that they too are affected by climate 
change that is beyond their coping capacities.  
The idea of a mechanism that would help them in 
addressing loss and damage gained wider 
support.  
Page 4


 
LOSS AND DAMAGE 
INTRODUCTION 
Climate extremes, many now clearly attributable to 
human-caused climate change, cause devastating 
impacts across the globe.  
Loss and Damage – which means climate impacts 
exceeding the adaptive capacity of countries, 
communities and ecosystems – is already happening 
and has ramifications for Small Island Developing 
States (SIDS) and Least Developed Countries (LDCs).  
These are impacts of slow onset processes like sea level 
rise or rising temperatures, and extreme events such 
as floods, hurricanes and tropical cyclones.  
DETAILS 
The history of L&D in the context of climate 
negotiations dates back to 1991 when the 
Alliance of Small Island States called for a 
mechanism that would compensate countries 
affected by sea level rise. 
 Over time, more and more vulnerable countries 
realized that they too are affected by climate 
change that is beyond their coping capacities.  
The idea of a mechanism that would help them in 
addressing loss and damage gained wider 
support.  
DETAILS 
The concept of loss and damage made it into a decision 
coming out of a COP when in 2010 the so-called loss and 
damage work programme was initiated at COP16, which 
finally lead to the establishment at COP19 in 2013 of a 
body to deal specifically with issues relating to loss and 
damage – 
 the Warsaw International Mechanism on Loss and 
Damage (or WIM for short). 
To operationalise the mechanism an executive committee 
was formed, which has 20 members – 10 from developing 
countries and 10 from developed, and they meet two-
three times a year.  
 With the inclusion of Article 8 of the Paris Agreement, loss 
and damage has now become firmly installed as a 
thematic pillar under the United Nations Framework 
Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). 
Page 5


 
LOSS AND DAMAGE 
INTRODUCTION 
Climate extremes, many now clearly attributable to 
human-caused climate change, cause devastating 
impacts across the globe.  
Loss and Damage – which means climate impacts 
exceeding the adaptive capacity of countries, 
communities and ecosystems – is already happening 
and has ramifications for Small Island Developing 
States (SIDS) and Least Developed Countries (LDCs).  
These are impacts of slow onset processes like sea level 
rise or rising temperatures, and extreme events such 
as floods, hurricanes and tropical cyclones.  
DETAILS 
The history of L&D in the context of climate 
negotiations dates back to 1991 when the 
Alliance of Small Island States called for a 
mechanism that would compensate countries 
affected by sea level rise. 
 Over time, more and more vulnerable countries 
realized that they too are affected by climate 
change that is beyond their coping capacities.  
The idea of a mechanism that would help them in 
addressing loss and damage gained wider 
support.  
DETAILS 
The concept of loss and damage made it into a decision 
coming out of a COP when in 2010 the so-called loss and 
damage work programme was initiated at COP16, which 
finally lead to the establishment at COP19 in 2013 of a 
body to deal specifically with issues relating to loss and 
damage – 
 the Warsaw International Mechanism on Loss and 
Damage (or WIM for short). 
To operationalise the mechanism an executive committee 
was formed, which has 20 members – 10 from developing 
countries and 10 from developed, and they meet two-
three times a year.  
 With the inclusion of Article 8 of the Paris Agreement, loss 
and damage has now become firmly installed as a 
thematic pillar under the United Nations Framework 
Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). 
WARSAW INTERNATIONAL 
MECHANISM 
The Warsaw International Mechanism for Loss and Damage 
promotes the implementation of approaches to address loss and 
damage associated with climate change impacts, in a 
comprehensive, integrated and coherent manner. 
The mechanism is established to assist developing countries that are 
particularly vulnerable to the adverse effects of climate change by 
– 
Enhancing knowledge and understanding of comprehensive risk 
management approaches to address loss and damage 
Strengthening dialogue, coordination, coherence and synergies 
among relevant stakeholders 
Enhancing action and support, including finance, technology and 
capacity-building 
 
Through these functions, the mechanism implements Article 8 of the 
Paris Agreement.