Transcript Community level adaptation for policy makers

Community level adaptation
for policy makers
Some practical steps and ideas
ENDA Energy, Environment and Development Programme
Typology of decision/policy maker
 Livelihood practitioner e.g. farmer/fisher
 Village chief/traditional
authority/religious leader
 Local government
 National government and policy
making bodies
 International/supranational
ENDA Energy, Environment and Development Programme
Barriers to engaging
decision/policy makers
 Low understanding of climate issues/lack of
information
 Time in which to change perceptions
/convince the need for change/obtain
enabling permissions, legitimacy
ENDA Energy, Environment and Development Programme
Concerns of local decision
makers/enablers
• Responding to a politically influenced
agenda
• Retaining credibility
• Control
ENDA Energy, Environment and Development Programme
Climate
impacts
Decision and policy-making remoteness from
real life experience of CC impacts
Livelihood
practitioner
Village
elders/
traditional
authority
Religious
leader
Local
government
ENDA Energy, Environment and Development Programme
National
government
Adaptation/development some old ideas
• Amartya Sen - development as the creation of
choice and underdevelopment as having no
choice or no say in what happens
• Adaptation is a social response to human and
environmental vulnerability. Most vulnerability
has not been caused by climate change, but
climate change has become an added factor that
is exacerbating vulnerability.
• Adaptation is not innovative, the way of thinking
is
Upper Zambezi Valley - major mode
of productive activity
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Cultivation
Livestock – cattle
Fishing
Reed products and crafts
ENDA Energy, Environment and Development Programme
Major concerns among producers
 Lack of working capital
 Undeveloped markets
 Reducing productivity (partly due to
drought/flood and partly due to the unreliability
of the weather and new threats from weather
events
 Land tenure/ownership issues
 Out-migration of ‘useful’ people
 In-migration of ‘useless’ people from elsewhere crime, guns and refugees
ENDA Energy, Environment and Development Programme
Adaptation/development some old ideas
 Adaptation/development is about the creation of
alternatives and choices.
 Most vulnerability has not been caused by
climate change, but climate change has become
an added factor that is exacerbating
vulnerability.
 Adaptation is not innovative, the way of thinking
is
 Adaptation is a positive social response to
human and environmental vulnerability. Creates
insurance policies.
Some key tips
Know your decision maker, the right person
Know your product
Be respectful
Be flexible
Have empathy
Send someone who is experienced at talking
with decision makers
 Never promise more than can be achieved
 Be positive about climate adaptation – threats
and opportunities
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