OCT Environmental Profiles

Climate change in Greenland

Source: Arctic Climate Impact Assessment

Example of effect of sea-level rise

Papeete, French Polynesia, with airport at present

Same view, after sea-rise of 88 cm.

Simulation for Papeete

What is an environmental profile?

A concise (10 pages) document for each territory: describing the main environmental issues ; giving sufficient background to put these issues in context; giving basic data about the organisational infrastructure; giving details of participation in international environmental

agreements, cooperative partnerships and networks.

Environment includes climate change and natural hazards.

Special emphasis on socio-economic impacts, livelihoods, poverty.

Why an environmental profile?

1. To feed discussions on the environment and possible consequences environmental trends may have on OCTs socio-economic development.

2. More specifically, to assist the EU in programming its EDF assistance to the OCTs.

Methodology & Timing Basically a desk study Questionnaire Feedback

July August September

October November

Drafting of EPs

Feedback from OCTs,finalisation of EPs

…………………………….. 2006 …………………………………

Draft EPs

Final EPs

About the OCTs: Diversity

Latitude……………………. Longitude…………………. Land area (x 1000 km2) EEZ ……….(x 1000 km2) Population....…(x 1000) Population density (/km2) GDP/capita…… (€’000) Remoteness……(km.)…. No. of inhabited islands…

From To

GR 83˚N 90˚S BA

W&F 176˚E 166˚W

NC

PIT 0.05 2166 GR

SP&M 12 5500 FP

PIT 0.05 275 FP

GR 0.03 538 MAY

BVI 38.5 2.2 MAY

24 2700

Aruba 1 113 FP

About the OCTs: Commonalities

(Small) islands or archipelagos Small population Vulnerable economies Natural hazards: incidence and vulnerability A number of factors are of disproportionate

importance: biodiversity, endemism OCTs account for 0.02% of world population, 2.7% of

area, but 16% of world’s freshwater strategic importance

Natural hazards and OCTs

AN

G

AR

UB

VI

CA

Y

FLK

FP

GR

MA

Y

MO

N

NC

NLA

PIT

STH

STP

M T&

C

W&

F

Cyclone/Hurricane

WIN

D

Volcanic

TD

C

Seismic

AS

C

Tsunami

Severe risk Moderate risk

Low risk

OCTs and the environment

Environmental problems characterised by

Complexity: long chains of effects

Interrelatedness Between environmental aspects Between environment and economy

Services

Tourist attraction

Habitat for fish

Protects spawning grounds

Sand replenishment

Extreme

weather

events

Sea and wave damage

Green-house gas emissions

Rising sea and air temp.

Sea level rise

GLOBALfossil fuel combustion

GLOBALDeforestation

LOCALUnsustainabl

e tourism

LOCALUnsustainabl

e fishing

LOCALOther

pressures

Mitigates

Acidification

Destruction, sedimentation,nutrients

Bleaching

Drowning

Exacerbates

Example of complexity: coral reefs

Damage

Drivers:

•Population

•Traffic

•Development

•Industry

Pressures:

•Sewage discharges

•Waste

•CO2 emissions

•Overfishing

State:

•Warmer air / water

•Polluted water

Impacts:

•Loss of habitat, wildlife

•Coastal retreat

•Reduced fish catch

•Reduced tourism

Responses:

•Designation protected areas

•Sewage treatment

•Recycling

•Adaptation Monitorin

g

Mea

sure

s

Dealing with complexity: DPSIR model

3 major environmental issues in OCTs

Climate change Solid waste Biodiversity

Issue 1: Climate change

Climate change has following features which distinguish it from other environmental problems:

GlobalLong-termSome of the science is uncertainWide range of different effectsSome scenarios are catastrophic

Climate change and small tropical islands

Climate changeRise in temperaturesRise in sea levelMore extreme weather

GHG emissions

Deforest-ation

degradation coral reefs

salinisation of soils & groundwater

coastal erosion, inundation

health issues

tourism

fisheries

disruption communities

PRESSURES STATE ........... IMPACTS............. Physical Socio-economic

direct econ. costs

agriculture

GHG emissions

Globaldeforestation

higher air and water temps

Melting ice-sheetflux of (fresh) water

Changes in drainage / hydrology

Loss of sea-ice

Changes in permafrost

Changes in ecosystems / habitat

Wildlife loss

Impacts on fisheries

Impacts on society, traditional customs

Opening of new navigational possibilities

Impacts on infrastructure

Rising global sea-level

Thermohaline circulation

PRESSURES

STATE

PHYSICAL IMPACTS

GLOBAL IMPACTS

SOCIO-ECONOMIC IMPACTS

Climate change in Greenland

Vulnerability to climate change

Vulner-ability

OCTs Remarks

High ANG, ARU, BVI, FP, NLA, T&C, CAY, FPGR

MAYMONNCPIT

Low-lying areas, tourism-dependent

Threats to sea-ice, fisheries, wildlife, permafrostLarge population in low-lying areasMore intense natural eventsCyclone-prone, fishing industryRisk of drought

Medium FLKSTHSTPM

Fishery dependentSome threat to agric. & fisheriesFlooding and erosion of low-lying areas

Issue 1: Climate change – CO2 emissions

OCTs account for <0.1% of CO2 emissions, will bear disproportionate impact. But, look at per capita emissions.

Source: US Department of Energy CO2 Information Analysis Centre (CDIAC)

Per capita CO2 emissions 2003

0

5

10

15

20

25

COUNTRY

To

nn

es

Issue 2: Solid waste in OCTs

Main challengesLack of critical size to make modern WM facilities cost-effectiveLack of facilities, critical size, markets to make recycling and composting feasiblelack of public awarenessHazardous wasteProblems noted in following:ARU, CAY, MAY, NC, NLA, PF, STH (+ ASC+TDC), W&F

Issue 3: Biodiversity Conservation

The OCTs are very rich in biodiversity, including many endemic and endangered species:New Caledonia contains the highest number of endemic species in the Pacific: 2500 plants, 20 freshwater fish, 60 reptiles, 25 birds, 6 mammalsThe UK overseas territories contain at least 10 x as many endemic species as the UK itself.Gough Island, a WH site in TDC, is one of the most important sea-bird colonies in the world, with 22 species breeding on island, some threatened.

Issue 3: Biodiversity Conservation

Why conserve biodiversity?

Because of international obligations under the Convention on Biological Diversity.

Because the wildlife is one of the major assets of the islands, a source of actual or potential livelihoods and food (tourism, fishing)

Issue 3: Biodiversity Conservation

Main threats to biodiversity:Habitat loss and fragmentationIntroduced speciesOverharvesting

MEAs such as the CBD, Ramsar, Convention on Migratory Species, CITES provide instruments to help conserve biodiversity (designation of protected areas, preparation of management plans), but these have not yet been properly implemented in law by many OCTs.

Some first tentative conclusions

1. Generally no conflict between general development objectives and environmental objectives. On the contrary, the protection of the environment, marine and terrestrial habitats and wildlife is crucial to the economic and social well-being of territories.

2. Most decision-makers are aware of the need to ensure their development is sustainable. However awareness needs to be translated into formal and legal safeguards: provisions for EIA, full implementation of MEAs, etc.

Some first tentative conclusions (contd.)

3. Climate change Some OCTs are amongst the most vulnerable in the world to

climate change. All will be significantly affected. OCTs need to take all possible measures to impress on the world

community the need for strong action to reduce GHG emissions. At the same time, adaptation needs to be mainstreamed into

development planning. Possible actions include:

- form alliances with regional and international groupings to make sure the voice of the OCTs is heard by the world community;- participate in research projects for which they are suited in regional or global partnerships, so as to reduce uncertainties;- maintain credibility by setting a good example;- public awareness campaigns.