Greening in the Greening in the Face of Crisis Face of Crisis
Presentation by Cletus I. Springer, Presentation by Cletus I. Springer, Director, Department of Sustainable Development, Director, Department of Sustainable Development, Organization of American States to Conference on Organization of American States to Conference on
Sustaining Development in Small States in a Turbulent Sustaining Development in Small States in a Turbulent Global Economy Global Economy
Commonwealth Secretariat, LondonCommonwealth Secretariat, LondonJuly 6-7, 2009July 6-7, 2009
Outline of PresentationOutline of Presentation The Crisis in the Context of Notions of :The Crisis in the Context of Notions of :
Vulnerability,Vulnerability, Resilience Resilience Sustainability Sustainability
Challenges and OpportunitiesChallenges and Opportunities Sustainable Energy Sustainable Energy Sustainable TransportSustainable Transport Water Security Water Security Risk Management and Climate Change Risk Management and Climate Change Land Degradation Land Degradation Waste managementWaste management Towards and International Agenda Towards and International Agenda
Implications and Implications and Complications of Global Complications of Global
CrisisCrisis consensus on roots and impacts of crisis consensus on roots and impacts of crisis
and its relationship to vulnerability of and its relationship to vulnerability of SIDSSIDS
Concern that crisis will:Concern that crisis will: Deepen vulnerability Deepen vulnerability Weaken environmental sustainabilityWeaken environmental sustainability Roll back gains achieved under preferential Roll back gains achieved under preferential
concessionary arrangements conditions concessionary arrangements conditions that will not returnthat will not return
Combine with return of high oil pricesCombine with return of high oil prices
Implications and Implications and Complications of Global Complications of Global
Crisis - 2Crisis - 2 Tight policy space Tight policy space
Limited fiscal optionsLimited fiscal options Inherent vulnerability features such as Inherent vulnerability features such as
thin marketsthin markets Capacity constraints Capacity constraints Limited access to technology Limited access to technology Human resource challengesHuman resource challenges
Key Messages Key Messages No room for policy errors so need for ….No room for policy errors so need for ….
Risk analysis Risk analysis Priority setting Priority setting Cost benefit analysisCost benefit analysis Quick but thorough EIAsQuick but thorough EIAs Integrated development planning Integrated development planning Corruption watch Corruption watch Win-win optionsWin-win options
No retreat from vulnerability reduction and resilience building No retreat from vulnerability reduction and resilience building Targeted “no regrets” investments in areas that:Targeted “no regrets” investments in areas that:
Conserve foreign exchange Conserve foreign exchange Are cost effective Are cost effective Create more and new jobsCreate more and new jobs Have high multiplier effectHave high multiplier effect Sustains the health of the environment Sustains the health of the environment Are market-based but not market distorting Are market-based but not market distorting
Challenges and Challenges and Opportunities Opportunities
Energy Energy Sustainable Transport Sustainable Transport WaterWater Natural HazardsNatural Hazards Land Degradation Land Degradation Waste Management Waste Management
EnergyEnergy Return of high energy prices - nightmare Return of high energy prices - nightmare
scenario scenario Conventional energy sources impede Conventional energy sources impede
competitivenesscompetitiveness Heavy use of bio-mass energy in some SIDS Heavy use of bio-mass energy in some SIDS
with human and environmental impactswith human and environmental impacts Extensive RE options but lack of capacity to Extensive RE options but lack of capacity to
evaluate options and understand trade-offsevaluate options and understand trade-offs Myth of low returns from RETs Myth of low returns from RETs
Energy - 2Energy - 2 Reform laws to support IPPsReform laws to support IPPs Make RET transfer core of bilateral and multilateral negotiation Make RET transfer core of bilateral and multilateral negotiation
eg in EPAs eg in EPAs Use MBis to promote use of energy efficient appliances in Use MBis to promote use of energy efficient appliances in
homes and technology in industry homes and technology in industry Ramp up investments in RETs using available carbon financing Ramp up investments in RETs using available carbon financing
and environment funding (CDM, GEF, etc)and environment funding (CDM, GEF, etc) Explore all financially feasible and appropriate optionsExplore all financially feasible and appropriate options Solar-ize hospitals, hotels, schools and commercial and public Solar-ize hospitals, hotels, schools and commercial and public
buildingsbuildings Retrofit public buildings to make them more energy efficient Retrofit public buildings to make them more energy efficient Move to high-end solar uses eg: solar-thermal technology Move to high-end solar uses eg: solar-thermal technology
(mirrors to concentrate sunlight = heat=steam=electricity (mirrors to concentrate sunlight = heat=steam=electricity Heat storing and more stable than PVs Heat storing and more stable than PVs 24/7 sunlight not necessary24/7 sunlight not necessary Co-generation possibilities Co-generation possibilities
Energy - 3Energy - 3 More RE optionsMore RE options
Wind power (Jamaica)Wind power (Jamaica) Cellulosic ethanol (Belize)Cellulosic ethanol (Belize) Geothermal (St. Kitts, Dominica)Geothermal (St. Kitts, Dominica) Hydro (Dominica) Hydro (Dominica) Sugar plant (Mauritius) Sugar plant (Mauritius) OTEC (Saga, Japan, Hawaii)OTEC (Saga, Japan, Hawaii) Tidal Tidal
Energy - 4Energy - 4 RETs need upgrading of power grid – RETs need upgrading of power grid –
“smart grids” through digital sensors to:“smart grids” through digital sensors to: Make T&D system more responsive and Make T&D system more responsive and
interactiveinteractive Better cope with new sources of RE powerBetter cope with new sources of RE power Achieve better efficiency and reliability Achieve better efficiency and reliability Better management of demand and supply Better management of demand and supply
of electricity of electricity Reduce need for expansion of power plantsReduce need for expansion of power plants
Energy - 5Energy - 5 Hurdles Hurdles
High capital costs but… huge forex and High capital costs but… huge forex and environmental benefitsenvironmental benefits
Costs can be offset through CDM + carbon trading Costs can be offset through CDM + carbon trading Fear that reduced consumption will reduce Fear that reduced consumption will reduce
revenues but…revenues but… Savings from improved operational efficiencies Savings from improved operational efficiencies Evidence from Europe that RE cost recoverable in 5 yearsEvidence from Europe that RE cost recoverable in 5 years COMSEC +OAS+UNIDO+ IEA collaborative effort needed. COMSEC +OAS+UNIDO+ IEA collaborative effort needed.
Sustainable TransportSustainable Transport IssuesIssues
Current vehicle fleet inefficientCurrent vehicle fleet inefficient Drain on foreign exchange (capital and recurrent)Drain on foreign exchange (capital and recurrent) High pollutersHigh polluters
Policy responsePolicy response MBIs for replacement of inefficient fleetMBIs for replacement of inefficient fleet Curbs on importation of high vehicles with high CC Curbs on importation of high vehicles with high CC
capacity capacity Promote efficient public transport systemPromote efficient public transport system Build infrastructure for use of hybrid vehiclesBuild infrastructure for use of hybrid vehicles Encourage safe use of bicycles, scootersEncourage safe use of bicycles, scooters Consider car auction permits a la Singapore Consider car auction permits a la Singapore
Water ResourcesWater Resources Key issues:Key issues:
Contamination of water resources (chemicals Contamination of water resources (chemicals and waste)and waste)
DeforestationDeforestation Impacts of climate change and variability Impacts of climate change and variability Narrow freshwater lensesNarrow freshwater lenses Rapid Urbanization Rapid Urbanization Waste in production (line loss ) and Waste in production (line loss ) and
consumptionconsumption Challenge to attainment of MDGs Challenge to attainment of MDGs
Water Resources - 2Water Resources - 2 Introduce IWRMIntroduce IWRM Protect water systems through PESProtect water systems through PES Curb deforestation and land degradationCurb deforestation and land degradation Build natural coping systems for floodsBuild natural coping systems for floods Reduce U-A-W through replacement of aging Reduce U-A-W through replacement of aging
infrastructureinfrastructure Introduce MBIs to encourage water Introduce MBIs to encourage water
conservation and investment in rainwater conservation and investment in rainwater harvesting harvesting
Introduce drought-resistant crop varieties Introduce drought-resistant crop varieties Invest in EWS for drought and floodsInvest in EWS for drought and floods
Natural HazardsNatural Hazards High inherent susceptibility to natural High inherent susceptibility to natural
hazardshazards High acquired vulnerability to hazard High acquired vulnerability to hazard
through policy conflictsthrough policy conflicts Increased vulnerability from CC/CV + SLRIncreased vulnerability from CC/CV + SLR High annual disaster lossesHigh annual disaster losses Inadequate treatment of disaster riskInadequate treatment of disaster risk Low research capacity for climate changeLow research capacity for climate change
Modelling challengesModelling challenges
Natural Hazards - 2Natural Hazards - 2 Tackle root causes of vulnerability Tackle root causes of vulnerability Strengthen local and national capacity for DRMStrengthen local and national capacity for DRM Mainstream DRM in Development Planning Mainstream DRM in Development Planning Aggressively pursue available funding for CC Aggressively pursue available funding for CC
adaptationadaptation Make “no regrets” investments in risk reductionMake “no regrets” investments in risk reduction
Drainage building and repair programs *Drainage building and repair programs * Protect (risk-proof) critical facilities*Protect (risk-proof) critical facilities* Underground cabling of electricity and Underground cabling of electricity and
communications in business districts*communications in business districts* MBIs for retrofitting homes and businesses MBIs for retrofitting homes and businesses
Land Degradation (LD)Land Degradation (LD) IssuesIssues
Limited options to SIDS to raise Limited options to SIDS to raise productivity of land, intensify land use and productivity of land, intensify land use and raise farm outputsraise farm outputs
LD :LD : affects agricultural productivity and social affects agricultural productivity and social
livelihoodslivelihoods Threatens food securityThreatens food security Erodes biodiversity on which tourism and Erodes biodiversity on which tourism and
agriculture dependsagriculture depends Increases vulnerability to natural disastersIncreases vulnerability to natural disasters
Land Degradation -2Land Degradation -2 Policy ResponsesPolicy Responses
Aggressively pursue Sustainable Land Aggressively pursue Sustainable Land Management (SLM)Management (SLM)
Remove policy barriers to improved land Remove policy barriers to improved land management management
Promote PES as option to land acquisition to Promote PES as option to land acquisition to protect sensitive landsprotect sensitive lands
Strengthen land use planning and development Strengthen land use planning and development control regimescontrol regimes
Invest in hard and soft SLM project eg: retaining Invest in hard and soft SLM project eg: retaining walls, re-afforestation, mangrove rebuilding, walls, re-afforestation, mangrove rebuilding, artificial reefs, soil-retaining plants etcartificial reefs, soil-retaining plants etc
Waste ManagementWaste Management IssuesIssues
limited land space = limited space for limited land space = limited space for landfillslandfills
Increasing Urbanization = high waste Increasing Urbanization = high waste volumes from cities = high haulage costsvolumes from cities = high haulage costs
Increasing consumption = increasing wasteIncreasing consumption = increasing waste Rapid increase in use of white goods = Rapid increase in use of white goods =
reduced landfill space = rising costs of reduced landfill space = rising costs of collection, haulage and disposalcollection, haulage and disposal
Waste Management - 2Waste Management - 2 Responses:Responses:
Work with suppliers to reduce waste at Work with suppliers to reduce waste at sourcesource
Promote reuse and recycling Promote reuse and recycling Invest in modern landfill technology eg Invest in modern landfill technology eg
crushers + compactorscrushers + compactors Identify and reserve land for future landfill Identify and reserve land for future landfill
expansion expansion Encourage manufacturers to pursue Encourage manufacturers to pursue
cradle to cradle (C2C) approachescradle to cradle (C2C) approaches
Elements of An Elements of An International AgendaInternational Agenda
Make international environmental relations centrepiece of Make international environmental relations centrepiece of foreign policyforeign policy
Push for Global Green New Deal Push for Global Green New Deal Build solid inter-regional partnerships in water, energy, Build solid inter-regional partnerships in water, energy,
land management and hazard risk managementland management and hazard risk management Include green issues in bilateral and multilateral Include green issues in bilateral and multilateral
agreementsagreements Build capacity to access existing financing mechanisms Build capacity to access existing financing mechanisms
eg. CDM, Carbon markets , WB Forest Carbon Partnership eg. CDM, Carbon markets , WB Forest Carbon Partnership Facility Facility
Use sea carbon sink argument more aggressively Use sea carbon sink argument more aggressively Promote technology transfers through north-south, south-Promote technology transfers through north-south, south-
south cooperation south cooperation Promote sustained research and development into green Promote sustained research and development into green
technologies at Universities technologies at Universities