Transcript How Local Government Can Respond to Climate Change

How Local Government Can
Respond to Climate Change?
Dr. Bidhan Chandra Das
Professor
Department of Zoology
University of Rajshahi
Yes, We’re
worried
about our
Planet!
Earth needs a hospital bed!
This is because when we look
through all the information, we see
that something has changed.
Think back 20 years ago,
compare tornadoes, storms,
floods, droughts, earthquakes
with the happenings today.
These are all the symptoms of
the fact that our planet is sick.
One of the major causes of sickness is
GLOBAL WARMING
Mainly due to anthropogenic activities, release
of carbon dioxide, methane, and nitrous oxide,
commonly known as greenhouse gases
(GHGs) increased, which trap infrared radiation
in the atmosphere that warms the earth.
There are many sources of these gases,
with the most significant being fossil fuels,
landfills, agriculture, ruminant livestock
and rice cultivation (Reay, 2008).
So, our earth needs many doctors to
become healthy again!
The environmental balance of Earth is
severely damaged.
Today, our main
concern is to address
the situation:
Mitigation
Adaptation
Mitigation
Human intervention to reduce the sources or
enhance the sinks of greenhouse gases.
Adaptation
Response to climate
change that seeks to
reduce the vulnerability
of natural and human
systems to climate
change effects.
What is Local Government (LG)?
LG is one way in which the country’s
governance & administration is carried out, &
its public services delivered. LG refers
collectively to administrative authorities over
areas that are smaller than a state. LG is the
level of government that is closest to people
(Mukoro, 2003; Nicholson, 2001).
Although multiple levels of government typically
coordinate in preparing for and responding to climate
change, local governments act as a first line of
defense. Understandably, then, citizens expect their
local government to be actively involved in disaster
preparation (Wolensky & Miller, 1981). Indeed, when
disaster strikes, local government is the focal point of
citizens' evaluations.
Local Governments
Local Self
Government (LSG)
Local Government
(LG)
Local Government (LG)
Rural Areas
The Union Parishad
Upazila Parishad
Zila Parishad
Urban Areas
Municipality
City Corporation
Local governments have the
ability to directly influence the
mitigation/adaptation activities.
The United States and other countries
are experiencing a transfer of power from
national to local levels as the political
feasibility of climate change action at a
local government scale increases.
Several local jurisdictions are taking
a leadership role and moving
forward with adaptation and
mitigation activities despite, in some
cases, the lack of state and national
policies or mandates.
Local governments are logical
entities to embrace and
confront the challenges of
climate change actions for
multiple reasons.
“Local Governments will be key actors in
adapting to the local impacts of climate
change and the engagement of Local
Government will be a critical part of any
national reform agenda.”
(Australian Government, 2010)
Local governments are in many cases better
equipped than national government to address
the planning and implementation of actions
through stronger support from constituents,
collaboration with networks, and local
jurisdictional responsibility and influence. This
confluence of local climate politics, local climate
activities, and collaborative efforts is expanding
the breadth and scope of work at the local level.
Accordingly, actions to address
climate change are blossoming
throughout the globe at the local
scale (Lyshall, 2011).
A. Potential Impacts of Climate Change on Local
Government Functions
1. Infrastructure and property services
(a) Road/pavement construction & maintenance.
(b) Storm water/drainage.
(c) Buildings/Houses.
(d) Coastal infrastructure.
A. Potential Impacts of Climate Change on Local
Government Functions
2. Recreational facilities
(a) Provision and use of recreational
facilities.
(b) Maintenance of recreational facilities.
A. Potential Impacts of Climate Change on Local
Government Functions
3. Health services
(a) Community/workplace health.
(b) Emergency management.
A. Potential Impacts of Climate Change on Local
Government Functions
4. Planning & development approvals
(a) Planning policy and developments.
A. Potential Impacts of Climate Change on Local
Government Functions
5. Natural resource management
(a) Coastal management.
(b) Weed/pest management.
(c) Biodiversity.
A. Potential Impacts of Climate Change on Local
Government Functions
6. Water and sewerage services
(a) Stagnant water/sewerage.
(b) Wastewater.
(c) Water supply.
Bangladesh is
aware of this
and has already
taken initiatives.
Spent 10 billion US $ for flood management,
coastal polders, cyclone and flood shelters,
roads and highways construction mainly to
make the country less vulnerable to natural
disasters (MoEF, 2009)
MoEF, 2009. Bangladesh Climate Change Strategy and Action Plan
2009. Ministry of Environment and Forests, Government of the
People’s Republic of Bangladesh, Dhaka, Bangladesh. Xviii +76pp.
Climate Change:
Bangladesh Response
Prepared National Adaptation Programme of Action
(NAPA) in 2005; identified 15 Priority projects.
Prepared Initial National Communication and
preparing Second National Communication.
Made climate change an integral part of the new
draft Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper (PRSP)
National Water Management Plan.
Disaster risk reduction and adaptation to climate
change strategies both are aimed at enhancing
sustainability, resilient societies and human security.
Published by: Disaster Management Bureau (DMB)
Disaster Management and Relief Division (DM&RD)
Ministry of Food and Disaster Management
April 2010
National Plan for Disaster Management
2010-2015
SIXTH FIVE YEAR PLAN
FY2011-FY2015
“Therefore, effective steps must be explored and adopted in
collaboration with the international community in the Sixth Plan period
to help Bangladesh address the adverse consequences of climate
change. An acceptable and workable collaboration strategy must
include fair and just burden sharing for mitigation as well as adaptation
strategies across nations.”
Part‐1
Strategic Directions and Policy Framework
Planning Commission, Ministry of Planning
Government of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh
July 2011
National Strategy for Accelerated
Poverty Reduction II
FY 2009 – 11
General Economics Division
Planning Commission
Government of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh
2009
Bangladesh Climate
Change Strategy & Action
Plan (BCCSAP 2009)
Six pillars (Themes) and 44 Programmes
– Food security, social protection & health
– Comprehensive disaster management
– Infrastructure development
– Research and knowledge management
– Mitigation and low carbon development
– Capacity building – institutional & human
April 2010
National Plan for Disaster Management 2010-2015
Mainstreaming strategies
Proactive vs. reactive
Adaptation can be anticipatory
(proactive/Stock) or reactive. The problem
with reactive adaptation is that it only starts
after the impacts of climate change have
been felt.
Theoretical Framework of Climate
Action at the Local Government
Level
Theories of Collaboration:
Collaborative governance of environmental
problems has steadily increased over the past
two decades (Ansell & Gash, 2008; Huxham &
Vangen, 2000).
Cultural Transformation Theory: This is an
important aspect to evolving partnership
societies where the focus will be “more on
relationships than on hierarchies” (Eisler,
1987).
Relational and Social Network Theory:
Focused on transformation utilize collaboration, flat
hierarchy, and relationships to create motivation and
change (Betsill & Bulkeley, 2006b). Within networks,
developing relationships and empowering individuals
through collaboration are integral to successful
outcomes (Wasserman & Faust, 1994).
Complex Adaptive Systems Theory:
Concerned with a shift of mind from seeing parts
to seeing wholes (Senge, 1990).
In this context, adaptive management is one
practical application of this by integrating
research, design, management, and monitoring in
order to adapt and learn and understand what
works or doesn’t, and why.
Theories of Transformational Leadership
Transformational leadership theory relates to
this study in that it allows for creativity,
intelligence, and thoughtful solutions and is
associated with “change efforts and
organizational visions that inspire, motivate,
and empower followers" (Hansen, Ropo &
Sauer, 2007). Transformational leadership
allows leaders and followers to engage in a
mutual process of “raising one another to
higher levels of morality and motivation”
(Burns, 1978).
Participatory Action Research Theory. This is a
method of inquiry that addresses an identified problem
in a collaborative manner to implement action for
change. It is concerned with changing the culture of
groups, institutions and societies through a
participatory and democratic process that develops
practical knowledge (McTaggart, 1989; Reason &
Bradbury, 2008).
Build Capacity of Local Governments &
Decentralize Power and Resources:
Adaptation measures should be specific to
particular locations and situations. What may work
in one location, with one socioeconomic group,
may not be feasible in another. Therefore, it is not
possible for a national government to create a
“one size fits all” adaptation approach. It is
imperative that national policy efforts improve the
ability of local communities to adapt to climate
change (Guay, 2009).
“Democratic ownership and political
commitment is weak. In the absence of a
properly functioning local government,
and with no local level planning
mechanism, the role of local bodies in the
development process is very limited”
(Hedger, M. 2011).
Hedger, M. 2011. Climate Finance in Bangladesh: Lessons for
Development Cooperation and Climate Finance at National Level.
Working Paper, 12. Institute of Development Studies.7th Framework
Programme.EDC 2020.
Corfee-Morlot et al. (2009) have
concluded that “climate change
is a problem that can only be
adequately addressed if action
is taken at all levels of
government: international,
national, regional, and local”
Laukkonen et al. (2009)
While science and academia are advancing fast to
provide increasingly reliable data, methodologies,
tools and frameworks to help nations mitigate and
adapt, the most vulnerable, the people in developing
countries, are lagging behind with their local
governments struggling to provide even the most
basic services.
Non-nation state actors
(NNSAs) are increasing in
visibility and influence in
global climate politics
(Okereke et al., 2009). At the
same time, many participants
in the 2009 Copenhagen
Climate Change Summit
considered it largely a failure
because hoped for
international agreements to
achieve effective collaborative
governance were not
achieved (Dimitrov, 2010).
Unfortunately not all
countries can react to
climate change at the
same level. The adaptive
capacity is directly related
to the status of natural
resources and the level of
socio-economic
development
(Dube & Sekhwela, 2007).
Traditional
Ecological
Knowledge
(TEK)
Local
Ecological
Knowledge
(LEK)
For as Helmer (2007), has
observed: “Local people
are the real experts” in
terms of climate change,
as they know about any
changes that are
occurring best, as well as
having traditional
responses to cope with
many of them.
Acknowledgments
DelPHE Round-4
 British Council
 DFID