Climate Change and Ecosystem Management

Transcription

1 Lecture ISCS, Chengdu, 2016 Climate Change and Ecosystem Management Jian Liu UNEP-IEMP

2 Topics Ecosystem, its Services and Management COP13, REDD COP14, Ecosystem-based Adaptation Synergies of Ecosystem-based Adaptation and Mitigation

3 Ecosystem An ecosystem is 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; Main functions: nutrient cycling and energy transformation

4 Ecosystem Services Benefits from ecosystems to humankinds Provisioning Service: food, fiber, water, Regulating Service: carbon, hydrology Supporting service: sanctuary to biodiversity and species Culture service: spiritual, tourism

5 Ecosystem Management Ecosystem management: An integrated process to conserve and improve ecosystem health that sustains ecosystem services for human well-being Through Payment for Ecosystem Services (PES), based on Economic Valuation of these services.

6 Topics Ecosystem, its Services and Management COP13, REDD COP14, Ecosystem-based Adaptation Synergies of Ecosystem-based Adaptation and Mitigation

7 IPCC-AR5, 95%, >50%, RCP 2.6 UNFCCC Paris Agreement : 2 Degree Celsius (900 Gt CO2) 1.5 (250 Gt CO2) INDC/Stocktaking Progressive targets every 5 yrs Ecosystem (4 times), No EBA/REDD

8 Climate and ecosystem REDD, Why? Deforestation and forest degradation account for nearly 20% of global GHGs, more than that of transportation Ecosystem management most cost-effective way of mitigation Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation (REDD)

9 The Action - REDD Least controversial topic approved at COP13 of UNFCCC (2007), supported by Norway (2.7BN) REDD, a mechanism to create an incentive for developing countries to protect, better manage and wisely use their forest resources, contributing to fixing carbon REDD+ strategies include the role of conservation, sustainable management of forests and enhancement of forest carbon stocks in reducing emissions.

10 The Action: UN-REDD, The UN-REDD Programme is the United Nations Collaborative initiative on REDD in developing countries. To assist developing countries prepare and implement national REDD+ strategies FAO, UNDP, UNEP More than 50 countries

11 The Action- REDD in Countries

12 REDD+ Strategies UN-REDD Work Areas

13 Topics Ecosystem, its Services and Management COP13, REDD COP14, Ecosystem-based Adaptation Synergies of Ecosystem-based Adaptation and Mitigation

14 Adaptation is an iterative process, including understanding climate variability as well as patterns and dynamics underlying societal vulnerabilities, evaluating costs and benefits, building capacity and continuous learning from monitoring and evaluation of actions.

15 Why ecosystem services important in combating climate change?

16 Why ecosystem is Important? Survey of adaptation priority in Asia 65% Water 63% Agriculture 57% Coastal-zone 37% Forestry 28% Fisheries 22% Disaster Reduction 17% Biodiversity 11% Mountain 9% Urban

17 Key Messages from Africa Ecosystem services are integral to the African economy, underpin large parts of GDP and are key to local livelihoods Estimates of the costs of ecosystem-based adaptation require investigation of several lines of evidence There are many stresses on these ecosystems already and climate change will add to these pressures Tackling these impacts requires management of ecosystems within interlinked social-ecological systems, to enhance ecological processes and services, essential for resilience to multiple pressures, including climate change. EbA pathways result form the combination of ecosystem management strategies supported by flexible mechanisms and enabled through adaptive processes.

18 Key Messages from Africa At the aggregated scale, responses are primarily targeted at addressing current vulnerability: good practice and accelerated development rather than specific addressing future climate impacts. Bottom-up studies complement aggregated top-down estimates. However, extrapolation is not always possible, difficult to deal with overlaps between multiple bottom-up strategies. Further research is needed to estimate costs associated to soft measures (e.g. institutional capacity, adaptive governance, social learning, knowledge sharing, innovation, etc) and the additional costs needed to specifically tackle future climate impacts. Ecosystem-based adaptation remains a fairly limited area of study, and the economics of this approach for Africa is seen as a key priority for future adaptation work following from the AdaptCost project.

19 Role of Ecosystem Management Climate change increases the frequency and intensity of climate-related disasters and causes ecosystem degradation. Ecosystem regulating services are critical for climate change adaptation, mitigation and and disaster risk reduction.

20 Vulnerable Communities Climate Change increases the frequency and intensity of climate related disasters, and exacerbates ecosystem degradation Ecosystem Degradation triggers more disasters, reduces resilience and releases more GHGs to the atmosphere Increased Disaster Risk undermines ecosystem and community resilience and exacerbates impacts of climate variability and change Simplified illustration of the complicated interactions between climate change, ecosystem degradation and increased disaster risk

21 Central role of EM in responding to climate change and disaster risk reduction Ecosystem Management increases the resilience of ecosystems and communities to climate change impacts, protects them from disasters, and sequestrates carbon Climate Change A & M increases the resilience of ecosystems to climate change impacts, supports disaster risk reduction, and fixing carbon Disaster Risk Reduction increases the resilience of ecosystems to disasters and complements climate change adaptation efforts

22 The process.

23 Evolution of adaptation under the UNFCCC Scaling up implementation and forging enhanced engagement Full scale implementation. Balance with mitigation (?) Moving to planning and pilot implementation Observing impacts, assessing risks and vulnerabilities COP 2 (1996) National communica tions Sharing knowledge and lessons learned COP 7 (2001) LDC Support (LDC Work Programme) NAPAs, LEG, LDCF), SCCF and AF COP 11 (2005) Nairobi work programme COP 13 (2007) Bali Action Plan COP ( ) Cancun Adaptation Framework (Adaptation Committee, NAPs and L&D work programme) COP & beyond New Agreement. Importance of LTGG

24 Current evolution of adaptation under the UNFCCC Adaptation Committee National Adaptation Plans Decision at COP 19 on the work programme that could also support the scientific and technical work under the Cancun Adaptation Framework National Adaptation Programmes of Action Nairobi work programme Work programme on loss and damage

25 COP14, EBA Parties to UNFCCC at COP14 agreed to include Ecosystem-based adaptation(eba) as one approach for adaptation, many definitions, yet, EBA is an approach to work with nature to build resilience of vulnerable ecosystems through adaptation, maximise ecosystem services for adaptation.

26 Framing EBA Enhancing the resilience of ecosystems to climate change Addressing climate change impacts on ecosystems, and ensuring continued benefits from interventions for maintaining & promoting ecosystem services Using ecosystems as a means for reducing vulnerability and enhancing adaptation to climate change Ecosystem services help to manage climate risks and support resilience of human socio-economic systems 26

27 The space of EBA approaches some examples Ecosystem services Climate risks & impacts Storm surge (coasts) Flooding (urban, riverine) Food, fiber and biomass production Heat waves (temperature extremes) Supporting Soil formation for stabilization & reducing runoff Sustainable land management Provisioning Agroforestry Regulating Reforesting or afforesting with mangroves Stormwater run-off regulation Green cover to reduce urban heat island Cultural 27

28 Geographic distribution of EBA studies Source: Munroe et al

29 Challenges Mind set of decision-makers First and foremost think of hard infrastructure options Cost-benefit analyses biased against it EBA varies with context and ecosystem hard to get a single message to decision makers reaching most vulnerable communities Limited data showing benefits of combining ecosystem management and social resilience Quantification of costs & cost effectiveness Multiple sectors and stakeholders involved M&E attribution, time lag, duration, etc. Source: climatechwiki.org Overcoming entrenched hard infrastructure thinking Source: Andrade et al Recognizing ecosystem boundaries and thresholds 29

30 Looking ahead Explore synergies between EBA and other approaches EBA is complementary to DRR / DRM, NRM, livelihoods Develop approaches and tools to support design and implementation Multiple benefits / multi-criteria evaluation Emphasize learning and integrated M&E Practice is leading theory; empirical validation of constructs and filling knowledge gaps Place EBA within the broader context of climate resilient development Natural infrastructure, green economy Recognize that there are multiple entry points Cities are often on the front-lines of innovation 30

31 Examples of Using Ecosystem Services Mangroves in Vietnam: An investment of US$1.1 million dedicated to adapting to sealevel rise through restoring nearly 12,000 hectares of mangroves on the coast of Vietnam Saved US$7.3 million annually in dyke maintenance and repair. Other ecosystem services: replenishment of local fisheries, carbon sequestration, restoration of livelihoods, and reduced risk of some climate-based disasters.

32 Good practices - sub-tropical red soil hilly region

33 Good Practice Loess Plateau

34 Good Practice - Karst

35 Good practice- Desertification control

36 No Science? Large-scale weight lysimeter (1996- )

37 Example: Shapotou desert research station Monitoring Experiment & research Demo

38 Recognition of EBA UNEP EBA Flagship Programme since 2010 GEF Guideline on Ecosystem-Based Approach for Adaptation 2013 Resolution of the 1 st United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA) 2014 CBD and UNFCCC Parties increasingly recognizing EbA and its multiple benefits

39 UNFCCC Relevant action pledges made by NWP partner organizations Compilation of Ecosystem-based approaches to adaptation (FCCC/SBSTA/2011/ INF.8) & Database on ecosystem-based approaches to adaptation (40+ examplesongoing) A technical workshop on ecosystem-based approaches for adaptation to climate change

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

41 Ecosystem Based Adaptation in Mountain Ecosystems Programme Partnership of UNEP, IUCN & UNDP under broader EBA flagship programme BMU provided 10 million Euro for Mountain Ecosystems Programme Steered by Global Steering Committee Dec 2010 Dec 2014 Pilot phase: Nepal, Peru & Uganda. More countries to be added in next phase

42 Programme s objective The objective is to strengthen the capacity of countries that are particularly vulnerable to climate change impacts (Nepal, Peru and Uganda) to build ecosystem resilience for promoting ecosystem based adaptation (EBA) options and to reduce the vulnerability of communities with particular emphasis on mountain ecosystems.

43 Programme components and lead agencies Components Lead Agency 1. Development of methodologies and tools for EbA decision-making in mountain ecosystems UNEP 2. Application of methodologies and tools at ecosystem level UNEP/UNDP 3. Implementation of EbA pilots at ecosystem level UNDP/IUCN 4. Development of Business Case for EbA at the national level UNDP

44 Expected outputs The value of ecosystem based approaches demonstrated; Informed national climate change and development policies and strategies, and their delivery supported; Economic assessment of Ecosystem services valuated; Scaling up learning: the pilot project Adapting to Climate Change in Mountain Ecosystems will form the basis of further EBA activities in other mountain areas around the globe.

45 Peru: a mountain country Mountain ecosystems add to one third of Peruvian territory

46 Note: combination of landslides, flood, drought, and GLOF vulnerabilities

47 Uganda Mt Elgon Ecosystem Mt Elgon Ecosystem contributes 100% of its water to the Nile River System

48 Programme partners National and local governments Research institutes Civil society Local communities

49 Topic and Location EbA in Mountain Regions: Uganda, Peru, Nepal Adapting to Climate Change Induced Water Stress in the Nile River Basin Regional Gateway for Tech. Transfer and CC Action: L. America & Caribbean EbA in Coastal Ecosystems. Building Adaptive Capacity in Vulnerable Coastal Communities: Seychelles, Grenada, SIDS. Building Resilient Ecological Food Systems using Ecosystem-based Adaptation in agriculture-dominated landscapes in Africa Readiness for National access to the Green Climate Fund EbA in peri-urban areas of Asian mid-tier cities reducing the climate vulnerability of the urban poor. Funder, Timeline, Partners Germany (BMU). $14M Implemented w/ UNDP, IUCN Sweden (SIDA). $3.5M Implemented w/ DHI, NBI Spain and Norway. $5.3M European Commission. $3.5M UNDF 9 th Tranche $650k Seed $ 2014 ICI $6M submitted, GEF? Implemented w/ifad Germany 1 st Phase $400k Seed $ 2013 $ 11M Implemented w/undp, WRI UNEP $150k Seed $ 2013 ICI $6M submitted, GEF $5M submitted Implemented w/ UNDP (PEI), UN-Habitat.

50 GEF Portfolio Overall objective: Support developing countries in accessing GEF supported finance through the Least Developed Countries Fund (LDCF), Special Climate Change Fund (SCCF), and indirect access to the Adaptation Fund (AF) in order to reduce their vulnerability to adverse impacts of climate variability and change. The strategic focus is on innovative approaches applied through pilot studies and enhanced country responsiveness.

51 Where we work

52 The UNEP EBA Portfolio Approx. 120 M USD approved / under implementation Mainly in Africa and Asia 52 52

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54 Ecosystem-based Adaptation through South-South Cooperation (EbA South) project

55 Overview Overview & objective Project components - interregional - pilot countries Way forward Official Title Funding Programme Implementin g Agency Executing Agency Enhancing Capacity, Knowledge and Technology Support to Build Climate Resilience of Vulnerable Developing Countries GEF Special Climate Change Fund (SCCF) UNEP NDRC through IGSNRR, CAS Duration 48 months ( ) Scale Two regions (Africa and Asian-Pacific), 3 pilot countries (Seychelles, Nepal and Mauritania)

56 Objective Overview & objective Project components - interregional - pilot countries Way forward To build climate resilience in developing countries in Africa and Asia- Pacific using ecosystem-based approaches to adaptation through capacity building, knowledge support and concrete, on-the-ground interventions Ecosystem-based Adaptation (EbA) an approach to work with nature to maximize ecosystem services for adaptation and build ecosystem resilience for human well-being widely recognized as a costeffective adaptation option through South-South Cooperation developing countries are more dependent on ecosystem services and are particularly vulnerable to the impacts of climate change not only common challenges, but also common solutions for conservation and livelihoods

57 Overview & objective Project components - interregional - pilot countries Recognized as first mover in catalysing global and regional collaboration on EbA under GEF guidelines, in particular within the framework of South-South cooperation Way forward

58 Project components Overview & objective Project components - interregional - pilot countries Way forward CAPACITY BUILDING Interregional coordination activities and thematic training workshops TECHONOLOGY TRANSFER KNOWLEDGE SUPPORT Web platform for the sharing of EbA knowledge and good practices Concrete, on-the-ground EbA interventions, implemented within a long term research framework

59 Interregional coordinaton & capacity building Overview & objective Project components - interregional - pilot countries Way forward

60 Online knowledge support Overview & objective Project components - interregional - pilot countries Way forward heart of the web platform Good Practice Case Studies Database

61 Pilot countries Overview & objective Project components - interregional - pilot countries MAURITANIA Arid/semi-arid ecosystem Desertification control, multi-use greenbelts NEPAL Mountain ecosystem Community-based watershed restoration SEYCHELLES Coastal ecosystem Mangrove restoration, wetland rehabilitation Way forward

62 Highlight: long term research Overview & objective Project components - interregional - pilot countries Way forward EbA South documents very well how ecosystembased adaptation is taking place in three different countries with three different ecosystems and stimulates research to build on that and to make it suitable and replicable in other contexts Youssef Nassef, UNFCCC

63 The Seychelles EbA South GEF Project Complexities Ecology History

64 Nepal EbA South GEF Project Complexities Horticultural Land-use Economics

65 Mauritania EbA South GEF Project Complexities Environmental constraints

66 South Africa Thicket restoration Complexities Bundling incomes Propagation History

67 Topics Ecosystem, its Services and Management COP13, REDD COP14, Ecosystem-based Adaptation Synergies of Ecosystem-based Adaptation and Mitigation

68 Convergence of REDD and EBA Trade-off of ecosystem services (MA), provisioning, regulating, supporting Co-benefits of both actions REDD and EBA Needs to be conceptualized in one framework of ecosystem management

69 Multiple Benefits Benefits (and impacts) include: Biodiversity Improved livelihoods Landscape restoration etc. Case studies in Vietnam, Indonesia, Tanzania, Bolivia, Ecuador... Etc UN-REDD is supporting countries to: Maximize socio-economic and environmental benefits Improve equitable benefit sharing

70 Climate Change impacts Population increase Increased pressure on ecosystems Ecosystem degradation Poor Ecosystem Protection Loss of human wellbeing Social disruption Drivers and impacts of ecosystem degradation 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 Ecosystem-Based Adaptation

71 Qs? Thank you!