Africa Adaptation Programme

Republic of Mauritius

Informed decision-making for Climate Change adaptation

Activities and lessons learned in Mauritius

15 November 2012

AAP Country Conference “Celebrating our successes”

Outline

Context / AAP Mauritius framework and strategy

How AAP Mauritius has made possible generation and use of robust data and information to enhance decision-making?

Future programming Challenges Opportunities

Observed and projected Climate Change impacts in Mauritius

Being a SIDS Mauritius is extremely vulnerable to Climate Change:

Observed impacts Rise of temperature Decrease of annual rainfall Sea level rise Significant beach erosion and

beach loss Coral bleaching

Projected Impacts Agriculture Lagoon/corals/beaches and

tourism Climate-related disasters Water scarcity

In Mauritius: Technical

capacities are available in national institutions

Some stakeholders are already aware of CC challenge and attentive to new reports / facts / information conducting to high expectations

AAP Mauritius intervention logic

Objective of AAP Mauritius Mainstream climate change

considerations in key sector developmental plans, policies and institutional frameworks

Project Outputs Introduction of long-term planning tools, Strengthening of leadership capacities

and institutional frameworks, Implementation of climate-resilient

policies and measures, Devising financing options, Generation of knowledge as well as

sharing of findings at all levels.

INFORMED DECISION-MAKING

Capacity Building Activities

Policy Review and Action Plan Formulation

Research and Dissemination

Sharing of Climate Data and Information

Demonstration Projects

Strategy for enhanced decision-making

1) Need assessment – with stakeholders’ inputs2) Data generation / gathering – with

stakeholders’ inputs3) Data analysis / compiling4) Production of report including

recommendations / strategy and action plan – with stakeholders’ inputs

5) Validation workshop with stakeholders6) Capacity-building workshop for stakeholders7) Advocacy targeting decision-makers

Disaster Risk Reduction: Data generation and sharing

Data procured from Mauritius Meteo Services and compiled

Vulnerability assessment based on SLR scenarios and mapping for inundation, flooding and landslide risks

Printing and distribution of maps to national authorities, especially at local level

Lessons learntThe issue of data ownership is a challengeInformation sharing towards local actors is key

Sustainable impactDissemination of knowledge on zones at risk for future projects / investments

Sectoral analysis for key sectors:Data generation and sharing

4 key sectors of the economy: Agriculture, Fisheries, Tourism, Water

Compilation of existing scientific data, socio-economic surveys, gaps in institutional framework identified

Lessons learntInvolvement of stakeholders at all stages to gather existing information + capacity building workshop for ownership of results and recommendations

Sustainable impactSectoral reports are an extensive assessment of the situation and knowledge available at one point, to serve as a basis for future projects and further researches

Data servers:Data generation and sharing

University of Mauritius equipped with Data Server and training in Climate modeling organized

Climate Change information center based at Min of Environment for data sharing between institution and for the general public

Agricultural Decision Support System: Server and training to analyze the results + data shared with CC information center

Lessons learntHigh interest for training on data generation, analysis and modelingDecision-makers are also farmers which makes the evidence based decision-making even more real

Sustainable impactData generated, analyzed & shared on a continuous and connected basisIncentive for research in the area of Climate Change modeling & impact on agricultureMoU with University and handing over

Support to research:Data generation and analysis

Funding of 12 Climate Change Adaptation and Mitigation research projects linked with: Water resource Agriculture and fisheries Endemic biodiversity Coastal management Energy Coal and bagasse ashes reuse

Lessons learntResearch themes discussed between researchers and Government to be aligned with Mauritius priorities in terms of CC adaptationThe issue of ownership / sharing of data generated is a challenge

Sustainable impactData and research reports available for decision-making Incentive for further research work in the same fields

Demo projects:Evidence based on demonstration

Coral farming, sea censors, endemic garden, salinity meters and mangrove plantation

Advocacy through success stories: evidence-based decisions

Lessons learntDemo projects impacts are more visible and make scientific results more concreteMonitoring is necessary to highlight positive impact in the long term and support advocacy targeting decision-makers

Sustainable impactSupport to existing stakeholders and projects for efficiency and durability

Climate Change policy framework:Data compilation and sharing

Compiling others AAP reports/results/studies for harmonization and delivering of inclusive message to high-level policy-makers

Including recommendation and investment plan

Lessons learntValidation of information at different level before compiling is crucialData approved by all makes it easier to reach compromise on recommendations for action

Sustainable impactOne document encompassing AAP main results for easy sharing nationally and internationally and basis for short and mid-term future actions (investment plan)

Outputs achieved thanks to informed generation and sharing

Climate Change Bill prepared (for 2013) Updated guidelines for Environmental Impact

Assessment Updated guidelines for Integrated Coastal

Zone Management … would not have been possible without prior

data generation and sharing to support them for decision makers

Lessons learntInformation generation and sharing has exponential impact when well-managed and reused

Sustainable impactCC Bill will have very real sustainable impacts

Climate Change knowledge fair:Information sharing

Gathering of all stakeholders to demonstrate achievements and share successes at a national level Networking Awareness raising Side events

Lessons learntIt is possible and efficient to target experts and the general public within the same event

Sustainable impactNetworksDemonstration of successesDissemination of existing data / results

Sustainability

Indicators of success: - Stakeholders are aware that the data exist - Stakeholders know where to access the

data- Ownership to be monitored in the long-

term

Evaluation and future programming- Final evaluation to highlight successes

and remaining gaps, especially in terms of ownership

- Results to be monitored / strengthen in next phase

Opportunities and challenges for future programming

Data ownership has to be addressed and negotiated country by country

Build capacities in institutions producing knowledge and receiving it, not only decision-makers but also technicians

Precisely target the audience: “decision-makers” is too broad - Data generation and making the data understandable and convincing for decision-makers from public and private sector, different levels, different technical backgrounds

Information/robust data vs. level of uncertainty of CC impacts No regret scenario as a basis for pragmatic and efficient advocacy?

At the end of the day the decision is political: question of risk acceptability, short vs. long-term, political agenda: importance of raising public awareness for pressure on policy-makers

Thank you