Building resilience through adaptation and mitigation strategies

and actionsEspen Ronneberg

Climate Change Adviser, SPREPespenr@sprep.org

Contents

• The policy context• The role of SPREP• Existing activities of SPREP to address climate

change in adaptation and mitigation• Building resilience• Conclusion

The Pacific Policy Context

Pacific Climate Change Round Table (PCCR)- Brings together Pacific governments, key agencies,

donor partners and civil society groups working on climate change in the Pacific

- Originates from Pacific Islands Framework for Action on Climate Change (PIFACC)

- Meets biennially- Agrees on common priorities and actions for the

region with working groups on mitigation, adaptation, resources, knowledge

SPREP’s actions in support of PICs

Policy Context:• Practical implementation and policy support• Continue to support members countries to

engage in relevant international and regional policy contexts– On site technical policy support– Inputs into relevant processes– Convener of international and regional experts

Pacific Adaptation to Climate Change (PACC)• Implemented in partnership with GEF (Special

Climate Change Fund), UNDP, Australian Government, USAID and UNITAR

• Assists 14 Pacific Island countries/territories to address national adaptation needs in water, food security and coastal infrastructure

• Each country is focussing on one of the three sectors

...PACC

3 key components:– Mainstreaming of adaptation concerns into key

sector specific and national level policies– Capacity building & Awareness raising at the

national level to implement climate change adaptation

– Demonstration projects to pilot the implementation of adaptation options

Climate Change Adaptation and Disaster Risk Reduction actions

Joint National Action Plans (JNAPs)- Most disasters in the Pacific are climate

related (floods, cyclones, storm surge, drought, health outbreaks etc)

- A coordinated response at the national level to address climate change adaptation (CCA) and Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR)

- Pools together scarce resources and expertise

JNAPS

• SPREP works in partnership with national governments and regional agencies (Secretariat of the Pacific Community, UNDP etc)

• Cross-sectoral and multi-stakeholder approach• Endorsed at the highest levels (Cabinet)

Ecosystem-based Adaptation

• Reduces vulnerability while maintaining secondary ecosystem services

• Supports livelihoods and sustainable development• Increases resilience by promoting healthy ecosystems

Ecosystem based Adaptation Example: Planting coastal vegetation to reduce storm surge

Primary service:• Reduce coastal flooding

Secondary services:• Fish habitat and nursery

habitat increased• Sediment stabilization• Source of firewood• Carbon sequestration• Nutrient and sediment

trapping

Ecosystem based Adaptation Example: Planting hillslope vegetation to reduce land slides

Primary service:• Reduce land slides

Secondary services:• Downstream and nearshore

water quality regulation• Source of firewood• Carbon sequestration• Habitat for fauna

(biodiversity, food source)

Ecosystem based Adaptation Example: Planting stream and wetland vegetation to reduce flooding

Primary service:• Reduce flash flooding and

riverbank erosionSecondary services:

• Downstream and nearshore water quality regulation

• Source of firewood• Carbon sequestration• Habitat for fauna

(biodiversity, food source)

Greatest benefit to cost ratio with a focus on ecosystem maintenance

Considerations for Ecosystem based Adaptation options:

• can be integrated with other approaches in an adaptation plan

• are frequently highly cost effective

• are included in the NAPAs of many Pacific countries

• do often need greater explanation of benefits

• are likely to increase in protection over time

• can provide protection while sustaining livelihoods

• provide greater ownership of solutions – using local knowledge/ skills

Only a few of these services had data available to estimate value

7. Estimating values of Ecosystem Services

This is clearly an underestimate due to lack of available data

Ecosystem Service values in Lamiover a one year time frame

Mitigation actions

• Pacific Island Countries contribute minuscule GHG emissions – 0.03% if taken as a whole

• Nevertheless, energy efficiency and renewable energy are vitally important socio-economic factors that benefit the PICs, and there are strong ancillary environmental benefits

• It is also a powerful message to the international community that the most vulnerable and least responsible are taking concerted actions

• Consideration is also being given to adaptation requirements in mitigation projects

Pacific Islands Greenhouse Gas Abatement through Renewable Energy - PIGGAREP

• Participating PICs – 11 PICs (Cook Is, Fiji, Kiribati, Nauru, Niue, PNG, Samoa, Solomon Is, Tonga, Tuvalu and Vanuatu)

• Donor – GEF

• Budget – US$5.23 million

• Duration – July 2007 to June 2012 (5 years)

• Major Objectives – Remove the technical, market, financial, institutional, policy and awareness barriers to the widespread utilisation of feasible RE technologies in the PICs

[picture slides to come – too large to send]

Challenges for PIGGAREP

• Provides funding for “soft” aspects – feasibility, surveys, planning, tech identification

• Working with partners (SPC, IUCN, SIDS Dock) to implement those outcomes on the ground

• Continuation of the programme is needed past 2013, linked to Nationally Appropriate Mitigation Actions (NAMAs) and other national priorities

Other mitigation initiatives

• Biogas production in Samoa – anaerobic digester, using human and animal waste, and other organic waste

• Biogas from coconut husks in Samoa – compression gasification of waste husks

• NAMA guidelines for PICs developed and “tested” in Cook Islands, for presentation of results to COP 18

Conclusion

• Climate change is of vital importance to the PICs, the threats and challenges existential

• The region, supported by CROP, are taking major action on adaptation and mitigation, as well as advancing science and knowledge on climate change

• Resilience is being built both through adaptation and mitigation, and in having better informed and aware communities

• Further support, especially in accessing technical and financial resources, for capacity building and institutional strengthening are required

SPREP MembersAmerican SamoaAustraliaCook IslandsFederated States of MicronesiaFijiFranceFrench PolynesiaGuamKiribatiMarshall IslandsNauruNew CaledoniaNew ZealandNiueNorthern Mariana IslandsPalauPapua New GuineaSamoaSolomon IslandsTokelauTongaTuvaluUnited States of AmericaVanuatuWallis and Futuna

Kommol tata!Faafetai tele lava!