REPUBLICA ARGENTINA

Seminar of Governmental ExpertsSeminar of Governmental ExpertsBonn, May 17, 2005Bonn, May 17, 2005

CLIMATE CHANGE:CLIMATE CHANGE: IMPACTS ANDIMPACTS AND MAJOR CONCERNSMAJOR CONCERNS

REPUBLICA ARGENTINA

IMPACTS AND MAJOR CONCERNSIMPACTS AND MAJOR CONCERNS

CLIMATE CHANGE

Water shortage due to increasing temperaturesWater shortage due to increasing temperatures

Glaciers recedingGlaciers receding

Sea level rise impact in Buenos AiresSea level rise impact in Buenos Aires

Increasing frequency of extreme stormsIncreasing frequency of extreme storms

THE PLATA BASIN(shared with other 4 countries)

75% OF THE PRECIPITATION EVAPORATES.ONLY ABOUT 25% RUNOFF TO THE RIVERS

ARE HIGHLY VULNERABLE TO CLIMATE CHANGEARE HIGHLY VULNERABLE TO CLIMATE CHANGE

AGRICULTURE

HIDROPOWER

NAVEGATION

WATER SUPPLY

A 4°C WARMING WOULD INCREASE EVAPORATION BY 30%

GLACIER RECEDING(48 out of 50)

Glacier UpsalaPicture from a plane, Nov, 1968 Landsat image, May 2004

25% OF ARGENTINA POWER INSTALLED25% OF ARGENTINA POWER INSTALLED

GLACIER RECEDING(48 out of 50)

GENERATION HAS ALREADY BEEN DEPLETED BY 30%GENERATION HAS ALREADY BEEN DEPLETED BY 30%

CAPACITY IS IN COMAHUECAPACITY IS IN COMAHUE

AIACC ProjectSea level rise effect

Area floodedArea floodedwith a return with a return

period of period of 5 years5 years

Year 2070:1.5 M persons

affected

2050- 2100Damages:

About 10 B U$S

Precipitation events of more than 100 mm in less than 48 hours in 16 stations of

central and eastern Argentina

PRECIPITATIONS

CLIMATE CHANGE

For Argentina is vital to address climate change because:

• it is a new and additional barrier to sustainable development

• its adverse effects divert resources essential to social policies (housing, health, education and environment)

Thus, it is of the country’s interest to contribute to the international climate policy regime after 2012

MITIGATIONMITIGATION

REPUBLICA ARGENTINA

MITIGATION

In the last three decades:

• Hydroelectric power (50% of electricity generation)

• Substitution of fuel oil for natural gas in combined cycles

• The largest automotive fleet run with natural gas (1,100,000 vehicles)

• Subsidies to Wind Energy

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

%

HidraulicEnergy

Nuclear Natural Gas Oil MineralCoal

Wood Bagasse Others

1970 2003

RESULTS:ENERGY MIX COMPARISON

MITIGATION

MITIGATION

CARBON SEQUESTRATION

FORESTRY:258.747 Ha (2000 - 2004)Forest Promotion Law

MINIMUM TILLAGE: 14 M hectares62% of the total crop land

MITIGATION

CLEAN DEVELOPMENT MECHANISM

75 Projects in the pipeline representing 15 M tons of CO2 reductions

We believe that CDM is to be successfulArgentina can make a substantial contribution

After 2012, it is necessary to expand the scope of CDM to include all possible means of achieving emission reductions

ADAPTATIONADAPTATION

REPUBLICA ARGENTINA

ADAPTATION

Argentina isalready working on adaptation

It has several Programs, i.e.:

• Water Management Infrastructure• National Climate Scenarios Program• National Adverse Effects Impact Program

Several major problems have been identified, but there are severe financial constraints due to heavy public debt

ADAPTATION

Argentina isalready working on adaptation

Like in other developing countries, adaptation requires of international cooperation

Buenos Aires Program of Work on Adaptation and Response Measures is a proper initiative to conduct and enhance this cooperation

We should not wait till2012 to think about the future

REPUBLICA ARGENTINA