Loss and Damage Network and Website launched by UNFCCC

UN Climate Change News, 8 June 2020 – The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) launched the Santiago Network website to facilitate reliable technical assistance to support efforts to address loss and damage by connecting organizations and experts active in providing such assistance.

In 2013 at the Poland COP, the Parties established Warsaw International Mechanism for Loss and Damage associated with Climate Change Impacts (Loss and Damage Mechanism), to address loss and damage associated with impacts of climate change, including extreme events and slow onset events, in developing countries that are particularly vulnerable to the adverse effects of climate change.  The mechanism fulfills the role under the Convention of promoting the implementation of approaches to address loss and damage associated with the adverse effects of climate change, pursuant to decision 3/CP.18, and further elaborated in decision 2/CP.19, in a comprehensive, integrated and coherent manner.

The launch of the Santiago Network comes at the time when nations are planning for recovery efforts from COVID-19. Addressing impacts of loss and damage resulting from climate change and other goals under the Paris Agreement, if pursued simultaneously, can help build a more sustainable, resilient world over the long term. To do this, vulnerable developing countries require increased technical assistance that can be accessed rapidly, fits the needs on the ground, and is mobilized at a scale that integrates with recovery efforts.#