Imperatives to address the Climate Change Challenge

Transcription

1 Imperatives to address the Climate Change Challenge

2 Imperatives to Address Climate Change

3 The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) Laid the foundations of the contemporary global environmental policy Adopted on 9 May 1992 in New York and signed by more than 150 countries and the European Community. stabilization of greenhouse gas concentrations in the atmosphere at a level that would prevent dangerous anthropogenic interference with the climate system. It contains commitments for all Parties to return greenhouse gas emissions to 1990 levels by the year 2000.

4 While the Convention encouraged industrialized countries to stabilize GHG emissions, the Protocol commits them to do so. Adopted by consensus at COP-3 in December 1997 Contains legally binding emissions targets for industrialized (Annex I) countries Annex 1 countries commit themselves to reducing their collective emissions of six key greenhouse gases by at least 5%. must be achieved by the period Demonstrable progress must be made by 2005.

5 Division of Parties by Annex Annex II Australia / Austria / Belgium / Canada / Denmark / EC / Finland / France / Germany / Greece /Iceland / Ireland / Italy / Japan / Luxembourg / Netherlands / New Zealand / Norway / Portugal / Spain / Sweden / Switzerland / Turkey / United Kingdom / USA Belarus / Bulgaria / Croatia / Czech Republic / Estonia / Hungary / Latvia / Liechtenstein / Lithuania / Monaco / Poland / Romania / Russian Federation / Slovakia / Slovenia / Ukraine Non-Annex I Countries = All the Rest of Ratifying Countries

6 Article 12: Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) Assist Parties not included in Annex I in achieving sustainable development Assist Parties included in Annex I in achieving compliance with their quantified emission limitation and reduction commitments under Article 3 Assistance Mechanism is through funding of CDM Projects in Developing Countries

7 Vulnerability to Climate Change

8 Vulnerability: Agriculture Sector Current climate Agricultural production is highly vulnerable to increasing temperature, particularly, night time temperatures, changes in rainfall events/patterns, particularly those due to extreme weather/climate events, and high winds during tropical cyclone occurrences. Future climate Food security in the Philippines hinges in the agricultural production of the country, principally on sufficiency of rice production.

9 Vulnerability: Coastal Sector Sea level rise land loss and population displacement increased flooding of low-lying coastal areas agricultural impacts resulting from inundation, salinization and land loss impacts on coastal aquaculture impacts on coastal tourism Increase sea temperature/ Increase CO 2 coral bleaching ocean acidification impacts on fishery Socio-economic factors

10 Vulnerability: Coastal Sector

11 Vulnerability: Health Sector Indirect cause: Climate sensitive infectious diseases (vector, water borne) The number of leptospirosis cases is high when the volume of rainfall is high. The number of malaria cases is high when the mean temperature is high. Direct cause: Floods, storm surge

12 Vulnerability: Forestry and Watershed Sector The sector now accounts for up to percent of the current yearly GHG emissions worldwide. Unsustainable change of land uses poses a big threat to the environment. Loss of forest habitat due to destruction, degradation and climate change is projected to increase plant and animal species loss. Loss of watershed values.

13 Vulnerability to specific impacts of climate change will be most severe when and where they are felt together with stresses from other sources TROPICAL Habitat Climate Invasive Change Change Species Ove r- expl oitat ion Pollut ion (nitrogen, phosphorus) Habitat Change: Very high impact, Increasing trend Climate Change: Low impact, Increasing trend Pollution: Very high impact, Increasing trend Invasive Species: High impact, Continuing trend Over-exploitation: Low Impact, Continuing trend

14 Responses to Climate Change

15 RESPONSES TO CLIMATE CHANGE No Regrets Approach Adaptation Adaptation Mitigation

16 Mitigation An anthropogenic intervention to reduce the sources or enhance the sinks of greenhouse gases. Adaptation Practical steps to protect countries and communities from the likely disruption and damage that will result from effects of climate change

17 Climate Change Mitigation Strategies Activities expected to reduce the sources or enhance the sinks of greenhouse gases.

18 Four Areas of Mitigation 1. Increasing GHG sinks 2. Material Replacement 3. Energy Conservation 4. Fuel Substitution

19 All Sectors and Regions have potential to contribute to reduce GHG emissions or implement CC mitigation measures Note: estimates do not include non-technical options, such as lifestyle changes.

20 Options to reduce GHG emmisions in the energy sector Technologies and Practices AVAILABLE NOW COMMERCIALIZED BEFORE 2030 efficiency; fuel switching; renewable energy (hydropower, solar, wind, geothermal and bioenergy); biomass and coal-fired electricity generating facilities; advanced renewable energy (tidal and waves energy, concentrating solar, solar and solar PV) CCS- carbon capture and storage Potential share of global electricity supply in 2030 for carbon prices < US$50/tCO2eq: Renewable energy: 30-35% (now 18%) Nuclear energy: 18% (now 16%)

21 Options to Reduce GHGs emissions in agriculture Cropland management Restoration of organic soils Rice management

22 Options to reduce GHG emmisions in Forestry Protection of Forest Resources Reforestation

23 Climate Change Adaptation Strategies Practical steps to protect countries and communities from the likely disruption and damage that will result from effects of climate change abs/ /

24 Why adapt to climate change?

25 Adaptation Options abs/ / 1. Bearing losses 2. Sharing losses 3. Modifying threats 4. Preventing effects 5. Changing uses 6. Changing location 7. Research 8. Education, information and behavior change

26 Adaptation: Agriculture 1 o C temp increase in June to August Use of more disease and pest tolerant crop varieties Livestock production Plant native grassland species Fishery Breeding fish tolerant to high water temperature Develop Agri-Biotechnologies Improve crossbreeds of high productivity animals Improve agri- infrastructures Improve irrigation systems and their efficiency

27 Adaptation: Agriculture (Gaps and Needs) creating enabling environment for private investments in agriculture climate-fit crop programming and climate-based cropping mix in highly vulnerable agricultural areas; production maximization in climate-proofed farming areas, particularly those with moderate rainfall; developing policy environments for sustainable development of highland ecosystems ( masl) for future expansion areas for food and nutrition security without further intrusion nor desecration of remaining forestlands; increasing local capacity to compete with global products within local markets; and harmonizing food and bio-energy development and other economic uses of agricultural activities, and technological support systems for food security

28 Adaptation: Hydrology and water resources conversion of cropland to forest (grassland) selection and cultivation of new drought-resistant varieties are effective measures to prevent water scarcity Water saving schemes for irrigation

29 Adaptation: Coastal and low lying areas Coastal protection constructions in Asia for 5-year to 1,000- year storm-surge elevations need to be considered. Integrated Coastal Zone Management (ICZM) provides an effective coastal protection strategy

30 Adaptation: Natural Ecosystems Improved tree plantation development and reforestation technologies Improvement of protection from fires, insects and diseases Reducing logging waste, thru soil conservation practices, Carbon-efficient wood utilization

31 Adaptation: Human Health monitoring of diseases benchmarking of potential impacts of climate variability and change on human health

32 Planning and Policy Formulation Mainstreaming sustainable development policies and the inclusion of climateproofing concepts in national development initiatives are likely to reduce pressure on natural resources and improve management of environmental risks

33 The Intergovernmental Panel on CC 4 th Assessment Report 2007 (AR4): Warming of the Climate System is UNEQUIVOCAL!

34 ACT NOW BEFORE EVERYTHING GOES UP IN SMOKE By Sebastian Niedlich (Grabthar) on Flickr

35 Thank you