Transcript The problem of a national communication

UNFCCC GUIDELINES IN REPORTING
VULNERABILITY AND ADAPTATION BY
NON-ANNEX I PARTIES TO IMPLEMENT
THE CONVENTION
CGE Hands-on Training Workshop on Vulnerability and
Adaptation Assessments for the Latin America and the
Caribbean Region
14-18 August 2006
Asuncion, Paraguay
Arthur W. Rolle
Member of the CGE
[email protected]
Outline
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General Information
Definitions under Convention and IPCC
Reporting Obligations
Methodological Approaches
V & A reporting, tools
Examples from Bangladesh study
Cooperation
Tasks of V & A Group
A. General
Each non-Annex I Party shall, in accordance with Article 12,
paragraph 1 (b), communicate to the COP a general description of
steps taken or envisaged by the Party to implement the Convention,
taking into account its common but differentiated responsibilities
and its specific national and regional development priorities,
objectives and circumstances.
Non-Annex I Parties may provide information on programmes
containing measures to mitigate climate change by addressing
anthropogenic emission by sources and removals by sinks of all
greenhouse gases not controlled by the Montreal Protocol, and
measures to facilitate adequate adaptation to climate change,
following the provisions in these guidelines.
Taking into account Article 4, paragraph 7, and, as appropriate,
Article 4, paragraphs 3 and 5, of the Convention, the extent to
which developing country Parties will effectively implement
their commitment to communicate this information will depend
on the effective implementation by the developed country
Parties of their commitments under the Convention relating to
financial resources and transfer of technology.
B. Programmes containing measures to facilitate
adequate adaptation to climate change
Principles (Article 3, paragraph 2) of the Convention
The specific needs and special circumstances of developing country
Parties, especially those that are particularly vulnerable to the
adverse effects of climate change , and of those Parties, especially
developing country Parties, that would have to bear a
disproportionate or abnormal burden under the Convention, should
be given full consideration.
Commitments (Article 4, paragraph 1(f)) under the Convention
Take climate change considerations into account, to the extent
feasible, in their relevant social, economic and environmental
policies and actions, and employ appropriate methods, for example
impact assessments, formulated and determined nationally, with a
view to minimizing adverse effects on the economy, on public
health and on the quality of the environment, of projects and
measures undertaken by them to mitigate or adapt to climate
change;
Definitions under the Convention
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Climate change – change change of climate which is
attributed directly or indirectly to human activity that
alters the composition of the global atmosphere and
which is in addition to natural climate variability
observed over comparable time periods
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Adverse effects – changes in the physical environment
or biota resulting from climate change which have
significant deleterious effects on the composition,
resilience or productivity of natural and managed
ecosystems or on the operation of socio-economic
systems or on human health and welfare
Definitions under the IPCC
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Vulnerability - degree to which a system is susceptible to, or
unable to cope with, adverse effects of climate change,
including climatic variability and extremes. Vulnerability is a
function of the character, magnitude, and rate of climate
variation to which a system is exposed, its sensitivity, and its
adaptive capacity
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Adaptation - adjustment in natural or human systems in
response to actual or expected climatic stimuli or their
effects, which moderates harm or exploits beneficial
opportunities
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Sensitivity - degree to which a system is affected (adversely
or beneficially) by climate-related stimuli, e.g. rainfall and
temperature.
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Adaptive capacity - ability of a system to adjust to climate
change including climate variability and extremes to
moderate potential damages, to take advantage of
opportunities, or to cope with the consequences
Reporting obligations under the Convention
Non-Annex I Parties shall, in accordance with Article 12,
paragraph 1(b) and (c), of the Convention, provide to the COP
information on the general steps taken or envisaged towards
formulating, implementing, publishing and regularly updating
national and, where appropriate, regional programmes
containing measures to facilitate adequate adaptation to
climate change, and any other information they consider
relevant to the achievement of the objective of the Convention
and suitable for inclusion in their communications.
•Such programs would, inter alia, concern the energy, transport
and industry sectors as well as agriculture, forestry and waste
management. Furthermore, adaptation technologies and
methods for improving spatial planning would improve
adaptation to climate change
Reporting obligations under the Convention
Non-Annex I Parties should provide information on their
vulnerability to the adverse effects of climate change, and on
adaptation measures being undertaken to meet their specific
needs and concerns arising from these adverse effects.
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Adverse effects of climate change will be felt on coastal
systems; agriculture and food security; water resources;
human health; ecosystems; biodiversity; tourism; human
settlement, industry and transportation, etc
Reporting obligations under the
Marrakech Accords
1.
Decision 2/CP.7: Capacity building in developing
countries (non-Annex I Parties)
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The COP invites Parties to provide information through
national communications and other reports to enable the SBI
to monitor progress in the implementation of the framework
for capacity building in developing countries.
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The initial scope of needs and areas for capacity building
includes information on vulnerability and adaptation
assessments and capacity building for implementation of
adaptation measures.
Reporting obligations under the
Marrakesh Accords
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Decision 4/CP.7: Development and transfer of
technologies (decisions 4/CP.4 and 9/CP.5).
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Framework for meaningful and effective actions to enhance the
implementation of Article 4, paragraph 5, of the Convention :
technology needs and needs assessments, technology
information, enabling environments, capacity building and
mechanisms for technology transfer.
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Implementation of technology needs and needs assessments
includes encouraging Parties to make available information on
the results of their needs assessments in their national
communications and other related reports and channels …
identification of adaptation technology priorities.
Reporting obligations under the
Marrakesh Accords
3. Decision 5/CP.7: Implementation of Article
4, paragraphs 8 and 9, of the Convention
(decision 3/CP.3 and Article 2, paragraph
3, and Article 3, paragraph 14, of the KP).
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Part I: Adverse effects of climate change: Paragraph 1: The COP
insists that action related to adaptation follow an assessment
and evaluation process, based on national communications
and/or other relevant information, so as to prevent
maladaptation and to ensure that adaptation actions are
environmentally sound and will produce real benefits in support
of sustainable development.
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Paragraph 3: COP encourages non-Annex I Parties to provide
information, including in their national communications, and/or
any other relevant information sources, on their specific needs
and concerns arising from the adverse effects of climate change.
Reporting
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Non-Annex I Parties are encouraged to:
 provide information on the scope of their vulnerability and
adaptation assessment, including identification of
vulnerable areas that are most critical
 include a description of approaches, methodologies and
tools used, including scenarios for the assessment of
impacts of, and vulnerability and adaptation climate
change, as well as any uncertainties inherent in these
methodologies
 provide information on their vulnerability to the impacts
of, and their adaptation to, climate change in key
vulnerable areas. Information should include key findings,
and direct and indirect effects arising from climate
change, allowing for an integrated analysis of the
country’s vulnerability to climate change
 provide information on and, to the extent possible,
evaluation of, strategies and measures for adapting to
climate change, in key areas including those which are of
the highest priority
Reporting (2)
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Where relevant, Parties may report on the use of
policy frameworks, such as national adaptation
programmes, plans and policies for developing and
implementing adaptation strategies and measures.
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National adaptation programmes of action (NAPA)
could be used in this analysis for least developed
countries and other frameworks, e.g. adaptation policy
framework, mainstreaming adaptation into
development planning, etc.
Summary of Guidelines
Old guidelines (decision 10/CP.2)
New guidelines (decision 17/CP.8)
• Objectives
• National circumstances
• National circumstances
• Inventory of emissions/removals
• National GHG inventory
• General description of steps
• General description of steps
– programmes containing
measures to facilitate adequate
adaptation
– programmes containing
measures to mitigate climate
change
• Other information
• Other information
– transfer of technologies 4/CP.7)
– research and systematic
observation (5/CP.5)
– education, training and public
awareness (Article 6)
– capacity-building (2/CP.7)
– information and networking
• Financial and technological
needs and constraints
•Constraints and gaps
Methodological approaches
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Non-annex I Parties may use appropriate methodologies and
guidelines they consider better able to reflect their national
situation for assessing their vulnerability and adaptation to
climate change, provided that these methodologies and guidelines
are consistent, transparent and well documented.
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Non-Annex I Parties are encouraged to use, for the evaluation of
adaptation strategies and measures, appropriate methodologies
they consider better able to reflect their national situation,
provided that these methodologies are consistent, transparent
and well documented.
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IPCC Technical Guidelines for Assessing Climate Change Impacts
and Adaptations (1994), UNEP handbook on Methods for Climate
Change Impact Assessment and Adaptation Strategies (1998),
and International Handbook on Vulnerability and Adaptation
Assessments (1996).
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Compendium of Decision Tools to Evaluate Strategies for
Adaptation to Climate Change (1999)
An example of how to address
methodological Issues
• Choosing climate change and sea level
rise scenarios
• Modelling impacts of chosen climate
change scenarios on droughts, floods,
cyclones, etc
• Identifying possible adaptations
• Prioritising adaptation actions
Climate Scenarios
Year
Sea Level Rise
(cm)
2030
30
2050
50
Temperature
Increase (ºC)
Precipitation
Fluctuation
Compared to
1990 (%)
V & A Reporting
• Includes three elements:
• Assessments
• Action
• Cooperation
Factors that increase vulnerability to
climate change
geography
Where most elevation under 10 m
climate
Subject to severe natural disasters
population
Growth significant
economy
GDP low
Literacy
Low literacy rate
Human Health
Life expectancy
Tools used for vulnerability assessment
• Historical records
• Comprehensive state-of-thescience climate simulation models
• Sensitivity analyses designed to
explore our vulnerability to future
climate change.
vulnerability indicators
Adaptive
Capacity
Adaptive
Capacity
Impacts
Low
High
high
vulnerable
development
communities opportunities
low
residual
sustainability
Tools for reducing vulnerability
• Mitigation (land use planning, retroffiting, building
codes and public education);
• Preparedness (establishing early warning systems,
developing hazard plans and storing emergency
supplies);
• Response (rescue efforts, and provision of food, shelter
and medical aid);
• Recovery (restoration and reconstruction of the
community through community repairs, gradual
restoration of structure and infrastructure, and
replacement of capital stock
Example-Adaptation measures to increased freshwater flooding
Key Risks and Adaptation
Measures
Current State of Implementation &
Requirements for Improvement
Physical adaptations
Elevated land as flood refuge or
flood shelters
Practiced throughout the country
Flood refuge
Needs evaluation
Institutional Adaptations
Improved flood warning and
forecasting
Proved effective. Needs more cooperation and to
be location specific
Evacuation of vulnerable people
and valuables
Limited capacity exists. Costly, especially for the
very poor
Example-Adaptation measures for disasters in coastal areas
Key Impacts and Measures
Current State of Implementation &
Requirements for Improvement
Physical adaptations
Cyclone shelters
Already proven. Highly socially acceptable
Mangrove greenbelts
Started. Needs evaluation
Institutional Adaptations
Forecasting and dissemination
Flood and cyclone forecasting should be location
specific
Involvement of CBOs and
volunteers
Should continue
Example-Adaptation measures in agriculture
Adaptation Measures
Current State of Implementation &
Requirements for Improvement
Improved irrigation efficiency
Poor. Needs institutional support
Crop diversification
Efforts have met with limited success
Institutional Adaptations
Training programmes and
dissemination
Dissemination is poor. Activities need enhancing
Research and development of new
(salinity and drought resistant)
crops
Research needs enhancing
Cooperation
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Cooperate in scientific and technical research and promote the
maintenance and the development of systematic observation
systems;
Promote capabilities to participate in international and
intergovernmental efforts;
Cooperate in and promote at the international level, and, where
appropriate, using existing bodies, the development and
implementation of education and training programs, including the
strengthening of national capacity building, in particular human and
institutional capacities and the exchange or secondment of personnel
to train experts in this field, in particular for developing countries, and
facilitate at the national level public awareness of, and public access
to information on, climate change;
Cooperate in the promotion of environmentally sound technologies,
know-how, practices and processes pertinent to climate change.
Tasks of V & A Group
In order to undertake the work programme of the CGE in
accordance with the Terms of reference annexed to
decision 3/CP.8, the V&A Thematic Group has to:
• Identify and assess technical problems and constraints
affecting the preparation of vulnerability and
adaptation assessments.
• Identify and assess the difficulties encountered by NAI
Parties in the use of the guidelines and methodologies
for the preparation of vulnerability and adaptation
assessments.
• Analyze and review national vulnerability and
adaptation assessments in terms of methodological
issues, technical problems and constraints in
preparing and reporting.
Tasks of V & A Group
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Provide technical advice and support through hands-on
training workshops on the preparation and reporting of
national vulnerability and adaptation assessments.
Review existing activities and programmes (multilateral and
bilateral) which facilitate and support the preparation of
vulnerability and adaptation assessments.
Provide recommendations/advice on how to improve the
preparation and reporting of vulnerability and adaptation to
climate change.
Obtain information, through questionnaires, from Parties on
the progress of the preparation of vulnerability and
adaptation assessments and how this process will assist the
Parties in their sustainable development. The result of the
analysis of the questionnaires would provide an indication of
the future work.
I THANK YOU FOR
YOUR ATTENTION