5 February 2016: The second meeting of the Executive Committee (ExCom) of the Warsaw International Mechanism for Loss and Damage (WIM) addressed, among other issues, the implementation of its initial two-year workplan, and initiated work mandated by the 21st session of the Conference of the Parties (COP 21) to the UNFCCC concerning the establishment of: a task force on displacement; and a clearinghouse on insurance and risk transfer.

The ExCom considered activities and next steps under the nine action areas of its initial two-year workplan related to: particularly vulnerable developing countries, populations and ecosystems; comprehensive risk management approaches; slow onset events; non-economic losses; resilience, recovery and rehabilitation; migration, displacement and human mobility; financial instruments and tools; complementing and drawing upon the work of and involving other bodies; and development of a five-year rolling workplan.

On the establishment of a task force on displacement, the ExCom developed a draft road map and set up a group of champions to work intersessionally on, inter alia, a list of potential recipients. On the establishment of a clearinghouse on insurance and risk transfer, the ExCom launched an informal task group of volunteers to work intersessionally on the design of the clearinghouse.

Other issues considered by the ExCom include: engagement of its members in external activities; arrangements for the meetings in 2016; and organization of a side event on non-economic losses during the 44th session of the UNFCCC Subsidiary Bodies (SB 44), which is scheduled to take place from 16-26 May 2016, in Bonn, Germany.

Additionally, the ExCom: invited submission of information on best practices, challenges and lessons learned from existing financial instruments at all levels that address the risk of loss and damage; and issued a template for submission of information on the enhancement of data on, and knowledge of, the risks of slow onset events and their impacts, and identification of ways forward on approaches to address slow onset events associated with the adverse effects of climate change with specific focus on potential impacts, within countries and regions, with the view to identifying gaps in addressing slow onset events.

It further issued a submission, in response to the invitation of the Standing Committee on Finance (SCF) for inputs related to the SCF fourth forum on financial instruments that address the risks of loss and damage associated with the adverse effects of climate change, relating to: the forum's purpose and scope; relevant information and case studies; technical information; potential institutions to partner with in the organization of the forum; and potential events to synergize the forum with.

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