The 24th meeting (ExCom 24) of the Executive Committee (ExCom) of the Warsaw International Mechanism for Loss and Damage (WIM) took place in Bonn, Germany, from 28 April to 01 May 2026. This was the first meeting of the ExCom since the conclusion of the third review of the WIM, which took place at COP 30 / CMA 7 in Belém, Brazil, in November 2025. The agenda for ExCom 24 included items related to the ongoing work of the ExCom and its five thematic expert groups as well as mandates from the outcome of the third review of the WIM.
When the gavel fell on ExCom 24, key outcomes included:
Election of new co-chairs: The ExCom welcomed the election of Ashley Codner from Jamaica to serve as its Non-Annex I Co-chair for a term of one year, joining the Annex I Co-chair Elisa Caliari from Denmark.
Voluntary guidelines on Biennial Transparency Reports (BTR): The ExCom has been working to prepare voluntary guidelines for enhancing collection and management of data and information on loss and damage (L&D) to inform the preparation of Biennial Transparency Reports (BTR). In October 2025 at ExCom 23, the annotated outline of the BTR voluntary guidelines were adopted. The outcome of the third review of the WIM then mandated the ExCom to expedite its work on the guidelines with a view to completing them by no later than ExCom 25. At ExCom 24, the ExCom adopted a timeline and steps with a view to adopting the final draft voluntary guidelines at ExCom 25. The ExCom also welcomed the expression of interest by Munich Climate Insurance Initiative, the World Meteorological Organization, UNEP Copenhagen Climate Centre and Ms. Karen McNamara to contribute to the drafting of technical content of the voluntary guidelines and requested its BTR champions and the Secretariat to engage these experts in intersessional work. The ExCom also requested the UNFCCC Secretariat to reach out to the thematic expert groups of the ExCom to scout additional experts who can contribute to the development of the voluntary guidelines. Key milestones within the timeline include:
The ExCom also decided to utilize webinar and event opportunities, including at COP 31 in Antalya, Türkiye, in November to disseminate the voluntary guidelines and encourage the application of the guidelines by UNFCCC L&D Contact Points and other relevant stakeholders.
Action and support: The ExCom adopted the terms of reference for its Action and Support Expert Group (ASEG), thereby completing a key mandate from the third review of the WIM. The ExCom also invited its members to propose possible experts and organizations to be engaged in the ASEG by 15 May 2026 and requested its ASEG champion members to take these proposals into account when finalizing the list of experts and organizations. The ExCom also requested its ASEG champion members to continue working intersessionally. This will allow work to continue on the development of an updated plan of action for the ASEG—a mandate given under the WIM review which must be completed by ExCom 25.
Gender-responsive approaches and activities: At ExCom 23, the ExCom requested its gender focal points to develop a draft strategy on gender-responsive approaches and related activities. At ExCom 24, the ExCom endorsed the strategy which aims to systematically integrate gender considerations into the ExCom’s governance, planning, knowledge products, and coordination modalities, as well as strengthen gender-responsive approaches across thematic and operational work.
New knowledge products: The third review of the WIM mandated the ExCom to develop new knowledge products on:
At ExCom 24, the ExCom decided that its Technical Expert Group on Comprehensive Risk Management (TEG-CCRM) will develop the new knowledge product on compound risks and the ASEG will develop the knowledge products on methodologies and approaches for assessing L&D and integrating it into national response plans.
Regular report on L&D: The third review of the WIM decided to prepare a regular report on L&D and requested the Advisory Board of the Santiago Network (SNAB), in consultation with the ExCom, to prepare no later than at the 7th meeting of the SNAB, terms of reference (ToRs) for the report. At the sixth meeting of the SNAB, a Roadmap towards the adoption of TORs was put in place (see page 8 here), which included plans to undertake a consultation with ExCom members on the first draft of the ToRs during the 2026 June Climate Meetings. At ExCom 24, it was decided that ExCom members will provide inputs in their individual member capacity on the draft ToRs and that the UNFCCC Secretariat will compile and transmit these inputs to the SNAB. The Secretariat of the Santiago Network also provided updates on the development of the ToRs and an indication of the expected timeline for the development of the report. Key takeaways include:
Utilization of ExCom knowledge products: On the uptake of ExCom knowledge products, the ExCom invited the Santiago Network Secretariat to share, at future meetings of the ExCom, insights on how the ExCom’s knowledge products are being utilized in the operation of the Santiago Network. The ExCom also requested the UNFCCC Secretariat to create a document that contains key messages regarding complementarity between the work of the ExCom, the Santiago Network, and the Fund for Responding to Loss and Damage (FRLD) for consideration at ExCom 25.
Date and venue of the next meeting: ExCom 24 decided that ExCom 25 will take place in the week of 14 September in the Republic of the Marshall Islands.
In the lead-up to ExCom 25, the ExCom will need to advance work to ensure that it can meet the mandates given to it under the third review of the WIM while making progress on the plans of action of its expert groups. The latter involves advancing work on key knowledge products including the technical guides on desertification and glacial retreat and the technical guide on averting, minimizing, and addressing non-economic losses in the context of human mobility.
With the Santiago Network working to catalyze technical assistance for developing countries as well as frontline communities and the FRLD accepting funding requests under its start-up phase—while developing its long term policies—, the work of the ExCom is more critical than ever.
Our Global Negotiations Support (GNS) initiative provides technical support and bespoke capacity-building for Party representatives and other actors involved in global negotiation and policy processes, including under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and the United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA).
Our GNS experts and fellows have been closely involved in the work of the WIM including its ExCom and Santiago Network in various capacities. You can find out about the key areas of support we provide here. You can also find out about our work related to the ExCom via our Knowledge Hub.
The full summary of decisions adopted at ExCom 24 can be found here. The documents for ExCom 24 can be found here. The webcasts for each of the four days of ExCom 24 can be found here.
SLYCAN Trust is a non-profit think tank. It has been a registered legal entity in the form of a trust since 2016, and a guarantee limited company since 2019. The entities focus on the thematic areas of climate change, adaptation and resilience, sustainable development, environmental conservation and restoration, social justice, and animal welfare. SLYCAN Trust’s activities include legal and policy research, education and awareness creation, capacity building and training, and implementation of ground level action. SLYCAN Trust aims to facilitate and contribute to multi-stakeholder driven, inclusive and participatory actions for a sustainable and resilient future for all.
The 24th meeting (ExCom 24) of the Executive Committee (ExCom) of the Warsaw International Mechanism for Loss and Damage (WIM) took place in Bonn, Germany, from 28 April to 01 May 2026. This was the first meeting of the ExCom since the conclusion of the third review of the WIM, which took place at COP 30 / CMA 7 in Belém, Brazil, in November 2025. The agenda for ExCom 24 included items related to the ongoing work of the ExCom and its five thematic expert groups as well as mandates from the outcome of the third review of the WIM.
When the gavel fell on ExCom 24, key outcomes included:
Election of new co-chairs: The ExCom welcomed the election of Ashley Codner from Jamaica to serve as its Non-Annex I Co-chair for a term of one year, joining the Annex I Co-chair Elisa Caliari from Denmark.
Voluntary guidelines on Biennial Transparency Reports (BTR): The ExCom has been working to prepare voluntary guidelines for enhancing collection and management of data and information on loss and damage (L&D) to inform the preparation of Biennial Transparency Reports (BTR). In October 2025 at ExCom 23, the annotated outline of the BTR voluntary guidelines were adopted. The outcome of the third review of the WIM then mandated the ExCom to expedite its work on the guidelines with a view to completing them by no later than ExCom 25. At ExCom 24, the ExCom adopted a timeline and steps with a view to adopting the final draft voluntary guidelines at ExCom 25. The ExCom also welcomed the expression of interest by Munich Climate Insurance Initiative, the World Meteorological Organization, UNEP Copenhagen Climate Centre and Ms. Karen McNamara to contribute to the drafting of technical content of the voluntary guidelines and requested its BTR champions and the Secretariat to engage these experts in intersessional work. The ExCom also requested the UNFCCC Secretariat to reach out to the thematic expert groups of the ExCom to scout additional experts who can contribute to the development of the voluntary guidelines. Key milestones within the timeline include:
The ExCom also decided to utilize webinar and event opportunities, including at COP 31 in Antalya, Türkiye, in November to disseminate the voluntary guidelines and encourage the application of the guidelines by UNFCCC L&D Contact Points and other relevant stakeholders.
Action and support: The ExCom adopted the terms of reference for its Action and Support Expert Group (ASEG), thereby completing a key mandate from the third review of the WIM. The ExCom also invited its members to propose possible experts and organizations to be engaged in the ASEG by 15 May 2026 and requested its ASEG champion members to take these proposals into account when finalizing the list of experts and organizations. The ExCom also requested its ASEG champion members to continue working intersessionally. This will allow work to continue on the development of an updated plan of action for the ASEG—a mandate given under the WIM review which must be completed by ExCom 25.
Gender-responsive approaches and activities: At ExCom 23, the ExCom requested its gender focal points to develop a draft strategy on gender-responsive approaches and related activities. At ExCom 24, the ExCom endorsed the strategy which aims to systematically integrate gender considerations into the ExCom’s governance, planning, knowledge products, and coordination modalities, as well as strengthen gender-responsive approaches across thematic and operational work.
New knowledge products: The third review of the WIM mandated the ExCom to develop new knowledge products on:
At ExCom 24, the ExCom decided that its Technical Expert Group on Comprehensive Risk Management (TEG-CCRM) will develop the new knowledge product on compound risks and the ASEG will develop the knowledge products on methodologies and approaches for assessing L&D and integrating it into national response plans.
Regular report on L&D: The third review of the WIM decided to prepare a regular report on L&D and requested the Advisory Board of the Santiago Network (SNAB), in consultation with the ExCom, to prepare no later than at the 7th meeting of the SNAB, terms of reference (ToRs) for the report. At the sixth meeting of the SNAB, a Roadmap towards the adoption of TORs was put in place (see page 8 here), which included plans to undertake a consultation with ExCom members on the first draft of the ToRs during the 2026 June Climate Meetings. At ExCom 24, it was decided that ExCom members will provide inputs in their individual member capacity on the draft ToRs and that the UNFCCC Secretariat will compile and transmit these inputs to the SNAB. The Secretariat of the Santiago Network also provided updates on the development of the ToRs and an indication of the expected timeline for the development of the report. Key takeaways include:
Utilization of ExCom knowledge products: On the uptake of ExCom knowledge products, the ExCom invited the Santiago Network Secretariat to share, at future meetings of the ExCom, insights on how the ExCom’s knowledge products are being utilized in the operation of the Santiago Network. The ExCom also requested the UNFCCC Secretariat to create a document that contains key messages regarding complementarity between the work of the ExCom, the Santiago Network, and the Fund for Responding to Loss and Damage (FRLD) for consideration at ExCom 25.
Date and venue of the next meeting: ExCom 24 decided that ExCom 25 will take place in the week of 14 September in the Republic of the Marshall Islands.
In the lead-up to ExCom 25, the ExCom will need to advance work to ensure that it can meet the mandates given to it under the third review of the WIM while making progress on the plans of action of its expert groups. The latter involves advancing work on key knowledge products including the technical guides on desertification and glacial retreat and the technical guide on averting, minimizing, and addressing non-economic losses in the context of human mobility.
With the Santiago Network working to catalyze technical assistance for developing countries as well as frontline communities and the FRLD accepting funding requests under its start-up phase—while developing its long term policies—, the work of the ExCom is more critical than ever.
Our Global Negotiations Support (GNS) initiative provides technical support and bespoke capacity-building for Party representatives and other actors involved in global negotiation and policy processes, including under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and the United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA).
Our GNS experts and fellows have been closely involved in the work of the WIM including its ExCom and Santiago Network in various capacities. You can find out about the key areas of support we provide here. You can also find out about our work related to the ExCom via our Knowledge Hub.
The full summary of decisions adopted at ExCom 24 can be found here. The documents for ExCom 24 can be found here. The webcasts for each of the four days of ExCom 24 can be found here.
