Climate Change, Adaptation and Sustainable Development:

Implications for the Least Developed Countries

and Small Island Developing States

Presentation by Anastasia Calnick

Ministry of Land and Environment

Kingston, Jamaica

Sustainable Development

“… development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs." Sustainable development implies economic growth together with the protection of environmental quality, each reinforcing the other.

The World Commission on Environment and Development (1987).

Critical Facts

The 2001 IPCC reaffirmed the fact that the SIDS account for less than 1% of GHG emissions but are among the most vulnerable to the potential adverse effects of climate change and sea level rise

The region is already experiencing the impact of climate change, including extreme events and coral bleaching;

SIDS have no control of mitigation at the global level and therefore must implement appropriate adaptation strategies.

Vulnerabilities of Small Island Developing States

ECONOMICo Isolation from markets & limited

internal marketso Limited commodities & Dependence

on importso Vulnerability to external economic

and financial shocks

Vulnerabilities of Small Island Developing States (cont’d)

SOCIALo Migration (of high-skilled citizens)o Growth in Criminal Activitieso Declining Public Healtho Poor infrastructure (roads, public

utilities)

Vulnerabilities of Small Island Developing States (Cont’d)

ENVIRONMENTALo Small Sizeo Geographic dispersiono Vulnerability to Natural Disasters

(hurricanes, cyclones, droughts, landslides, flooding, volcanic eruptions, earthquakes)

o Fragility of ecosystems (coral reefs, wetlands, fresh water, coasts, forests, soils)

Limited natural resources & depletion of non-renewable resources

Observed Trends in Climate for SIDS

High Temperatures (mean annual values of 20°and above)

Annual average temperatures have increased by over O.5°over 1900-1995

Declining trend in average annual rainfall (250mm)

Increasing numbers and intensity of tropical storms and cyclones (26 named storms in 2005)

Sea-level rise (10 SIDs are approx. 1 metre above sea-level and sea level rise for the region is expected to be 30-50 cm over the next 50 years)

IMPACTS OF CLIMATE CHANGE for SIDS- Sectors Affected

1.Marine Ecosystems (coral reefs, mangroves, sea-grasses,

2. Terrestrial Ecosystems (forests) 3. Biodiversity (population size, species

distribution, habitats and ecosystems)4. Water Resources (change in soil moisture,

siltation and contamination of water supplies)

5. Agriculture (reduction in soil moisture & decrease in crop yield, sea water intrusion for coastal soils)

6. Fisheries (habitat loss,)

IMPACTS OF CLIMATE CHANGE for SIDS- Sectors Affected (Cont’d)

7. Coastal Resources (coastal erosion, saline intrusion, flooding)

8. Infrastructure & Settlements (More than 50% of the pop. Live within 2Km of the coast- Over the last decade increasing density of populations living in coastal areas has made Caribbean SIDS more vulnerable to natural disaster

9. Tourism-(largest contribution to GDP & employment)

10. Human Health (heat strokes, vector–borne diseases-malaria, dengue, yellow fever)

IMPACTS OF CLIMATE CHANGE for SIDS

“…more than half of the world’s population currently live within 100 kilometres of the coast, and by2025 it is estimated that 6.3 billion persons, 75% of the world’s population will live in the coastal zone, in coastal mega cities, and many living in poverty…”

UNESCO - 2001

SELECTED HURRICANES IN THE CARIBBEAN AND THEIR IMPACT - 1988-2005

Hurricane Year Country Impact (% GDP)

Gilbert 1988 Jamaica 65

Hugo 1989 Montserrat 200

Debbie 1994 St. Lucia 18

Luis & Marilyn 1995 Antigua 65

Luis & Marilyn 1995 St. Kitts/Nevis 85

Georges 1998 St. Kitts/Nevis 50 (sugar harvest)

Lenny 1999 Barbuda 95 (primary sector)

Michelle 2001 Jamaica 1

Ivan 2004 Grenada 200

Ivan 2004 Jamaica 8.0

Dennis & Emily 2005 Jamaica 1.0

International Recognition of Special Circumstances of SIDS

Stockholm

1972Rio 1992Barbados1994

Monterrey

Johannesburg

2002

New York2000Doha2001

Adaptation Strategies for SIDS

To address the vulnerability of SIDS to climate change, there is a need to

1. Improve the capacities of SIDS to adapt to climate change.

2. Strengthen further research, with the participation of SIDS, on predicting climate change and variability and the impact of climate change on environmental and economic systems.

Adaptation Strategies for SIDS

National level Mainstream Adaptation and risk reduction strategies

into policy development in key sectors (agriculture, health, tourism, fisheries, water resources)

Sustainable development planning should include, disaster prevention and management, integrated coastal management, and health care planning.

Reducing dependence on Petroleum through the development of Renewable Energy (wind, solar, biomass, biogas)

Develop new and review existing legislation, development standards and building codes

Improve public education and awareness programmes

Adaptation Strategies for SIDS

Improve early warning systems and disaster preparedness and risk reduction strategies

Improve the scientific understanding of severe weather events, including their relation to the El Niño/Southern Oscillation phenomenon.

Partnerships between SIDS and the Financial/Insurance sector to develop schemes to spread risks, reduce insurance premiums, expand insurance coverage and increase financing for post-disaster reconstruction and rehabilitation.

Closer cooperation between SIDS and the private sector, particularly in developed countries. Cooperation among SIDS for dissemination of best practices and lessons learnt should also be strengthened.

Adaptation Strategies for SIDS

REGIONAL LEVELo Strengthening of regional networks for

emergency preparedness

-GIS Hazard Mapping

-Early warning & emergency response systems

o Regional approaches to disaster management

-coordinated responses

-emergency relief fundso Inter-regional information exchange

Caribbean Community Climate Change Centre (CCCCC)

The CCCCC was established in 2002 in Belize as the executing agency for the MACC project. The Centre operates as a CARICOM agency with independent management and serves as a regional institutional to articulate, support and sustain the programme of action on climate change adaptation in the Caribbean.

Adaptation Strategies for SIDS

INTERNATIONAL LEVELo Encourage International Donor Assistance o Encourage International Ratification and

Enforcement of Agreements aimed at reducing negative impact of climate change

o Encourage the establishment of special fund to help finance disaster mitigation, preparedness and response activities

Adaptation Strategies - Jamaica

PROJECTS o GEF/UNDP Project - Preparation of National

Communication on Climate Changeo GEF/UNDP Project -Caribbean Planning for

Adaptation to Climate Change (CPACC (1998-2001) o GEF Project- Mainstreaming Adaptation to Climate

Change (MACC)- (2003-2008)o The UNDP/GEF National Capacity Self Assessment

Project (2004-2005)o Latin American Energy Organisation (OLADE)

Regional climate change initiative o UNDP/GEF Jamaica Climate Change Enabling

Activity (JCCEA)

Adaptation Strategies - Jamaica

POLICIES & ACTION PLANS The Forest Policy and the National Forest

Management and Conservation Plan The National Land Policy The Agriculture Policy National Irrigation Policy Water Sector Policy Draft Watersheds Policy National Energy Sector Policy National Biological Diversity Strategy and

Action Plan Disaster Mitigation Policy

Adaptation Strategies - Jamaica

Participation in the Clean Development Mechanism

Establishment of the Interim DNA in 2002

Approval of the Wigton (20MW)Wind Wind Farm Project (JAMAICA/THE NETHERLANDS)

Development of a Draft CDM Portfolio of Projects

Development of draft sustainable development criteria

Adaptation Strategies - Jamaica

Other Initiatives Development of storm surge maps and

multi-hazard assessment maps for Kingston

Reliable Early Warning Systems for hurricanes and storm surges

Technical Cooperation Agreement (JA/CUBA) for the Rehabilitation of the Palisadoes

THANK YOU