Greening in the Greening in the Face of Crisis Face of Crisis

Presentation by Cletus I. Springer, Presentation by Cletus I. Springer, Director, Department of Sustainable Development, Director, Department of Sustainable Development, Organization of American States to Conference on Organization of American States to Conference on

Sustaining Development in Small States in a Turbulent Sustaining Development in Small States in a Turbulent Global Economy Global Economy

Commonwealth Secretariat, LondonCommonwealth Secretariat, LondonJuly 6-7, 2009July 6-7, 2009

Outline of PresentationOutline of Presentation The Crisis in the Context of Notions of :The Crisis in the Context of Notions of :

Vulnerability,Vulnerability, Resilience Resilience Sustainability Sustainability

Challenges and OpportunitiesChallenges and Opportunities Sustainable Energy Sustainable Energy Sustainable TransportSustainable Transport Water Security Water Security Risk Management and Climate Change Risk Management and Climate Change Land Degradation Land Degradation Waste managementWaste management Towards and International Agenda Towards and International Agenda

Implications and Implications and Complications of Global Complications of Global

CrisisCrisis consensus on roots and impacts of crisis consensus on roots and impacts of crisis

and its relationship to vulnerability of and its relationship to vulnerability of SIDSSIDS

Concern that crisis will:Concern that crisis will: Deepen vulnerability Deepen vulnerability Weaken environmental sustainabilityWeaken environmental sustainability Roll back gains achieved under preferential Roll back gains achieved under preferential

concessionary arrangements conditions concessionary arrangements conditions that will not returnthat will not return

Combine with return of high oil pricesCombine with return of high oil prices

Implications and Implications and Complications of Global Complications of Global

Crisis - 2Crisis - 2 Tight policy space Tight policy space

Limited fiscal optionsLimited fiscal options Inherent vulnerability features such as Inherent vulnerability features such as

thin marketsthin markets Capacity constraints Capacity constraints Limited access to technology Limited access to technology Human resource challengesHuman resource challenges

Key Messages Key Messages No room for policy errors so need for ….No room for policy errors so need for ….

Risk analysis Risk analysis Priority setting Priority setting Cost benefit analysisCost benefit analysis Quick but thorough EIAsQuick but thorough EIAs Integrated development planning Integrated development planning Corruption watch Corruption watch Win-win optionsWin-win options

No retreat from vulnerability reduction and resilience building No retreat from vulnerability reduction and resilience building Targeted “no regrets” investments in areas that:Targeted “no regrets” investments in areas that:

Conserve foreign exchange Conserve foreign exchange Are cost effective Are cost effective Create more and new jobsCreate more and new jobs Have high multiplier effectHave high multiplier effect Sustains the health of the environment Sustains the health of the environment Are market-based but not market distorting Are market-based but not market distorting

Challenges and Challenges and Opportunities Opportunities

Energy Energy Sustainable Transport Sustainable Transport WaterWater Natural HazardsNatural Hazards Land Degradation Land Degradation Waste Management Waste Management

EnergyEnergy Return of high energy prices - nightmare Return of high energy prices - nightmare

scenario scenario Conventional energy sources impede Conventional energy sources impede

competitivenesscompetitiveness Heavy use of bio-mass energy in some SIDS Heavy use of bio-mass energy in some SIDS

with human and environmental impactswith human and environmental impacts Extensive RE options but lack of capacity to Extensive RE options but lack of capacity to

evaluate options and understand trade-offsevaluate options and understand trade-offs Myth of low returns from RETs Myth of low returns from RETs

Energy - 2Energy - 2 Reform laws to support IPPsReform laws to support IPPs Make RET transfer core of bilateral and multilateral negotiation Make RET transfer core of bilateral and multilateral negotiation

eg in EPAs eg in EPAs Use MBis to promote use of energy efficient appliances in Use MBis to promote use of energy efficient appliances in

homes and technology in industry homes and technology in industry Ramp up investments in RETs using available carbon financing Ramp up investments in RETs using available carbon financing

and environment funding (CDM, GEF, etc)and environment funding (CDM, GEF, etc) Explore all financially feasible and appropriate optionsExplore all financially feasible and appropriate options Solar-ize hospitals, hotels, schools and commercial and public Solar-ize hospitals, hotels, schools and commercial and public

buildingsbuildings Retrofit public buildings to make them more energy efficient Retrofit public buildings to make them more energy efficient Move to high-end solar uses eg: solar-thermal technology Move to high-end solar uses eg: solar-thermal technology

(mirrors to concentrate sunlight = heat=steam=electricity (mirrors to concentrate sunlight = heat=steam=electricity Heat storing and more stable than PVs Heat storing and more stable than PVs 24/7 sunlight not necessary24/7 sunlight not necessary Co-generation possibilities Co-generation possibilities

Energy - 3Energy - 3 More RE optionsMore RE options

Wind power (Jamaica)Wind power (Jamaica) Cellulosic ethanol (Belize)Cellulosic ethanol (Belize) Geothermal (St. Kitts, Dominica)Geothermal (St. Kitts, Dominica) Hydro (Dominica) Hydro (Dominica) Sugar plant (Mauritius) Sugar plant (Mauritius) OTEC (Saga, Japan, Hawaii)OTEC (Saga, Japan, Hawaii) Tidal Tidal

Energy - 4Energy - 4 RETs need upgrading of power grid – RETs need upgrading of power grid –

“smart grids” through digital sensors to:“smart grids” through digital sensors to: Make T&D system more responsive and Make T&D system more responsive and

interactiveinteractive Better cope with new sources of RE powerBetter cope with new sources of RE power Achieve better efficiency and reliability Achieve better efficiency and reliability Better management of demand and supply Better management of demand and supply

of electricity of electricity Reduce need for expansion of power plantsReduce need for expansion of power plants

Energy - 5Energy - 5 Hurdles Hurdles

High capital costs but… huge forex and High capital costs but… huge forex and environmental benefitsenvironmental benefits

Costs can be offset through CDM + carbon trading Costs can be offset through CDM + carbon trading Fear that reduced consumption will reduce Fear that reduced consumption will reduce

revenues but…revenues but… Savings from improved operational efficiencies Savings from improved operational efficiencies Evidence from Europe that RE cost recoverable in 5 yearsEvidence from Europe that RE cost recoverable in 5 years COMSEC +OAS+UNIDO+ IEA collaborative effort needed. COMSEC +OAS+UNIDO+ IEA collaborative effort needed.

Sustainable TransportSustainable Transport IssuesIssues

Current vehicle fleet inefficientCurrent vehicle fleet inefficient Drain on foreign exchange (capital and recurrent)Drain on foreign exchange (capital and recurrent) High pollutersHigh polluters

Policy responsePolicy response MBIs for replacement of inefficient fleetMBIs for replacement of inefficient fleet Curbs on importation of high vehicles with high CC Curbs on importation of high vehicles with high CC

capacity capacity Promote efficient public transport systemPromote efficient public transport system Build infrastructure for use of hybrid vehiclesBuild infrastructure for use of hybrid vehicles Encourage safe use of bicycles, scootersEncourage safe use of bicycles, scooters Consider car auction permits a la Singapore Consider car auction permits a la Singapore

Water ResourcesWater Resources Key issues:Key issues:

Contamination of water resources (chemicals Contamination of water resources (chemicals and waste)and waste)

DeforestationDeforestation Impacts of climate change and variability Impacts of climate change and variability Narrow freshwater lensesNarrow freshwater lenses Rapid Urbanization Rapid Urbanization Waste in production (line loss ) and Waste in production (line loss ) and

consumptionconsumption Challenge to attainment of MDGs Challenge to attainment of MDGs

Water Resources - 2Water Resources - 2 Introduce IWRMIntroduce IWRM Protect water systems through PESProtect water systems through PES Curb deforestation and land degradationCurb deforestation and land degradation Build natural coping systems for floodsBuild natural coping systems for floods Reduce U-A-W through replacement of aging Reduce U-A-W through replacement of aging

infrastructureinfrastructure Introduce MBIs to encourage water Introduce MBIs to encourage water

conservation and investment in rainwater conservation and investment in rainwater harvesting harvesting

Introduce drought-resistant crop varieties Introduce drought-resistant crop varieties Invest in EWS for drought and floodsInvest in EWS for drought and floods

Natural HazardsNatural Hazards High inherent susceptibility to natural High inherent susceptibility to natural

hazardshazards High acquired vulnerability to hazard High acquired vulnerability to hazard

through policy conflictsthrough policy conflicts Increased vulnerability from CC/CV + SLRIncreased vulnerability from CC/CV + SLR High annual disaster lossesHigh annual disaster losses Inadequate treatment of disaster riskInadequate treatment of disaster risk Low research capacity for climate changeLow research capacity for climate change

Modelling challengesModelling challenges

Natural Hazards - 2Natural Hazards - 2 Tackle root causes of vulnerability Tackle root causes of vulnerability Strengthen local and national capacity for DRMStrengthen local and national capacity for DRM Mainstream DRM in Development Planning Mainstream DRM in Development Planning Aggressively pursue available funding for CC Aggressively pursue available funding for CC

adaptationadaptation Make “no regrets” investments in risk reductionMake “no regrets” investments in risk reduction

Drainage building and repair programs *Drainage building and repair programs * Protect (risk-proof) critical facilities*Protect (risk-proof) critical facilities* Underground cabling of electricity and Underground cabling of electricity and

communications in business districts*communications in business districts* MBIs for retrofitting homes and businesses MBIs for retrofitting homes and businesses

Land Degradation (LD)Land Degradation (LD) IssuesIssues

Limited options to SIDS to raise Limited options to SIDS to raise productivity of land, intensify land use and productivity of land, intensify land use and raise farm outputsraise farm outputs

LD :LD : affects agricultural productivity and social affects agricultural productivity and social

livelihoodslivelihoods Threatens food securityThreatens food security Erodes biodiversity on which tourism and Erodes biodiversity on which tourism and

agriculture dependsagriculture depends Increases vulnerability to natural disastersIncreases vulnerability to natural disasters

Land Degradation -2Land Degradation -2 Policy ResponsesPolicy Responses

Aggressively pursue Sustainable Land Aggressively pursue Sustainable Land Management (SLM)Management (SLM)

Remove policy barriers to improved land Remove policy barriers to improved land management management

Promote PES as option to land acquisition to Promote PES as option to land acquisition to protect sensitive landsprotect sensitive lands

Strengthen land use planning and development Strengthen land use planning and development control regimescontrol regimes

Invest in hard and soft SLM project eg: retaining Invest in hard and soft SLM project eg: retaining walls, re-afforestation, mangrove rebuilding, walls, re-afforestation, mangrove rebuilding, artificial reefs, soil-retaining plants etcartificial reefs, soil-retaining plants etc

Waste ManagementWaste Management IssuesIssues

limited land space = limited space for limited land space = limited space for landfillslandfills

Increasing Urbanization = high waste Increasing Urbanization = high waste volumes from cities = high haulage costsvolumes from cities = high haulage costs

Increasing consumption = increasing wasteIncreasing consumption = increasing waste Rapid increase in use of white goods = Rapid increase in use of white goods =

reduced landfill space = rising costs of reduced landfill space = rising costs of collection, haulage and disposalcollection, haulage and disposal

Waste Management - 2Waste Management - 2 Responses:Responses:

Work with suppliers to reduce waste at Work with suppliers to reduce waste at sourcesource

Promote reuse and recycling Promote reuse and recycling Invest in modern landfill technology eg Invest in modern landfill technology eg

crushers + compactorscrushers + compactors Identify and reserve land for future landfill Identify and reserve land for future landfill

expansion expansion Encourage manufacturers to pursue Encourage manufacturers to pursue

cradle to cradle (C2C) approachescradle to cradle (C2C) approaches

Elements of An Elements of An International AgendaInternational Agenda

Make international environmental relations centrepiece of Make international environmental relations centrepiece of foreign policyforeign policy

Push for Global Green New Deal Push for Global Green New Deal Build solid inter-regional partnerships in water, energy, Build solid inter-regional partnerships in water, energy,

land management and hazard risk managementland management and hazard risk management Include green issues in bilateral and multilateral Include green issues in bilateral and multilateral

agreementsagreements Build capacity to access existing financing mechanisms Build capacity to access existing financing mechanisms

eg. CDM, Carbon markets , WB Forest Carbon Partnership eg. CDM, Carbon markets , WB Forest Carbon Partnership Facility Facility

Use sea carbon sink argument more aggressively Use sea carbon sink argument more aggressively Promote technology transfers through north-south, south-Promote technology transfers through north-south, south-

south cooperation south cooperation Promote sustained research and development into green Promote sustained research and development into green

technologies at Universities technologies at Universities