Dr. Joel Smith, Stratus Consulting Inc. (USA)
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Transcript Dr. Joel Smith, Stratus Consulting Inc. (USA)
Transfer of Environmentally Sound
Adaptation Technologies under the
UNFCCC: A Discussion Paper
Presented by:
Joel B. Smith, Paul B. Violette (PADCO), Brian Hurd, and Megan Harrod
Presented to:
Transfer of Technology Consultative Process (Decision 4/CP.4):
Asia and the Pacific Regional Workshop
Lapu-Lapu City, Cebu, Philippines
17-19 January 2000
KEY ISSUES
Start a dialogue:
– Identify what we mean by adaptation
technologies
– How is this different or does it compliment
technology transfer relating to climate
variability?
– What process can be used to address transfer
of adaptation technologies?
What is the Choice for Adaptation?
Reactive climate change adaptation
– An action taken in response to climate change
• A farmer switches to drought tolerant varieties of
crops in response to a drier climate
• Is this because of climate change or variability?
Anticipatory climate change adaptation
– An action taken before climate changes
• An oil drilling platform is built higher to anticipate
sea level rise
Focus on anticipatory adaptations for now because they
are based on climate change
Two Types of Anticipatory
Adaptations
No regrets (win-win)
– Make sense under current climate conditions
– Have more benefits under climate change
– e.g., reforms, water conservation technologies
– Can include mitigation technologies
Low regrets
– Marginal changes in practices, processes, or
structures because of climate change
– e.g., expansion of beach set backs, marginal
changes to infrastructure being built anyway
Two Types of Adaptation
Technologies
Soft Technologies
– Capacity building,
planning, institutions
Hard Technologies
– Hardware,
Infrastructure,
Monitoring
Soft Adaptation Technologies
Soft Adaptation Technologies
No Regrets Low Regrets
Adaptations Adaptations
General Policies
Incorporate climate change in long-term planning
Tie disaster relief to hazard-reduction programs
Water Resources
River basin planning and coordination
Contingency planning for drought
Explore options for new dam sites
Conserve water
Allocate water supplies using market-based systems
Sea-Level Rise
Plan urban growth
Decrease subsidies or tax incentives to develop lands
sensitive to sea-level rise
Discourage permanent shoreline stabilization
Preserve vulnerable wetlands
Develop and implement integrated coastal zone
management
Implement rolling easements
Hard Adaptation Technologies
Hard Adaptation Technologies
Low
No Regrets
Regrets
Adaptation Adaptation
Water Resources
Use interbasin transfers
Use runoff measuring equipment
Use water saving technologies and practices
Marginal change in construction of infrastructure
Control water pollution
Develop and improve desalination technology
Agriculture
Increase irrigation efficiency
Upgrade food storage and distribution system
Reduce runoff, improve water uptake, and reduce wind erosion (e.g.,
bench terracing, tied ridges, deep plowing, roughened land surface,
windbreaks)
Conserve soil moisture and nutrients
(e.g., stubble/straw mulching, crop rotation, contour cropping, lower
planting densities)
Preliminary Steps for Transferring
Adaptation Technologies
Demonstrate a country or region’s vulnerability to
climate change.
Demonstrate the effectiveness and feasibility of
adaptation strategies.
Define the roles of various groups in the
technology transfer process.
Develop action plans that address priority needs.
Capacity building needed to address these.
Defining Roles
Developing countries.
Play dominant roles in
assessing and determining needs and implementing adaptations.
Develop Action Plans
Developed countries.
Participate in identifying
strategies, setting
standards, and removing
barriers.
Defining Roles (cont.)
Private sector. Provide technologies and
expertise.
NGOs. Identify technology needs, adverse
consequences, and promote transfer.
Research community. Develop hard and soft
technologies, provide training.
Reactive Adaptations
May eventually become an issue
Problems
– Costs
– Attribution
Source: USBR.
Conclusions
Focus on anticipatory adaptations
Focus initially on soft technologies
– Capacity building for assessment
– Setting standards for assessment and
evaluation
– Identify and remove barriers
Developing countries should develop action plans
– Need to be collaborative
– Address removal of barriers
– Can include pilot projects
Examine how can build on existing programs