Problems and constraints

Transcription

1 Cambodia s Initial National Communication: Problems and constraints Workshop of the Consultative Group of Experts on National Communication from non-annex I parties Nassau, Bahamas August 8-10, 2002 By: Thy SUM, Team Leader of the National Technical Committee, Cambodian Climate Change Enabling Activity Project

2 STRUCTURE OF THE PRESENTATION Problems and constraints related to the institutional arrangement Technical problems and constraints related to the preparation of the Technical Chapters of the Initial National Communication Problems and constraints related to the availability of human, technical and financial resources

3 I. Problems and constraints related to the institutional arrangement Problem/Constraint The reason of the problem Way to overcome Relatively insufficient interministerial/agency cooperation and coordination No formal institutional arrangement for climate change activities Establish a permanent inter-agency body, strengthen policy framework Lack of experiences, limited technical capacity of local staff, limited financial resources, no national experts in the country Difficulty in recruiting or keeping qualified staff to work for the project First climate change related project, new issues, new procedure and system, civil war over 30 years Low incentives for qualified local staff Further support of UNDP/GEF, other donors. Scholarship, training, etc. for local staff Gvt. admin reform is underway. Provide reasonable supplementary salary to the government counterparts

4 I. Problems and constraints related to the institutional arrangement (cont.) Problem/Constraint The reason of the problem Way to overcome Limited participation in climate change activities No climate change research/training institutions in the country Inadequate national climate change policy/strategy Insufficient knowledge/understanding about climate change issues, effects and opportunities under the UNFCCC and the Kyoto Protocol No resources available Integration of climate change concerns into economic and social development is still in an embryonic stage Education and awareness raising campaign to promote information sharing and coordination arrangements Donor support in establishing training or research institution(s). Join regional programmes Prepare/revise national action plan on climate change. Additional policy/advocacy support to the government

5 the Technical Chapters of the Initial National Communication Inventory: Problem/Constraint The reason of the problem Way to overcome Extremely weak activity data for all sectors Complete absence of local emission factors for all sectors Difficulty in following the Revised 1996 IPCC Guidelines, especially for LUCF sector Most data and information were destroyed by war. Very little research activities. Weak data management capacity No previous researches/studies. Cambodia did not participate (not invited) in the ALGAS project, US country studies or other climate change related projects Differences in forest classification Identify appropriate indicators, use assumption and improve activity data through field surveys/measurements Use IPCC default emission factors and emission factors developed by neighbouring countries. Conduct field surveys/measurements Use local forest classification

6 the Technical Chapters of the Initial National Communication (cont.) Inventory: Lack of GHG inventory experts available in the country Difficulty in conducting uncertainty analysis Quality and accuracy issues New subject for Cambodia, civil war Inability of local staff and insufficient information No substantial technical comments or advice from concerned agencies Use on-the job training, conduct indepth training for local staff, technical backup-stopping support from regional consultant, Further training and support from outside, exchange visit opportunities Continue to rely on support from outside such as the National Communication Support Programme

7 the Technical Chapters of the Initial National Communication (cont.) Vulnerability and Adaptation Assessment Difficulty in using techniques for generating climatic data Relatively low technical capacity of local staff Additional in-depth trainings/capacity building activities Weak meteorological data Absence of own General Circulation Model (GCM) Most of the records and meteorological stations were destroyed during the war. Scarce resources to build, maintain and operate the remaining stations Data generated by GCMs developed by other countries are consistently higher than those observed for Cambodia Seek assistance to improve the situation including institutional arrangement for database management Develop Cambodia specific GCM

8 the technical chapters of the Initial National Communication (cont.) Vulnerability and Adaptation Assessment Lack of local experts on V&A in the country Climate change is very new subject for Cambodia Additional and in-depth trainings. Use support from regional/international experts/organizations Difficulty in development of models Relative low capacity of local staff Training/workshops, backstopping support from consultants Insufficient support from experts Limited financial resources available for recruiting highly qualified experts. Time constraint Increase funding or provide free-of-charge experts/consultancy for project(s)

9 technical chapters of the Initial National Communication (cont.) Research and Systematic Observation Weak and insufficient meteorological data Limited technical capacity to access, analyse and manage data Limited research activities Lack of adequate equipment and efficient observation network. The existing equipment is outof-date Most of them have been destroyed by civil war. Very few meteorological stations are functional today Few trained, well-qualified staff, lack of required resources No resources. Most activities have been focussed on postwar rehabilitation Most of them were destroyed by civil war. Lack of financial support to replace Department of Meteorology has developed a proposal for rehabilitation and modernisation of damaged stations Training and funding support to responsible agencies Promote climate change-related research activities, including through participation in regional/global projects It is difficult to solve, as the current government funding capacity is limited and therefore external assistance is required

10 technical chapters of the Initial National Communication (cont.) GHG Abatement Analysis Absence of a common guideline for reporting Data obtained from concerned agencies are not relevant for mitigation analysis No local experts available in the country Possible difficulties in implementing the proposed mitigation options Some mitigation options have been analysed using a number of simple models, while other options have been extracted from sustainable development plans of the government Low quality and inadequate data and information Climate change is very new subject for Cambodia Low awareness among stakeholders, economically not feasible options, difficulty in changing traditional practices A clear and simple reporting guideline should be developed Improve data collection and management capacity. Create a formal institution responsible for database management Additional and in-depth trainings. Use support from regional/international experts/organizations Awareness raising programme, support for incremental costs

11 the technical chapters of the Initial National Communication (cont.) Education/Training and Public Awareness Weak public awareness/education on climate change Absence of climate change/environmental researches conducted by local universities Incomprehensive, fragmented and unsystematic climate change-related themes Climate change is a new subject in Cambodia. Absence of climate change/energy NGOs in the country Cambodian universities are still in the process of rehabilitation from the damages caused by recent war No coordination among schools/universities Education and awareness raising campaign through local media, formal and nonformal education systems, NGOs Help universities establish and strengthen their climate change research capacity Develop coordination mechanisms in the national environment awareness campaign

12 the technical chapters of the Initial National Communication (con.t) Education/Training and Public Awareness Inadequate trainings to relevant institutions on climate change Limited resources. All training activities have been conducted within the framework of the only Further in-deep-training on climate change related issues in the country and overseas Little coverage of climate change issues by local media Commercially not viable themes, no sponsors to support awareness campaign Seek sources to support awareness raising campaign

13 technical chapters of the Initial National Communication (cont.) Information and Networking Difficulties in obtaining required information Absence of a mechanism for information sharing within the country. Internet and use is still limited for government institutions Training, improve information sharing, visit or conduct quick survey to concerned agencies Lack of reliable data and information required for preparing national communication Same as in the relevant sectors above Same as in the relevant sectors above

14 the technical chapters of the Initial National Communication (cont.) Information and Networking Limited access to information sources Subscription fees to most international publications are expensive, internet connection is also expensive Subscribe news, look for other free-of-charge publications Weak networking within the region and globally No formal coordination Establish a regional/international institution responsible for maintaining disseminating information, experts roster, etc.

15 III. Problems and Constraints Related to the Availability of Human, Technical and Financial Resources Insufficient external supports to climate change activities/initiatives Technical capacity of the members of National Technical Committee is relatively low Lack of relevant experts in the countries UNDP/GEF support for preparation of Initial National Communication is the only support to climate change related activities in Cambodia Their backgrounds and work experience are not related to climate change subject Climate change is very new for Cambodia Seek additional support from donors. A minimum funding leve for climate change project suppor to LDC countries Use-on-the job training, direct involvement of local staff in project implementation, exposing staff to international events, etc. Hire regional consultants and ensure flow of technical knowhow to local counterparts through on-the-job training

16 III. Problems and Constraints Related to the availability of Human, Technical and Financial Resources (cont.) Language barriers All document are in English, French or other UN languages Send staff to English language trainings Inadequate financial resources from the government There are many activities to be done by the government to address the most urgent socio-economic needs Increase funding from donors, an involve private sector through innovative financing schemes