Transcript Presentation: Synergies - UNFCCC

Rocio Lichte
Programme Officer
UNFCCC secretariat
Latest development in
the UNFCCC process
&
possible synergies
between UNFCCC and
WHC
Working Group Meeting
World Heritage and Climate Change,
Paris
5-6 February 2007
New evidence of climate change
IPCC Fourth Assessment report (WG1) SPM ,
Paris, February 2, 2007
 Warming of the climate system is unequivocal, as is
now evident from observations of increases in
global average air and ocean temperatures,
widespread melting of snow and ice, and rising
global mean sea level, including
mountain glaciers & snow cover declined
Losses in ice sheets of Greenland & Antartica
Global average sea level rose (faster over
1993-2003)
Permafrost top layer:increase in temperature
Drying at Sahel and Mediterranean
More intense droughts
Frequency of precipitation events increased
Increase in tropical cyclone activity ….
UN Framework Convention on Climate Change –
some key elements relevant to WHC concerns
• Objective
 achieve stabilization of GHG concentrations in the atmosphere
..to prevent dangerous anthropogenic interference with the
climate system..within a time-frame sufficient to allow
ecosystems to adapt naturally to climate change
• General approach
 Mitigation: Actions to control, reduce or or prevent GHG
emissions, hence reduce climate change
 Limiting or reducing GHG emissions by sources
 Preserving and enhancing sinks and reservoirs of GHGs
 Adaptation: Actions to help countries and ecosystems to
cope with the conditions of a changing climate, moderate
harm of climate change
 Parties to cooperate in preparing for adaptation to the
impacts of climate change (integrated plans for coastal
zone management, water resources & agriculture,
protection and rehabilitation of areas, integrating climate
change risks into development planning etc..)
UNFCCC key elements
MITIGATION
 Measures to reduce GHGs in relevant sectors: energy,
transport, industry, agriculture, forestry, waste management
 Series of workshops on the scientific, technical and socioeconomic aspects of mitigation (May 2006 – Dec 2007under
SBSTA) to exchange information & experience on practical
opportunities to facilitate implementation of the Convention
 Kyoto Protocol (KP):
 Overall emission reduction by 5 per cent (between 20082012 by Annex I Parties)
 Legally binding reduction targets for industrialized
countries that are Parties to the KP
 Provides for flexible mechanisms to lower the overall costs
of achieving reduction targets & contribute to sustainable
development in developing countries
 Stringent process of reporting and review
UNFCCC key elements
Adaptation – an evolving focus
Increased attention and priority in recent years:
2001 (COP7)
 Identification of 18 areas of assistance on adaptation (5/CP.7)
 3 new funds
 Process of development of National Adaptation Programmes
of Action (NAPAs) in LDCs
• 2002 (COP 8)
 Delhi Ministerial Declaration – adaptation is important for all
Parties.
• 2004: Buenos Aires Programme of Work on Adaptation
and Response Measures (Decision 1/CP.10) :
 Request to develop SBSTA 5 year programme of work
 5 Regional workshops reflecting national priorities
• 2005 Montreal (COP 11) and 2006 Nairobi (COP 12):
Adoption of SBSTA five-year programme on impacts, vulnerability
and adaptation to climate change
 Nairobi work programme
Nairobi work programme
• Objective is to assist Parties (in particular developing countries,
including LDCs and SIDS) to:
 To improve their understanding and assessment of impacts,
vulnerability and adaptation,
 To make informed decisions on practical adaptation actions &
measures
• Expected outcomes
 Enhanced capacity at all levels to further understand V&A
and to select effective and high priority adaptation actions
 Enhanced knowledge on practical adaptation activities;
 Improved information and advice to the COP
 Enhanced cooperation among Parties, relevant
organizations, business, civil society, and decision makers
 Enhanced integration of adaptation with sustainable
development
Nairobi Work Programme
Areas of work
• Methods and tools
• Data and observations
• Climate modeling and downscaling
• Climate related risks and extreme events
• Socio-economic information
• Adaptation planning and practices
• Research & technologies for adaptation
• Economic diversification
Nairobi Work Programme
Expectations and challenges
 Explicit recognition of the importance & needs for actions to
enhance the technical & methodological basis for adaptation,
and for fostering and cooperation and joint work;
 will promote implementation of practical adaptation
actions on a more sound basis, including mainstreaming
of adaptation with national development plans
 The NWP is planned to engage a broad range of
organizations in its implementation in a structured way,
including undertaking of their own activities & stimulate
activities on adaptation at different levels
Nairobi Work Programme
Involvement of relevant organizations in its
implementation
Participation of organizations,institutions etc is a key element in
the implementation of the NWP:
 Relevant organizations are invited to take part in the
activities of the NWP, use the the NWP, its activities &
outcomes to help incorporate adaptation into their own
activities
 Several organizations/entities have expressed willingness to
contribute to the NWP and have provided concept papers or
plans on how they intend to participate in the NWP.
 The UNFCCC secretariat will also engage a wide range of
organizations in the implementation of the NWP around
each of its main activities (workshops, expert meetings,
submissions).
Nairobi Work Programme
Possible ways to participate
 Use the main areas of work the NWP to help choose the most
useful activities for increasing adaptation in relation to the
work & priorities of your organization
 make use of the outputs of the NWP, e.g. as source of
information, when agreeing on the direction of future work;
 Contribute to the UNFCCC secretariat’s activities by submitting
relevant information under the main areas of work;
 Promote / fund research that supports the objectives of the
work programme.
Nairobi Work Programme
Possible ways to participate (cont.)
Possible first steps (examples):
Climate related risks and extreme events – submit views &
information on experiences, abilities, gaps, needs, constraints
 by 23 February 2007
Adaptation planning and practices: Structured submissions on
adaptation approaches, strategies, practices and technologies for
adaptation at the regional, national and local levels in different sectors,
experiences, needs and concerns.
 by 15 May 2007
(UNFCCC Parties & relevant organizations; submissions to UNFCCC
secretariat)
Other on-going processes, activities and products related to
adaptation under the UNFCCC
- Compendium on methods & tools to evaluate impacts of, and
vulnerability and adaptation to, climate change
 provides information about existing methodologies and
toolkits for assessment and planning for adaptation and
ways to obtaining them
- Reporting on expected impacts of climate change and related
adaptation activities in the National communications (following
agreed guidelines)
- Development of NAPAs in least developed countries
- Regional workshops to be completed by May 2007 – next steps
to be identified in May
Possible ways for cooperation and synergies between
UNFCCC and WHC
At national level
- Liaison and coordination with climate change NFPs on climate
change activities that are of interest to WHC
- Use of reporting channels under the UNFCCC (National
communications, NAPAs for LDCs) to raise awareness of the
concerns of WHC vis-à-vis the impacts of climate change
- Use of existing products, guidelines etc might facilitate
integration of WHC concern into the broad climate change
context
- Make use of high attention given to adaptation in the context
of the NWP to foster adaptation activities on the ground
(national & local level)
Possible ways for cooperation and synergies between
UNFCCC and WHC
At international level:
- Sharing of relevant information through secretariats
- Participation in UNFCCC process (e.g. side events to raise
awareness & information sharing)
- Active participation in & contribution to the NWP – identify
objectives/main areas of work within WHC that are synergetic
with those of the NWP
- E.g. by
a) participating in specific activities (submission, papers,
workshops)
b) MOST IMPORTANT – raising awareness and altering
work in response to attaining the goals and outcomes of
the NWP.
THANK YOU
United Nations Framework Convention on Climate
Change (UNFCCC)
Bonn, Germany
(E-mail: [email protected])
All information referred to in this presentation is
available at www.unfccc.int