Transcript OCTs and Environment

OCTs and Environment
Situation and opportunities in EC
cooperation
European Commission – DG Environment
European Commission – DG Environment
Environment in OCTs
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OCTs are situated in all parts of the globe:
natural conditions are very varied and cover a
wide range of ecological zones
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But common points do exist :
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All OCTs are islands or have easy access to the sea
All are potentially affected by climate change
All have coastal and marine resources
All have important biodiversity
All have specific problems due to the size of their
economies or to their isolation : waste management,
energy, water and sanitation, land management,…
European Commission – DG Environment
Environment in
EC-OCTs cooperation
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The association agreement objectives are:
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Poverty prevention, reduction and eradication
Integration in the regional and world economies
Sustainable development : Environment is one of three
pillars of sustainable development
It recognizes important environmental issues for
OCTs: article 15 e : waste and 15 f : biodiversity
Regional integration is promoted, inter alia
regarding cooperation on environment (article
16.4)
European Commission – DG Environment
Environment in OCTs
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What are the main environmental issues at
stake in the OCTs:
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Climate change
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Biodiversity
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Waste management
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Natural resources management: land, water,
marine resources
European Commission – DG Environment
Climate change and OCTs
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Climate change is already taking place and is
caused by increasing concentrations of
greenhouse gases in the atmosphere
Climate change is projected to increase, both in
magnitude and in rate of change
Impacts include
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increased global warming,
rising sea-levels,
changes in rainfall patterns
increase of extreme weather events (cyclones,
hurricanes, draughts)
European Commission – DG Environment
Climate change and OCTs
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Climate change impacts may affect all OCTs in
different manners:
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Small islands may be affected by sea-level rise
Arctic and sub-antarctic zones affected by snow and
ice-melt
All OCTs may be affected by more frequent and more
extreme climatic events (cyclons, droughts)
Modifications in weather patterns (rainfall, average
seasonal temperature) may impact agriculture,
livestock, woods
Sea-temperature variations may affect marine
resources: fish stocks, coral reefs
European Commission – DG Environment
Climate change and OCTs
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Most OCTs have a higher vulnerability due to:
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Geography/topography
Size of the economy
Structure of the economy
Most OCTs have a lower adaptation capacity:
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Geography/topography (e.g. nowhere to move if sealevels are rising)
Limited financial and human ressources
Limited possibilitites for economic diversification
Limited natural ressources
European Commission – DG Environment
Climate change : Action
at EC/EU and global level
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EU Strategy on climate change in the context of
development cooperation (Dec. 2003) and Action Plan
(Nov2004), to be implemented from 2004 to 2008
Objective: to assist EU partner countries in meeting the
challenges posed by climate change through the
implementation of the UNFCCC and the Kyoto Protocol
Strategic priorities:
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raising the policy profile of climate change,
adaptation,
mitigation and low greenhouse gas development paths,
capacity building
Kyoto protocol now fully into force
Negotiations ongoing in Montreal at the time being
European Commission – DG Environment
Climate change and OCTs :
Why take action?
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Climate change poses a threat to efforts for development
since it puts at risk e.g. economic activities, investments
in infrastructure, increases the risk for disasters and put
additional pressure on limited natural ressources
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If we ignore climate change in our development efforts
today, we may make short-term development gains, but
these gains may not be sustainable in the longer
perspective
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Responding to the risk of climate change is an opportunity
to take action to reduce vulnerability and make
development resilient to climate change
European Commission – DG Environment
OCTs and Biodiversity : facts
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Total OCTs biodiversity is higher than in the
whole European Union
OCTs cover a high range of high quality
ecosystems : from arctic and subarctic regions to
tropical forests and highly varied marine areas
The loss of biodiversity represents also an
economic loss, direct or potential
Resilience to natural disasters and/or climate
change is higher if biodiversity is intact
European Commission – DG Environment
OCTs and Biodiversity :
Action at EC/EU level
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EU Gothenburg summit (2001) : halt the loss of
biodiversity before 2010, which led to the Biodiversity
strategy and action plans.
An new EC Biodiversity communication is being drafted
for end of 2005
At the Paris Conference (january 2005) on biodiversity
and science, Pdt Chirac made proposals for biodiversity
actions in FR OCTs (Plan d’Action Biodiversité outre-mer)
Convention on Biodiversity (CBD) : applicable to OCTs if
legislation adapted
NGOs are lobbying hard in favour of decisive actions in
favour of biodiversity in the OCTs
European Commission – DG Environment
Biodiversity Action Plan for Economic
and Development Cooperation
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Strategic Objectives:
Mainstream biodiversity objectives into co-operation strategies
and policy dialogue with developing countries. Integration into
development projects across different sectors.
Support sustainable use of natural resources, particularly in
relation to forests, grasslands and marine/coastal ecosystems.
Strengthen capacity of relevant agencies involved in conservation
and sustainable use of biodiversity.
Further integrate EIA practices in development co-operation.
Co-ordinate the implementation with third country own
biodiversity strategies.
Ensure complementarity and co-ordination of policies and
approaches in EC, other donors and international institutions,
particularly GEF, Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD).
Provide sufficient funds for biodiversity on bilateral aid
programmes as well as for international mechanisms (e.g. CBD
Biodiversity :
can OCTs make a change?
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Yes, and there is a lot of potential
How ? (possible actions) :
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Set-up of marine and inland protected areas
Integration into regional conservation networks
Capacity building
Adaptation of legal framework and law enforcement
Sustainable management of natural resources, i.e.
fisheries, vegetation, agriculture
Why?
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Biodiversity is an important asset for economy: fishery,
agriculture, but also tourism, health,…
Biodiversity also has a social role
European Commission – DG Environment
OCTs and Waste : facts
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OCTs are in a special situation
regarding waste management :
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little islands or territories
Isolation
limited resources (human, financial,
natural)
high sensitivity of ecosystems
extreme climatic conditions
European Commission – DG Environment
Waste : can OCTs matter?
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Different types of actions may be
foreseen
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Awareness raising
Waste management schemes adapted to the
specific conditions: cost-effective,
environmentally sound, 3Rs :reducing, recycling,
reuse
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Specific measures for marine debris, ballast
waters, etc.
Regional partnerships to draw on best
practices and develop innovative solutions
European Commission – DG Environment
Instruments
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Environment integration manual under preparation:
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Contains guidelines and draft terms of reference for EIA, SEA
and CEP
For each country or region, a CEP is to be drawn up, in context
of preparation Indicative Programme
 key environmental issues, trends and pressures,
 disaster preparedness linked with natural resources;
 governmental and civil responses;
 Consultation and dialogue
 the status of regulatory reforms and the institutions
involved;
 obligations undertaken by OCTs and EC in the frame of
MEAs such as FCCC, CBD.
Helpdesk (http://www.environment-integration.org/)
http://europa.eu.int/comm/development/body/theme/environment/in
dex.htm
Other environmental issues
The following issues are also possible areas for
enhanced EC/OCTs cooperation:
 Management of coastal and marine resources
 Water resources and sanitation
 Land degradation
 Management of fishery
 Renewable energy
 Sustainable consumption and production
 Natural disasters preparedness
Conclusion
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Environment is a pillar of sustainable
development
Environment is also a set of opportunities
Regional or global cooperation brings added
value
Favourable scene
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Environmental issues are high on the international
agenda
Association Agreement OCTs/EC
EC has clear commitments to fulfill
Networking for exchanging experiences and designing
specific solutions with SIDS
European Commission – DG Environment