Moving the Warsaw International Mechanism for Loss and Damage

The overall mandate of the Warsaw International Mechanism for Loss and Damage associated with Climate Change Impacts (Loss and Damage Mechanism or WIM) is to address loss and damage associated with impacts of climate change. This includes extreme events and slow onset events in climate-vulnerable countries that are particularly vulnerable to the adverse effects of climate change.

This paper outlines the legal implications for the WIM if it was moved under the Paris Agreement. The authors assess the potential governance advantages and disadvantages if the WIM was guided by and accountable to the CMA rather than the COP.