The Caribbean Community Climate Change Centre

Transcription

1 The Caribbean Community Climate Change Centre Selected Initiatives in Mainstreaming Climate Change into National and Regional Policies, Strategies and Plans in the Caribbean By Joseph McGann Programme Manager 1

2 The Caribbean Community Climate Change Centre A Brief Overview 2

3 ESTABLISHMENT OF THE CCCCC Recognizing the vulnerability to the impacts of climate change and climate variability on the economic development and social needs of the region, the Heads of Government of CARICOM at their annual meeting in July 2002, endorsed the creation of the Caribbean Community Climate Change Centre with the following mandate: to coordinate the regional response to climate change and its efforts to manage and adapt to its projected impacts. 3

4 CCCCC OPERATIONAL STATUS Limited operations commenced in January 2004 with the appointment of a Director. The Centre became fully operational in July 2005 through supporting grants from The host country, Belize The Governments of Barbados and Italy It is located in the City of Belmopan, Belize. 4

5 The Objectives of the Centre Promoting protection of the earth s climate system with special emphasis on the Caribbean Enhancing regional institutional capabilities for the co-ordinationordination of national responses to the adverse effects of climate change Providing comprehensive policy and technical support in the area of climate change and related issues Promoting education and public awareness on climate change issues Facilitating regional consensus for negotiations related to the UNFCCC 5

6 Collaborating Institutions United Kingdom Hadley Centre Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research, Germany Meteorological Research Institute, Japan INSMET of Cuba University of Louisville (Kentucky, U.S.A.) Florida International University (U.S.A.) NOAA (U.S.A.) CARDI CIMH University of the West Indies University of Belize CATHALAC OAS CMCC of Italy 6

7 NATIONAL LEVEL INITIATIVES 7

8 NATIONAL LEVEL INITIATIVES THE MAINSTREAMING ADAPTATION TO CLIMATE CHANGE (MACC) PROJECT, (2003 to 2009) a GEF/WB funded project, executed by the CARICOM Secretariat (CCS) and the Caribbean Community Climate Change Centre (CCCCC), was one mechanism utilized to support selected climate change adaptation initiatives in the Caribbean Community countries. 8

9 NATIONAL LEVEL INITIATIVES The initiatives under the MACCC Project focused on the following: The Building of Capacity to Assess Vulnerability and Risks Associated with Climate Change and Climate Variability The Building of Capacity Vulnerability to Climate Change to Reduce 9

10 The initiatives focused on the following: The Building of Capacity to Effectively Access and Utilize Resources to Reduce Vulnerability to Climate Change (Transfer and Share Risk) Delivering Climate Change Information and Data to Key Stakeholders for Policy and Decision Making and Public Education and Awareness 10

11 Capacity Established to Formulate and Analyze Adaptation Policy Options A number of Caribbean Institutions now have the capacity and capability to conduct formulation and analysis of adaptation policy options. These include the Climate Studies Group and the Centre for Resource Management and Environmental Studies of the UWI and the Environmental Solutions Ltd. (ESL), (private sector) among others 11

12 Downscaled Global Climate Models Used to Support of Decision Making for Adaptation The Climate Studies Group (CSG) of the UWI and INSMET of Cuba, has been engaged in the downscaling and scenario development activities with the CCCCC. This has provided beneficiaries and users with the outputs of downscaled climate projection scenarios for use in vulnerability and impact assessments and other studies 12

13 A harmonized approach for climate change vulnerability and risk assessment developed Vulnerability and capacity assessments in the agriculture (Guyana), tourism (Barbados) and water sectors (Jamaica and St. Vincent and the Grenadines were completed using the manual. The manual and the final reports of these assessments are now available from the CCCCC 13

14 Capacity Established to Formulate and Analyze Adaptation Policy Options National Adaptation Strategies (NAS) to address climate change in specific sectors have been completed and presented to the respective national government agencies for consideration and implementation. NAS were completed for Barbados (tourism), Belize (water), Guyana (agriculture), and Jamaica (water) 14

15 Capacity Established to Formulate and Analyze Adaptation Policy Options A regional study was also completed for the health sector and with specific recommendations on Health and Climate Change Adaptation Options for the region. The study was conducted by the CSG 15

16 The ESL Technical Team 16

17 The CCCCC ED presents NAS to Minister Horace Chang in Jamaica 17

18 WRT Building of Capacity to Effectively Access and Utilize Resources to Reduce Vulnerability, the following outcome was achieved Established/institutionalized the capacity to prepare regional negotiating positions (common and consolidated) and agenda for the UNFCCC and other international fora 18

19 WRT Delivering CC Information and Data to Key Stakeholders and Public Education and Outreach, two outcomes were achieved 1.The groundwork laid for the establishment of a fully functional information clearing house mechanism 2. Selected elements of a regional public education and outreach program established 19

20 20

21 REGIONAL LEVEL INITIATIVES 21

22 REGIONAL LEVEL INITIATIVES The CARICOM Regional Framework for Achieving Development Resilient to Climate Change Delivering Transformational Change

23 REGIONAL LEVEL INITIATIVES In 2009, two significant steps were taken to address climate change in the Caribbean. The Heads of Government of CARICOM: Approved the Liliendaal Declaration on Climate Change and Development The Declaration defines the national and international political positions of the CARICOM member states. 23

24 REGIONAL LEVEL INITIATIVES In 2009, two significant steps were taken to address climate change in the Caribbean. The Heads of Government of CARICOM: Approved A A Regional Framework for Achieving Development Resilient to Climate Change prepared by the Caribbean Community Climate Change Centre (CCCCC). The Framework articulates the strategic direction for the region s response to climate change risks and provides a roadmap for action. 24

25 REGIONAL LEVEL INITIATIVES The Heads of Government further requested the Centre to prepare an Implementation Plan (IP) to support the implementation of the Strategic Framework. The IP was developed during the period September 2010 to June 2011, with funding from the UK Department for International Development and the Climate and Development Knowledge Network. 25

26 REGIONAL LEVEL INITIATIVES The Implementation Plan lays the ground-work to mainstream climate change into the national development and planning processes in CARICOM member states. The Implementation Plan was prepared following an extensive programme of consultation with over 70 institutions and organizations and more than 200 stakeholders including politicians, government officials, regional agencies, NGOs, private sector and donor agencies. 26

27 REGIONAL LEVEL INITIATIVES The IP will involve a transformational change in mindset, institutional arrangements, operating systems, collaborative approaches and integrated planning mechanisms in the region. These shifts have been initiated by the strong political leadership which paved the way for the Regional Framework and the Implementation Plan. The Implementation Plan is tailored to the regional context, linking specific actions with wider regional and national sustainable development and growth strategies to effectively mobilise limited resources. Central to this is the three-ones approach. 27

28 REGIONAL LEVEL INITIATIVES The IP is a living document and will serve as the blue-print to take forward and deliver the strategic elements and goals identified in the Regional Framework. Prior to approval by the Heads in March 2012, the IP was endorsed by: Representatives of national governments in May 2011 COTED in September 2011 The Community Council in February

29 PRIORITY CHALLENGES, ACTIONS, KEY FINDINGS AND LESSONS LEARNED 29

30 PRIORITY CHALLENGES AND ACTIONS Caribbean states must become low-carbon economies: Building a low carbon climate resilient economy should be anbuilding integral element of the wider sustainable development agenda integral e of the CARICOM. Regional institutions and national Governments of the CA are to review their existing strategies, policies and actions toare to rev ensure they align with building resilience and delivering a lowensure th carbon economy. CARICOM and its regional organisations must play a key CARICO and critical role in execution of the IP: The regional organizations will work collectively through a regional support structure that will allow countries to maximise regional their resources and technical expertise to the benefit of all. 30

31 PRIORITY CHALLENGES AND ACTIONS Building resilience through transformational change and Building effective mobilisation of scarce resources: Business as usual will not drive the transformation requiredbusiness to build resilience to a changing climate. The Caribbean cannotbuild resi deliver resilience and create low carbon economies without financial and technical assistance built on effective partnerships financial between national governments and international development between partners. Disaster risk reduction and climate change are inextricably linked: Building resilience to existing climate variability and the changes Building already experienced will be enhanced through the disaster risk already e reduction programmes across the Caribbean. The work of the reduction Caribbean Disaster and Emergency Management Agency must Caribbea remain a priority. 31

32 PRIORITY CHALLENGES AND ACTIONS Risk assessment and management must be the standard Risk asse in decision-making and resource-allocation processes: The Regional Framework is founded upon the principle of using The risk Regional Fram management processes and tools to aid decision-making. Risk management processes can us to better manage our responses management to pro aspects of climate variability and climate change that createaspects or increase of climate a risk to the Caribbean region, its member states, citizens, infrastructure, economies and environment. Uncertainty is not a reason for inaction: There is sufficient information available to make some decisions Therenow. is sufficien While there are issues with baseline data and knowledge gaps, While there there is are is a wealth of existing information, knowledge and expertise which a wealth must of existi be built upon to develop capacity. Specific actions such as conducting be built upon a to d full asset inventory of Saint Lucia s water utility assets couldfull beasset invento undertaken, followed by a risk assessment of the asset s s vulnerability to climate variability. 32

33 KEY FINDINGS AND LESSONS LEARNED The mandate given to the CCCCC by the Heads of Government in CARICOM to develop the IP provided politically powerful credibility for the process and ensured the buy-in of key stakeholders. Armed with this robust mandate the CCCCC and consultant team, gained access to a wide range of stakeholders and meaningful consultations were held. Aligning national and regional priorities resulted in a Aligning successful nation implementation plan. Although the IP is a regional plan for addressing climate change, Although the elements that make up the IP also had to address national the elem issues and national priorities. This was assured through the identification of key regional issues in the five strategic elements identifica of the Regional Strategy for Building Climate Resilience in the of the Re Caribbean. 33

34 KEY FINDINGS AND LESSONS LEARNED Targeting key senior actors and institutions ensured that Targeting inputs were truly reflective of national circumstancesinputs. we Rather than convening meetings with national stakeholdersrather in one than placeconve at one time or meeting just with national climate change committees, at one time or me the consultation approach was more directly targeted at keythe individuals. consultation a Senior officials were engaged successfully through this method Senior andofficials were we more able to accurately articulate the national positions on more key issues. able to accu The iterative stakeholder review process of the IP, full Th national participation in a regional workshop and inviting national inputs for finalisation of the IP, gave national entitiesinputs a fo clear stake in the development and fostered ownership clear stak among stakeholders. The process involved building consensus among sovereign states, The process with ainvolv wide range of country and stakeholder interests. It was important wide range to beof cou sensitive to key issues that emerged as vital to national interests sensitive andtotokey is ensure that they were reflected in the compilation of priorityensure actions. that they w 34

35 KEY FINDINGS AND LESSONS LEARNED Combining the region-specific knowledge and experience of the CCCCC team with the services of a reputable consultancy firm was a strength. The consulting team s leadership and guidance in key technical The areas consulting te was complemented by the on-the-ground knowledge and experience of the CCCCC team that had been built up over the years and the capitalised CCCCC team on existing and excellent working relationships with key national existing and and e regional organizations. This supported easy access to key stakeholders regional orga and was instrumental in facilitating a complex regional process. and was instrume Additional benefits have emerged from the Implementation Plan process. The IP process has enhanced knowledge of region-specific climate issues across a wide range of stakeholders in the Caribbean and this across has a wide ran strengthened the position of the CCCCC to support the mainstreaming strengthened of the climate change into different sectors.. 35

36 CONCLUSIONS Delivery of the IP is a shared responsibility. Regional organisations have a role in supporting and guiding action organisa on climate change, however the focus for transformational change is at the national level and below. The pace at which such change can be achieved will be The a pace function of the capacity, resources, empowerment of function and engagement across and between all sectors and stakeholders, along with the political will to effect change. The adoption of the three-ones approach to resource mobilisation is considered to be the most effective process by which this change can be delivered. 36

37 Contact Information THE CARIBBEAN COMMUNITY CLIMATE CHANGE CENTRE 2 nd Floor, Lawrence Nicholas Bldg. P.O. Box 563 Bliss Parade, Belmopan, Belize Tel: /1104 Fax: Website: 37

38 Caribbean Training Workshop, April 23-26, 26, 2012 Montego Bay, Jamaica 38