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Loss and damage · Paris Agreement agenda, item 10 · Paris Agreement agenda, item 11, part d · Convention agenda, item 8, part e

Who pays when a climate disaster has already happened?

Warsaw International Mechanism and the Fund for responding to Loss and Damage

Some harm from climate change can no longer be avoided: homes lost to the sea, harvests wiped out by drought. After decades of pressure from vulnerable countries, a UN fund to help pay for it was agreed in 2022 and launched in 2023.

The fund opened its first call for projects in December 2025 with about $250 million. The requests it received are worth several times that. At COP31 countries give the fund its guidance for the next year.

Guidance to the Fund for responding to Loss and Damage and its Board; governance and work of the Warsaw International Mechanism.

The Fund’s start-up phase runs under the Barbados Implementation Modalities: about $250m, with grants of $5m to $20m per project. The call opened on 15 December 2025.

Talks resume on 9 NovemberResumes at COP31, 9 November

Why it matters

Some damage can no longer be prevented. A fund exists to help pay for it; this is about how it is run and filled.

How we got here

2013
COP19, Warsaw
The Warsaw International on is created, without money attached.
2015
COP21, Paris
Article 8 recognises loss and damage. The decision adopting Paris adds that it is no basis for liability or compensation.
2022
COP27, Sharm el-Sheikh
After decades of pressure from vulnerable countries, they agree to create a fund.
2023
COP28, Dubai
The fund is made operational on day one of the conference.
2025
After COP30
The fund opens its first call for projects, with about $250 million.

Where COP31 picks up: The fund exists and has opened its first call. COP31 gives it guidance; the money is far short of the requests.

Have COPs worked? The bigger picture →

What they will argue aboutOpen issues

Is there enough money? What is available is a small fraction of what countries have asked for.
Who decides what gets paid? How the fund and the older UN mechanism on loss and damage work together.

Resource mobilisation. Conversion of pledges into contributions and replenishment.
Governance. WIM governance and its relationship with the Fund.

Agenda items

Paris Agreement agenda, item 10Warsaw International Mechanism for Loss and Damage

Paris Agreement agenda, item 11, part dMatters relating to the Fund for responding to Loss and Damage

Convention agenda, item 8, part eFund for responding to Loss and Damage

From the provisional agendas, FCCC/CP/2026/1 and FCCC/PA/CMA/2026/1. Draft texts, versions and bracket counts appear here once talks open.

What has happened so farStatus log

This question carries on from COP30 (see How we got here, above). Talks resume on 9 November: from then, every new draft and every change of status is listed here, with the time and a link to the document.