Ecosystem-based Adaptation

Transcription

1 The 12th UEF-UNEP Course on Multilateral Environmental Agreements Ecosystem-based Adaptation Dr. Jian Liu, Director of UNEP-IEMP Dr. Chao Fu, Research Fellow 6 November

2 Overview 1. Concept 2. Guidelines, Methodologies and Tools 3. Making the Case 4. Lessons Learned and Way Forward 2

3 Fundamental concepts Ecosystem: A community of living organisms (plants, animals and microbes) in conjunction with the nonliving components of their environment (things like air, water and mineral soil), interacting as a system. Ecosystem services: Benefits people obtain from ecosystems provisioning, regulating, supporting and cultural services. Ecosystem management: An integrated process to conserve and improve ecosystem health that sustains ecosystem services for human well-being. 3

4 Ecosystem services and human well-being Source: MEA,

5 Climate change impacts on ecosystems Source: IPCC AR4,

6 A vicious cycle of poverty, ecosystem degradation and climate change Population increase Increased pressure on ecosystems Social disruption Climate Change impacts Ecosystem degradation Poor Ecosystem Protection Loss of human wellbeing Loss of biodiversity & ecosystem services Ecosystem protection and management Sustainable economies Human well-being Climate Change Mitigation Good Ecosystem Protection Ecosystem resilience & reduced vulnerability Secure biodiversity & ecosystem services Source: Munang et al.,

7 Adaptation is the process of adjustment to actual or expected climate and its effects. In a broader context, adaptation to climate change may include: Behavioural change Construction of infrastructure Natural resource management to provide: - Goods Ecosystems - Services.

8 Evolution of EbA concept 2005 UNFCCC CoP14 EbA is implicitly mentioned under CBA; Implicit use by CBD 2009 UNFCCC CoP16 Enhancement of socioeconomic/ ecological resilience prioritised; EbA included in CBD CoP10 Decision 2011 UNFCCC Nairobi Work Progamme + CBD 2013 The 1 st UN Environment Assembly s resolution on EBA (UNEP/EA.1/L.12) MA/MDGs 2008 CBD 2 nd Ad hoc technical expert group on biodiversity & climate change (AHTEG) 2010 SBSTA 34 requests compilation of EbA info; UNFCCC CoP17 calls for technical workshop 2012 UNFCCC EBA workshop in Tanzania; GEF Guidelines for EbA projects

9 EbA definition and term Definition (CBD, 2009; CBD 2010; GEF, 2012) Ecosystem-based approaches to adaptation are the use of biodiversity and ecosystem services as part of an overall adaptation strategy to help people to adapt to the adverse effects of climate change.ecosystem based approaches for adaptation may include sustainable management, conservation and restoration of ecosystems as part of an overall adaptation strategy that takes into account the multiple social, economic and cultural cobenefits for local communities. Many terms Ecosystem-based Adaptation; Ecosystem-based Approaches to Adaptation; Ecosystem-based Approaches for Adaptation; Ecosystem-based Approaches for Adaptation to climate change 9

10 Examples of EbA interventions and their benefits EbA interventions Restoring fragmented or degraded natural Areas Protecting groundwater recharge zones & restoring floodplains Connecting expanses of forests, grasslands, reefs & other habitats Protecting and restoring natural infrastructure such as barrier islands, dunes, mangroves, coral reefs, wetlands & forests Benefits Enhances critical ecosystem services, such as provision of water, food & fisheries Secures water resources to assist communities in coping with drought & flooding Enables people, flora & fauna to migrate as climate changes Protects communities & infrastructure from sealevel rise, natural hazards, erosion & flooding Source: Munang et al.,

11 Overview 1. Concept 2. Guidelines, Methodologies and Tools 3. Making the Case 4. Lessons Learned and Way Forward 11

12 IUCN Principles & Guidelines Core Principles 1. Promotes multisectoral approaches. 2. Operates at multiple geographical scales 3. Integrates flexible management structures that enable adaptive management 4. Minimizes trade-offs and maximizes benefits with development and conservation goals to avoid unintended negative social and environmental impacts 5. Based on the best available science and local knowledge, and should foster knowledge generation and diffusion 6. About promoting resilient ecosystems and using naturebased solutions to provide benefits to people, especially the most vulnerable 7. Must be participatory, transparent, accountable, and culturally appropriate, while actively embracing equity and gender issues. Source: Andrade et al.,

13 IUCN Principles & Guidelines Guidelines for Designing Projects 1. Prepare project structure 2. Gather relevant data and expertise 3. Conduct integrated vulnerability assessments and impact projections with flexible criteria that address the linkages between human and environmental systems 4. Locate projects within robust national and sub-national frameworks so as to enhance the long-term chances of success 5. Integrate EBA into wider plans for adaptation and wider regional settings 6. Ensure the sustainability of monitoring and adaptive management Source: Andrade et al.,

14 GEF Guidelines Operational Guidelines for EBA 1. Identification of communities or development projects or programmes vulnerable to climate change. 2. Identification of ecosystems and related ecosystem services necessary for communities and development initiatives. 3. Assessment of the status and vulnerability of the identified ecosystems. 4. Using the assessments undertaken (Steps 1-4), establish linkages between humans and ecosystems. 5. Development of ecosystem-based approaches for adaptation interventions based on scenario exercises, comprehensive assessments and comparison against an array of possible adaptation measures. 6. Develop an action plan for implementation of ecosystem-based approaches to adaptation that is aligned with the GEF project criteria. 7. Monitoring and evaluation system that assesses project effectiveness through indicators that measure ecosystem health, provision of ecosystem services to the vulnerable populations and reduction in the level of climate risks. Source: GEF,

15 UNEP-led Decision Support Framework A: Setting the Adaptive Context What does your system look like? How is it used? Management concerns? Adaptation goals? B: Selecting Appropriate Options for Adaptation EBA approaches available? What approaches are suitable for your context? D: Adaptive implementation Monitor Reflect and adapt Contribute to evidence-base Sound decision-making Source: Travers et al., 2012 C: Design for Change How will the measure be implemented? How will you know if the measures are effective? 15

16 Source: GIZ, 2013 EbA Mainstreaming Cycle, EbA components and respective tools 16

17 Major Tools Ecosystem service assessment Vulnerability assessment Economic analysis 17

18 TEEB S stepwise approach to assess nature s benefits Source: TEEB,

19 Vulnerability components What is climate change? Awareness = conceptual awareness + experiential awareness + engagement Generally, this is what the project builds Do you talk about climate change? Have you personally felt the effects of climate change? Source: IPCC,

20 Costs of Climate Change vs Benefits from Adaptation Costs of climate change Cost and benefits of the project without climate change Cost and benefits of the project with climate change Cost and benefits of the project without adaptation Cost and benefits of the project with adaptation Benefits of adaptation Source: Charles Rodgers,

21 Overview 1. Concept 2. Guidelines, Methodologies and Tools 3. Making the Case 4. Lessons Learned and Way Forward 21

22 Combating Desertification in North Africa

23 China s Green Corridor in Taklamakan Desert Length: 436 km; Cost for construction and maintenance in 20 yrs: RMB 750 million (vs. cost for sand clearance: ~RMB 1.8 billion)

24 Addressing flood and erosion in Rwanda

25 A large range of adaptation activities using EBA approaches being implemented in various ecosystems. CambridgeConservationInitiative

26 Review of the evidence base Method Systematic review methodology to describe extent of available evidence Studies that assessed the effectiveness of EbA interventions Peer-reviewed published literature (~ ) and sample of grey literature (32) Assessment framework (to ask questions of the evidence and identify knowledge gaps) Heat island Soil 4% quaility 5% Sea level 6% Product loss in production system 5% Drought 25% Others 3% Pest and disease 1% Loss in biomass and productivity 28% Erosion, landslide, avalanche Flood, water 7% quality 16% Impact/hazard addressed Source: Munroe et al., 2011; Munroe et al.,

27 An economic analysis of ecosystem-based adaptation and engineering options for climate change adaptation in Lami Town, Republic of the Fiji Islands (Rao et al., 2013) 27

28 A growing list of EBA projects UNEP EBA Flagship Program UNFCCC/Nairobi Work Programme database of 45 EBA projects CBD database with 54 case studies (many EBD) Adaptation Learning Mechanism (many EBA) Naumann et al. with 154 projects in EU, UK Others.. 28

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30 UNEP EBA Flagship Program Ecosystem-based Adaptation Ecosystem-based adaptation is the use of biodiversity and ecosystem services as part of an overall adaptation strategy to help people and communities adapt to the negative effects of climate change at local, national, regional and global level. I n t e r v e n t i o n s Mountains Global / Regional Local levels National level River basins Dry lands Coasts Methods, tools and guidelines to identify ecosystem vulnerabilities, valuate ecosystem services for adaptation and their payment mechanisms, and to identify technologies, good practices and climate-proof trade-offs to restore ecosystem adaptation functions and trans-boundary ecosystem management Pilot the above methods, tools and guidelines, and demonstrate at ecosystem and community level a combination of good practices: community-based adaptation, micro-credits and ecosystem-based adaptation Analysis, capacity building and technical supports for integration of EBA into national policy, planning, investment framework Replication of good practices to other vulnerable countries and their ecosystems through the GLOBAL ADAPTATION NETWORK 30

31 UNEP EBA Flagship Program 31

32 Ecosystem Based Adaptation in Mountain Ecosystems Nepal, Peru & Uganda 32

33 Ecosystem-based Adaptation through South-South Cooperation Enhancing Capacity, Knowledge and Technology Support to Build Climate Resilience of Vulnerable Developing Countries EbA South has been recognised as a first mover in catalysing global and regional collaboration on EbA under GEF guidelines, in particular within the framework of South-South cooperation Funded by GEF - SCCF Implemented by UNEP Executed by NDRC (China) through Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) UNEP-IEMP provides project management services Pilot countries: Mauritania, Nepal, Seychelles Duration:

34 Overview 1. Concept 2. Guidelines, Methodologies and Tools 3. Evidence and Practices 4. Lessons Learned and Way Forward 34

35 EbA Challenges Lack of information Lack of understanding about multiple functions and services of ecosystems Uncertainties in future projections of climate impacts and vulnerability Lack of quantitative data on costs and benefits Lack of financial resources Lack of financial sufficiency and predictability Lack of knowledge on funding opportunities Institutional resistance General lack of awareness of EBA/EBM Antecedent regulatory or legislative decisions Numerous sectors and stakeholders Lack of human capacity for implementation and management Source: UNEP, UNDP, ICUN,

36 Early lessons from EbA implementation Efficient coordination with multiple partners; Building capacity about EbA at different levels Ensuring local ownership of the EbA measures; Multi-disciplinary teams and the dialogue among local and external experts; Participatory approaches in the planning, design, and implementation phases of the measures; Undertake systematic monitoring and evaluation to assess the strengths and weaknesses of EbA measures. Source: UNEP, UNDP, ICUN,

37 EbA in urban ecosystems Way forward Insight into grey-green/hybrid approaches Convergence of EbA and other adaptation strategies (CBA, DRR/DRM, NRM, IRBM, etc) Methodologies and tools for planning and implementation Monitoring and evaluation frameworks Synergies of ecosystem-based adaptation and mitigation 37

38 Core References Colls, A. et al Ecosystem-based Adaptation: A natural response to climate change. Gland, Switzerland: IUCN. 16 pp. Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity Connecting biodiversity and climate change mitigation and adaptation: report of the second ad hoc technical expert group on biodiversity and climate change. CBD COP 10 Decision X/33. Biodiversity and climate change Andrade, A; Córdoba, R; Dave, R.; Girot, P; Herrera-F., B; Munroe, R; Oglethorpe, J; Paaby, P;Pramova, E; Watson, E; Vergar, W Draft Principles and Guidelines for Integrating Ecosystem-based Approaches to Adaptation in Project and Policy Design: a discussion document. IUCN- CEM, CATIE. Turrialba,Costa Rica. GEF GEF Operational Guidelines on Ecosystem-Based Approaches to Adaptation. Travers et al., Ecosystem-based Adaptation Guidance: Moving from Principles to Practice. UNEP, UNDP, ICUN Building resilience to climate change: making the case for ecosystem-based adaptation. UNFCCC Report on the technical workshop on ecosystem-based approaches for adaptation to climate change. Munang R, Thiaw I, Alverson K, et al Climate change and ecosystem- based adaptation: a new pragmatic approach to buffering climate change impacts. Current Opinion in Environmental Sustainability, 5(1): GIZ Ecosystem-based Adaptation. 38

39 Thanks for your attention, and questions welcome! 39