2025 marks the year the Fund for responding to Loss and Damage is set to become fully operational. Against this backdrop, ODI’s Global Risks and Resilience Team on 12 February welcomed the Fund’s first Executive Director, Mr. Ibrahima Cheikh Diong. Mr. Diong joined Dr. Emily Wilkinson to discuss his pragmatic vision for what is needed to respond effectively to loss and damage, the key challenges that lie ahead for the Fund's first year of operationalisation, and the critical action and frameworks needed to ensure that the developing nations which suffer the most from climate impacts, receive the resources they urgently need. Experts from NGOs, civil society organisations, think-tanks, universities and philanthropies took part in the discussion at ODI Global’s London hub.