INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE

Transcription

1 ISLANDS, LAND OF INNOVATIVE SOLUTIONS FOR ALL TERRITORIES CONFERENCE PROGRAM

2 INTRODUCTION On , La Reunion, a French island in the Indian Ocean, in partnership with the Network of Regional Governments for Sustainable Development - nrg4sd, is organizing the second International Conference on Climate Change Adaptation, this time entitled Islands, land of innovative solutions for all territories, in conjunction with the 2017 nrg4sd General Assembly. Reunion Island aims to be a reference for other regions, especially the extremely vulnerable island territories and ultra-peripheral regions (UPR), in terms of energy autonomy and innovative sustainable solutions. In 2010, the Reunion Island adopted a voluntary policy on energy excellency with an eye towards limiting the ecological footprint. The International Conference on Climate Change Adaptation will provide the opportunity to showcase the expertise of islands and regions, to not only raise awareness on their role in adaptation and the specificities of islands, but also identify solutions to effectively tackle the challenges of climate change. Multiple stakeholders such as representatives from island and regional governments, civil society, and the scientific community will discuss impacts of climate change and pioneering solutions to build greater resilience and effectively adapt to climate change. Experts will elaborate on how to advance the development and implementation of solutions through investment and finance, as well as through awareness and innovation. The event will also be an important preparatory step towards the 23rd session of the Conference of the Parties (COP 23) to the UN Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) hosted in Bonn, Germany this November. With Fiji Island as the COP 23 President, the negotiations will gain the perspective of those who are most vulnerable to the effects of climate change, small states and islands. Therefore, it is vital for regional governments to unite and form a common message to be delivered at COP23, sharing with the global community their adaptation actions and the challenges of securing climate finance and building resilience.

3 CALENDAR OVERVIEW Morning Mañana Matin Tuesday 3. Martes 3. Mardi 3. Wednesday 4. Miercoles 4. Mercredi 4. Thursday 5. Jueves 5. Jeudi 5. Arrivals of GA meeting GA meeting participants and Reunión de la AG Reunión de la AG informal welcome Réunión de l AG Réunión de l AG Friday 6. Vierves 6. Vendredi 6. International Conference Conferencia Internacional Conférence Internationale reception at hotel Llegada de los participantes y recepción informal Lunch Comida Déjeuner Lunch Comida Déjeuner Lunch: pique-nique (study visit) Comida: pique-nique (visita de estudio) Déjeuner: pique-nique (visit d étude) de bienvenida en Afternoon Tarde Aprés midi el hotel Arrivée des participants et GA meeting Reunión de la AG Réunión de l AG réception d accueil informelle à l hotel Gala dinner Cena de gala Dîner de gala International Conference: opening Conferencia Internacional: apertura Conférence International: ouverture Study visit related to the themes of the International Conference Visita de estudio relacionada a los temas de la Conferencia Internacional Visite d étude relative aux thémes de la Conférence Cultural event (TBC) Evento cultural Événement culturel Free evening Noche libre Soirée libre Saturday 7. Sábado 7. Samedi 7. Departure of nrg4sd members Salida de los miembros de nrg4sd Départ des membres nrg4sd

4 THURSDAY 05 OCTOBER :30 Welcome reception 14:00 Opening RegionsAdapt Signing Ceremony Declaration of the islands: Assessment of signatories and actions undertaken since :00 16:00 Round Table: Climate change adaptation in regional governments and islands: RegionsAdapt and other experiences Climate change is a global problem, but its impacts are felt mostly on a subnational scale, representing a special concern for islands. Therefore, adaptation needs to be location-specific, building strategies that take into account the specificities of the territories where climate change impacts are being felt. The challenge of addressing these impacts effectively demands not only the commitment of nation states, but a multi-level approach, considering the significant role that regions and islands play. Regional governments are often responsible for the elaboration and implementation of policy, legislation, fiscal mechanisms and public investment plans in several areas and through this they are pivotal in building greater resilience for their societies. Considering their good strategical position between the national and local level, regional governments are able to transmit their populations needs to the national level, as well as to translate the national strategies and policies to their inhabitants and implement them on the ground. In addition, thanks to international cooperation initiatives like RegionsAdapt, they can foster concrete actions, exchange best practices and report efforts which ultimately favours their ability in delivering adaptation measures. This roundtable will provide fruitful discussions of different stakeholders on the experiences of islands and regions towards building greater resilience and efficient climate change adaptation. Adaptation approaches and challenges of islands and regions will be discussed, as well as successful experiences of how international initiatives like RegionsAdapt, drive forward adaptation efforts of islands and regions.

5 THURSDAY 05 OCTOBER :00 16:15 Coffee Break 16:15 17:30 Parallel session 1: Islands and coastal areas, innovative solutions in adaptation resilience and energy Climate change is a global challenge with particular impacts on islands and coastal areas. Sea level rise, coastal erosion and the loss of low-lying systems, not only constitute great impacts by themselves, but also induce increased migration of the local population. The impacts of climate change will also increase the risk of flooding and storm surges, as well as saltwater intrusion and the loss of coastal ecosystems. Due to their high vulnerability, urgent adaptation action is needed in islands and coastal areas. In this regard, islands and coastal areas are at the forefront of developing innovative solutions in adaptation. Due to the size and remoteness of many islands, they constitute a forward-looking mirror for the issues faced by all territories that will have to address climate change. On the other hand, they can serve as pilot territories to harness innovation and develop effective strategies to increase resilience. By building upon their natural resources and energies, like water and wind, islands and coastal areas are able to address the unique challenges they face. This insular component is at the heart of the Twinning Agreement between the Reunion Island and the Republic of Fiji, that was signed in 2016 at COP 22 in Marrakech. The agreement includes the commitment to mutual support for solutions to decrease energy dependency and increase energy efficiency, serving as an example for other territories at risk. This session will highlight the unique role of islands and territories in building resilience and energy independency through the development of new sources of renewable energy. Particularly building on the good experience of the Reunion Island, different stakeholders will exchange best practices, expertise and information regarding production and solutions allowing the decrease of dependency to fossil fuels and thus leading to greater resilience of islands and coastal areas.

6 THURSDAY 05 OCTOBER :15 17:30 Parallel session 2: Societal challenge: climate change impacts to social and economic sectors The issue of climate change might seem less important to certain stakeholders than other pressing issues like economic development, job creation or the establishment of affordable health care. However, there is clearly a need to place climate change considerations into the mainstream of public policies as they are highly connected to climate change and its impacts. The effects of climate change in the recent past have undermined socio-economic development either indirectly through the degradation of natural resources or directly through the impacts on human well-being and working capacity. In order to build future economies and functioning societies actors need to not only take into account the environmental effects of climate change but also its impact on the socio-economic dimension of societies. Businesses can benefit by taking action to recognise and adapt to the impacts of climate change to their companies in order to prevent production loss and decline of revenues, which would ultimately lead to the loss of jobs and reduce economic growth. Additionally, climate change will generate new health risks and amplify current health problems. Extreme weather events, such as heatwaves and floods constitute direct effects on human health, while changes in the incidence of diseases transmitted by insects, water food and air quality will have indirect effects for the population. Health system institutions need to incorporate these issues into their planning and develop strategies in order to help communities prepare for the health effects of climate change. This session will inform about the various impacts of climate change to social and economic sectors. From financial planners to farmers, civil engineers to doctors, an increasingly wide range of professionals are likely to find their industries affected, another consequence of climate change that often gets overlooked. Stakeholders from different disciplines will share their experiences with these impacts and possible adaptation options to them. 18:30 Adjournment 19:30 Dinner

7 FRIDAY 06 OCTOBER :30 Welcome reception 9:00 Session 3: Environmental challenge: biodiversity, forestry and protected areas Climate change, biodiversity and forests are interconnected. While climate change constitutes additional pressure on biodiversity and forests, worsening the impacts of mankind on the natural environment, biodiversity and forest loss can aggravate the extent of climate change in the future. The impacts of climate change for biodiversity are varied. Warmer regional temperatures affect the timing of reproduction in animals and plants, the migration of animals, the length of the growing season, the species distribution and the frequency of pests and diseases. On the other hand, biodiversity can support climate adaptation through the ecosystem services it supports. Consequently, nature-based solutions, such as conserving biodiversity and forests through protected areas and other measures, constitute a critical factor to addressing climate change. Therefore, adaptation approaches and natural resilience need to be integrated into public policies, as well as resource and land use plans. Healthy ecosystems will be more resilient to climate change and more able to maintain the supply of ecosystem services. In this regard, regional governments should implement the UN Convention on Biological Diversity and explore its interlinkages with the climate change agenda. Multiple stakeholders will share their views on the environmental challenge of climate change. New and more dynamic strategies that help to protect and restore ecosystems while reducing the extent of climate change will be presented. It will be discussed how the work with nature - rather than against it - can lessen the extent of climate change and build greater resilience to it.

8 FRIDAY 06 OCTOBER :00 Network coffee. Space organized for attendees to showcase innovative practices and information on interesting projects that contribute to the topic of the Conference 11:00 Closing Plenary: Road to COP23 Signing of the position Paper: Regions and islands innovative solutions towards adaptation and the Paris Agreement As an outcome of this International conference, participants will agree on a common position paper to be presented at the COP23. This paper will highlight the main consideration of regional governments to the issue of climate change adaptation, the implementation of the Paris Agreement, and the particular importance of taking action in islands. 12:30 Brunch 14:00 Field visit RSVP: More Information: