Lao People s Democratic Republic

Transcription

1 Climate Change Country Profile: Lao People s Democratic Republic 1. Country description 1.1 Geography Area: km 2 Borders China, Viet Nam, Cambodia, Thailand and Myanmar Consists of northern region (mountainous), central region (semi-mountainous and plains) and southern region (plains) Mountains: account for 80% of the country; slope of more than 20 degrees and ranging from 200 metres to 2880 metres Plains: account for 20% of the land; nearly 8% suitable for agriculture Comprises 17 provinces including Vientiane Capital Figure 1. Map of the Lao People s Democratic Republic 1.2 Demographics Population: 5.62 million in 2005 Population density: 24 persons per km 2 Population growth rate: 2.1% per year Urban population growth rate: 5.5% Population distribution: 73% living in rural areas, 27% in urban settings Life expectancy: 61 years (females: 63; males: 59)

2 Infant mortality rate: 70 per 1000 live births Under-five mortality ratio: 97.6 deaths per 1000 live births Maternal mortality ratio: 400 per live births Total fertility rate: 4.5% Crude birth rate: 34.3 births per 1000 inhabitants Crude death rate: 9.8 deaths per 1000 inhabitants Adult literacy rate: (female: 50%; male: 74%) Multiethnic population: 47 ethnic groups, covering 120 ethnic subgroups and languages More than small villages with mostly poor road access 1.3 Economic and industrial development characteristics, etc. Gross domestic product (GDP): US$ 380 Economic growth: 7% Agriculture 51%, industry 26%, service 24%. Agriculture = 80% of jobs, mostly subsistence farming in remote areas Largely depends on its natural resource base Local population daily practices: traditional agriculture, upland rice cultivation (slash and burn), agro-forest activities (fishing, hunting, collecting forest products, 40% 60%) and water resources 1.4 Climate (climatic zones, trends in temperature and precipitation) Tropical climate Dry season between October and April Wet season between May and September Dominated by the south-west monsoon that brings high rainfall, high humidity, and high temperatures between mid-april and mid-october. Characterized by high inter-annual variability of rainfall with relatively frequent occurrence of flooding and drought. Average temperatures range from 20 C in the mountainous areas and highland plateaus to 25 C 27 C in the plains. 2. Burden of climate-sensitive health outcomes 2.1 Data on current climate-sensitive disease burdens Climate-sensitive diseases include heat-related diseases, vectorborne diseases, waterborne diseases, diseases from urban air pollution, and diseases related to extreme weather conditions such as floods, droughts, windstorms and fires. The Lao People s Democratic Republic is vulnerable to climate change. People living in high-risk areas are especially susceptible to floods, drought and other natural disasters. 2

3 Floods cause disease outbreaks diarrhoea, dengue, conjunctivitis, dysentery, typhoid, malaria, and skin diseases and contamination of drinking-water. Drought causes weak health conditions, e.g. tiredness as a result of hot and dry weather, bad mental health conditions, torpidity, measles and diphtheria. 2.2 Potential impacts of climate change on health burden, i.e. qualitative and quantitative projections of future health burdens The larger the area affected and the longer the flood and/or drought exists, the greater the impact on key sectors, namely water and water resources (including drinking-water, sanitation and hygiene), agriculture, forestry and public health. Rural areas are hit especially hard. Air pollution household indoor and urban outdoor will become a significant issue in climate change in the very near future. 2.3 Information on particularly vulnerable populations The rural population (80%), particularly in low-lying areas, is most vulnerable to the impacts of climate change by flood and drought. Members of the rural population who live in small communities in the mountainous areas, many of which are remote and isolated with lack of connection to transport routes, are impacted mostly by drought (water quality, diseases, sanitation) and indoor air pollution. 3. National programmes and projects 3.1 Programmes to reduce and/or mitigate greenhouse gas emissions First Communication on Climate Change for the Lao People s Democratic Republic (2000) Second Communication on Climate Change for the Lao People s Democratic Republic (under preparation as of July 2007) Assessment of technology needs and priorities for mitigation of green gas emissions (2004) Proposed project activities for the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM): CDM decree, and country guidelines Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM) for Mekong Basin (Global Environment Facility [GEF]) National capacity strengthening assessment project for the implementation of environment conventions Ozone layer project (GEF) Awareness on climate change issues 3

4 3.2 Climate change related studies and projects, including their roles in the Second National Communications. Reducing CO 2 emission through the use of compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFL) in the government and commercial sectors Developing project proposal for ICS demonstration project Promoting biogas use for greenhouse gas emission reduction Assessing small-scale hydropower potential and demonstration project in combination with dissemination of electric cooking stove Removing barriers to the adoption of four-stroke engine or two wheelers Role in Second National Communications Decentralized energy supply through solar home systems in rural households 3.3 Further data and research needs on potential health impacts of climate change Data on existing impacts and strategies to overcome climate change issues both national and local levels, National capacities building on climate change (flood and drought), indoor and outdoor air pollution need assessment. Data for general education curriculum on climate change. Research linkages between indoor air pollution, rural water supply-sanitation and Poverty and climate change (focusing on rural population), update existing data 3.4 Current and expected programmes and activities for adaptation to current and projected climate-related health burdens Improve and build management systems for sustainable use of drinking-water and sanitation with the participation of communities in flood- and droughtaffected areas. Improve knowledge and skills of water and sanitation system engineering. Raise public awareness on sanitation among people in impacted areas. Prevent and treat epidemic waterborne diseases. Analyse and improve the quality of potable water to meet acceptable standards. Improve the information-reporting systems on epidemic diseases so that they are accurate and timely. Expand epidemic disease analysis laboratories at the regional level to respond to floods and droughts. Improve the capacity of the epidemic disease surveillance system and expected programmes and activities to adapt to climate change. 4

5 4. Institutional organizations The National Environment Committee (NEC) is the key organization dealing with climate change (Figure 2). Figure 2. Organization of National Environment Committee 5. Issues and challenges The critical issues and challenges that the Lao People s Democratic Republic faces in relation to mitigation and adaptation to climate change to reduce health impacts are: lack of data on existing impacts and strategies to overcome climate change issues at national and local levels; too few local experts on climate change involved during consultation meetings and workshops; results of rapid participatory vulnerability and adaptation assessment and adaptation activity prioritization; implementation of the National Adaptation Programme of Action (NAPA) (financing); national capacity-building on climate change (flood and drought) and indoor and outdoor air pollution; and incorporating climate change into the curriculum of general education. 5