Implementing the nexus in the MENA region

Transcription

1 Implementing the nexus in the MENA region Holger Hoff, Nadim Farajalla, Kerstin Fritzsche, Phil Graham, Annabelle Houdret Stockholm Environment Institute Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research American University of Beirut Adelphi German Development Institute Swedish Meteorological and Hydrological Institute Climate Adaptation Mitigation Workshop WWW 4 September 2013

2 Outline: Climate yet another pressures in the MENA region Nexus principles and opportunities MENA a case for a nexus approach Initial examples from Lebanon & Jordan A proof-of-concept nexus study in the MENA region

3 Climate one more pressure in the MENA region MENA: most water (and land) scarce, subject to severe resource degradation, e.g. desertification, groundwater depletion resource productivities remain low GHG emissions are rising rapidly climate projections largely agree on decrease in total precipitation, on top of increasing temperatures and more/stronger extremes with projected major impacts on water resources, agriculture and ecosystems

4 Climate one more pressure in the MENA region } RCP 8.5 CORDEX } RCP 4.5 LAS Regional Initiative for the Assessment of the Impact of Climate Change on Water Resources and Socio-Economic Vulnerability in the Arab Region (RICCAR) producing some climate projections

5 Climate one more pressure in the MENA region ensemble means

6 Climate one more pressure in the MENA region climate change (like other pressures) can affect social stability

7 Climate one more pressure in the MENA region climate change (like other pressures) can affect social stability

8 MENA: a case for a nexus approach

9 MENA: a case for a nexus approach general principles: generating synergies, reducing negative externalities, increasing productivities across resources and sectors and strengthening resilience the nexus builds on established integrated approaches, such as: - ecosystem approaches (CBD), e.g. natural infrastructure - landscape approaches (World Bank), improved landscape configuration - multi-functional systems (IAASTD), e.g. reservoirs, co-generation of energy and water.. new: real integration across sectors from the beginning (different from IWRM), and: synthesis of experience, outscaling, transfer

10 How to do it nexus solutions e.g. soil and water conservation for improved green water productivity, reduced irrigation demand and climate resilience climate-safe land use planning accounting for change in precipitation, sea level rise etc. adding energy to the equation (e.g. agricultural intensification) moving towards renewable energy e.g. for water pumping or seawater desalination seeing is believing making a nexus case at the farmers level

11 A nexus example from Lebanon Solar power for irrigation in an organic farm in the Bekaa Valley 12 ha farm, requiring constant water supply for livestock, vegetables, and fruit ~ $50,000 annual electricity costs frequent and severe power cuts required the farmer to rely on back up generators switching irrigation system (which consumes most electricity) to solar power (installation cost approximately $76,000) makes the farm self-sustaining and profitable

12 A nexus example from Jordan Solar energy farming in the Azraq Basin problem: rapid aquifer depletion for irrigation and urban demands solar farming (photovoltaics) as income alternative for local farmers reducing water demand and associated fossil fuel demand for pumping increasing drought resilience participatory process through Highland Water Forum ACCWaM

13 Why doesn t it happen - institutional obstacles an example from the Lebanon Ministry of Energy and Water: national water sector strategy, e.g. identifying agricultural water use efficiency as priority area Ministry of Agriculture: agriculture strategy doesn t address water use efficiency Lack of communication and coordination even within MoEW Discrepancies between legal and de facto responsibilities among different institutions, e.g. due to embedded UNDP staff in key ministries shadow government Overlapping responsibilities among different institutions. Lack of institutional memory in the political system

14 Institutional entry points Strengthening bridging institutions e.g.: - Ministry of Environment, including its climate change unit - National Council of Environment (different ministries, academics and civil society represented - Lebanese Center for Energy Conservation (LCEC) - Lebanese Agriculture Research Institute (LARI), Using opportunities such as revisions of water, agricultural, energy, climate and other strategies and action plans for mainstreaming nexus principles,

15 Institutional (and economic) entry points Raising interest by identifying economic benefits ( win-wins) and opportunities for equitable development of different regions and sectors Developing economic incentives for reducing negative externalities across resources, sectors and regions, e.g. payments for environmental services Capacity building to meet knowledge requirements under increasing complexity

16 A proof-of-concept nexus study in the MENA region (Lebanon) Integrating local demands with scientific evidence base WEAP - Volta hill-lake construction vs. larger dam construction, integrating perspectives of - water storage - power generation - landscape configuration - land degradation - other ecosystem services and benefits building on USAID, ICARDA et al MENA Water and Livelihoods Initiative (WLI) Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, Palestine, Syria, Yemen, eventually for outscaling and transfer