mark bynoe, phd seniron environmental/resource economist caribbean community climate change centre...
TRANSCRIPT
Mark Bynoe, PhDSeniron Environmental/Resource Economist
Caribbean Community Climate Change Centre
Caribbean Community Climate Change Centre, Belmopan, BELIZE – 11th October 2011
Living with Climatic Change in the Caribbean : An Overview of Initiatives
in the Centre
CARIBBEAN CARIBBEAN COMMUNITYCOMMUNITY
Order of PresentationCritical Factors
The economic state of CARICOM CountriesThe global climate trend and negotiating
positionsObserved climate trends in the CaribbeanEarly Adaptation initiatives
Policy InitiativesNew InitiativesNext Steps
2
The Economic Situation in CARICOM States
The CARICOM countries as a bloc have been experiencing:BoP deficits and slow and sluggish growth for
sometime, i.e. between 1984 – 2008 they grew by 1.2% while the developed world grew by 4.2% (IMF, 2010),
Many of the small CARICOM countries fall into the category of highly indebted poor countries (HIPC) with debts of 115% of GDP,
With the exception of T&T they are all net importers of fossil fuel, spending between 40% and 50% of merchandise income on this product,
Absolute poverty levels of about 30%, andThey are mainly primary producers and are very
vulnerable to external shocks. The current global financial recession has
exacerbated the economic plight of the region.3
What are the Key Climate Observations for the Region? –
Climate Has Changed
4
The Global Climate TrendRecent observations and analysis confirm the
IPCC Fourth Assessment Report’s extremely conservative estimate on projected rise in global temperature and sea level.
The IPCC IV Assessment projected sea level rise ranging from a minimum of 7 inches to a possible maximum of 23 inches by 2100.
More recent research and observations suggest the rise will range from a minimum of 20 inches to a possible maximum of 39 inches over the same time period.
The 350 ppm concentration of CO2 would result in an averaged rise in global temperature well in excess of 2ooC
The 450 ppm would result in a rise in excess of 5oC
Already the CO2 concentration is at 390 ppm
5
Indicators of a Warming Caribbean Climate
Increase in the number of incidences of:The rate and extent of coral bleaching,The frequency and severity of extreme
events,Changing rainfall patterns and
intensity,Pest infestation, and Increase in climate related disease
vectors.Regional models suggest further
increases in these events
6
7
ECHAM4 HadAM3P
•Mean Regional Warming 2.3-3.40C;•High consensus in temperature increase;•Greater warming over land areas•Greater warming over large island states
A2 A2
B2B2
ECHAM4
ECHAM4
Climate Is Changing - Results from PRECIS I
Annual Temperature
HadAM3P
Annual Precipitation
A2
B2
A2
B2
• Mean changes 2.9 - 11%;• High consensus of rainfall decrease
in almost all islands except Cuba, Bahamas and Dominica Republic
8
The Region’s Early Response to CC (1 of 2)
9
The Region’s Early Response to CC (2 of 2)
• Identification of the need to institutionalise CC issues
• CARICM governments agreed to operationalise a Centre responsible for CC issues in 2002
• The Caribbean Community Climate Change Centre (CCCCC) was formulated in 2004 and became fully operational in 2005
10
Major Initiatives Completed under the WB/GEF-Supported MACC Project
• A Regional Strategy Framework for – “Achieving Climate Change Resilient Development”
• Completion of a Vulnerability Assessment Manual
• Completion of Vulnerability Country Assessment studies
• Completion of National Adaptation Strategies for the following sectors:
• Water (Belize, Jamaica and Saint Vincent)
• Agriculture (Guyana)• Tourism (Barbados)• Health (Region)
11
Ongoing Initiatives under the WB/GEF-Supported SPACC Project
St. Vincent and the Grenadines Design and install a sustainable water
system in Bequia incorporating: Projected future climatic conditions, and Utilizing renewable energy technology for
powering a reverse osmosis system Saint Lucia
The development of an integrated coastal/watershed management system in the Vieux-Fort region of Saint Lucia to reduce vulnerability to climate change-related impacts.
The strengthening of a designated critical infrastructure to withstand the projected higher incidence of extreme weather events based on
Hurricane wind studies and the development of engineering design guidelines
12
CARICOM Regional Framework
At the request in 2007 by CARICOM Heads of Government the CCCCC prepared a regional climate change strategy through an extensive region wide consultative process with key stakeholders.
The final document ‘A Regional Framework for Achieving Development Resilient to Climate Change 2009-2015’ was approved by the CARICOM Heads of Government in 2009
The Strategy adumbrates Five strategic elements and a number of supporting goals to secure the transformational change required to build resilience and low carbon economies.
Policy Positions (1 of 3)
The Liliendaal Declaration (2009) The stabilization of atmospheric GHG
concentration at 350 ppm of CO2 or less.
Limiting the rise of the global averaged surface temperature to no more than 1.5 0C above the pre-industrial levels.
Global greenhouse gas emissions peak by 2015 and
Global CO2 reductions of greater than 95% by 2050
14
Policy Positions (2 of 3)
The Development of a Strategic Framework (2009 - 2015)
Against the backdrop of climate change indicators and earlier initiatives, a strategic framework for achieving development resilient to climate change was developed and approved for implementation by CARICOM Heads.
Strategy objectives Promoting actions to reduce greenhouse gas emissions
through energy reduction and conservation, and switching to renewable and cleaner sources of energy;
Promoting actions to minimize the effects of greenhouse gas emissions through initiatives and measures designed to reduce the vulnerability of natural and human systems to the effects of climate change;
Promoting the development and implementation of educational and public awareness programs as well as public access to information and citizen participation across the Caribbean.
15
Policy Positions (3 of 3)
The Strategic Framework (2009 - 2015) The Strategic Framework is made up of four primary
elements:1. Mainstreaming climate change adaptation
strategies into the sustainable development agendas using a learning by doing approach to capacity building and build on the progress achieved through the CPACC, ACCC, MACC and SPACC projects.
2. Promote actions to reduce greenhouse gas emissions through fossil fuel reduction and conservation, and switching to renewable and cleaner energy sources.
3. Promote actions to reduce the vulnerability of natural and human systems to the impacts of a changing climate.
4. Promote actions to derive social, economic, and environmental benefits from the prudent management of standing forests in CARICOM countries.
16
Adaptation Options from the Strategic Plan
Enhance water management systems Improve hydrometeoreological systems Improve the technology with which farmers are
asked to work. In this regard, it will be necessary to ascertain, inter alia, crop rainfall threshold for various cultivars and work with farmers to develop alternative crops, and improved farming practices e.g drip irrigation, where possible
Improve research, particularly in the area of biotechnology
Improve infrastructure e.g access roads, storage and processing facilities
Encourage more protected agriculture, where possible
Diversifying the agricultural base within the region
Improve the coordination among the various agricultural institutions for better planning
Improve access to markets and more reliable market information
17
Implementation Plan
Heads of Government further mandated the Centre to develop, in consultation with regional stakeholders, an Implementation Plan for the Regional Strategy.
IP developed through an extensive National/Regional consultative process involving all 15 CARICOM countries – public and private sector, civil society, NGOs, donor agencies.
Endorsed at recent meeting of COTED to be presented to next Heads of Government meeting for their endorsement and final approval.
18
Implementation Plan Seeks to guide the identification and
prioritisation of actions by regional and national stakeholders under each strategic element and goal area of the Regional Framework through the use of risk management approaches to decision making.
Considers responsibilities and functional co-operation between regional organisations and national governments.
Recognises that there are existing significant resource and capacity challenges that hold back the region’s sustainable development and growth and proposes building on a process known as the ‘three-ones’ to assist in resource mobilisation and co-ordination of actions.
19
Critical Steps to Operationalise the IP
Support climate compatible development in the Caribbean by enabling the implementation of key activities outlined in the IP
Embed considerations of climate change across the Caribbean, through the development of regional approach to risk management and the creation of a risk ethic in decision making
Demonstrate delivery of benefits at the national level from climate financing at regional level
20
KEY ACTIONS FOR IMMEDIATE IMPLEMENTATION
Capacity building to strengthen knowledge base for decision making - modeling, vulnerability &impact studies, cost benefit analyses of adaptation options
Development of CC risk management methodology for use regionally by Finance Ministries and Planning Department and subsequently by all sectoral planners.
Addressing coastal vulnerability and coastal livelihoods as a matter of urgency.
Supporting countries to identify opportunities for climate financing and providing assistance to develop country portfolios of such projects
Implementing Adaptation interventions building on the Centre’s experience in Implementing Adaptation projects in three pilot countries
21
Conclusions – Climate Change Demands A Change in Thinking and Approach
The Implementation Plan is intended to be a core planning document and used as an aid to decision-making.
It will continue to evolve in response to:Improvements in our understanding of
the science of climate change and the direct and indirect impacts on social, environmental and economic systems.
Progress on securing international agreements.
The results from actions identified and those arising from other programmes.
New actions can and must be included in the Implementation Plan.
Formal reviews are proposed of both the Regional Framework and the Implementation Plan every two years.
22
Thank You!
23