A presentation by IIED principal researcher Dr Achala Abeysinghe summarising adaptation policy and the governance of climate change.
The presentation was made at a lecture at the University of Manchester on 12 April 2016.
More details: http://www.iied.org/helping-vulnerable-countries-achieve-equitable-solutions-climate-law-policy-making-processes
1. Adaptation in international Climate Change Law and
Policy
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Dr. Achala
Abeysinghe
Adaptation Policy and
Governance of Climate
Change
Dr. Achala Abeysinghe
Principal Researcher/ Team Leader
Global Climate Law, Policy and Governance
Achala.abeysinghe@iied.org
2. Adaptation in international Climate Change Law and
Policy
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Dr. Achala
Abeysinghe
Presentation Outline
Part I: Key concepts of adaptation
Part II: Evolution of global responses on
adaptation
Part II: Adaptation finance
Part IV: Adaptation in the Paris Agreement
3. Adaptation in international Climate Change Law and
Policy
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Dr. Achala
Abeysinghe
Part I: Key concepts of adaptation
4. Adaptation in international Climate Change Law and
Policy
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Dr. Achala
Abeysinghe
What is adaptation?
“Adjustment in natural or human systems in response to actual or
expected climatic stimuli or their effects…”(IPCC)
“Process by which strategies to moderate, cope with and take
advantage of the consequences of climatic events are enhanced,
developed, and implemented” (UNEP)
“The process or outcome of a process that leads to a reduction in
harm or risk of harm, or realisation of benefits associated with
climate variability and climate change. (The UK Climate Impacts
Program)”
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Policy
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Dr. Achala
Abeysinghe
Why adaptation?
CO2 emissions have risen (145 fold since 1850, projected to rise by an additional
54% by 2030 (UNEP))
At the present rate, global mean temperature will increase above 4°C
relative to pre-industrial level by 2100 (IPCC 2013)
“Increasing magnitudes of warming increase the likelihood of severe,
pervasive, and irreversible impacts” ( Heat waves, droughts, floods,
cyclones, and wildfires… IPCC)
The CO2 emitted today will stay in the atmosphere for more than 100
years
The response to climate change mitigation so far has been inefficient
Therefore countries and communities
have to address climate change
impacts today and tomorrow
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Policy
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Dr. Achala
Abeysinghe
Principles of adaptation
Country driven
Gender responsiveness
Participatory
Human rights
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Policy
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Dr. Achala
Abeysinghe
Climate change and equity: key
questions
Who is vulnerable to climate change impacts?
Who should receive support?
Who should pay for adaptation?
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Policy
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Dr. Achala
Abeysinghe
Climate change and equity
From1980 to 2013, roughly 1.28 million people lost their lives in the Least
Developed Countries (LDCs) due to climate-related disasters (Over half of
the global percentage)
Between 2010 and 2013, a total of nearly 240,000 people from LDCs lost
their lives to climate related disasters (67 per cent of deaths from climate related
disasters worldwide)
People in the LDCs were five times more likely to die from climate related
disasters than people living anywhere else on earth.
Data from Centre for Research on the Epidemiology of Disasters (Brussels).
9. Adaptation in international Climate Change Law and
Policy
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Dr. Achala
Abeysinghe
It is better to face Sandy in the US than Aila in
Bangladesh?
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Policy
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Dr. Achala
Abeysinghe
Every country is vulnerable to climate change but
some are more vulnerable.
Lack of capacity and resources exacerbates
climate vulnerability
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Policy
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Dr. Achala
Abeysinghe
Part II: Evolution of Global
Responses on Climate Change
Adaptation
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Policy
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Dr. Achala
Abeysinghe
Evolution of global
responses to adaptation
Paris
Agreement
Article 7
2015
Lima decision
on Adaptation
component in
Intended
Nationally
Determined
Contributions
2014
Cancun
Adaptation
Framework
2010
Nairobi Work
Programme
on Climate
Change
2005
National
Adaptation
Programmes
of Action
(NAPAs) and
Least
Developed
Countries
Fund (LDCF)
2001
Poor cousin
of mitigation
1992
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Policy
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Dr. Achala
Abeysinghe
Key elements of adaptation
under the UNFCCC
Principles
Planning
Institutional arrangements
Funding
Monitoring and evaluation
Learning/ awareness
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Policy
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Dr. Achala
Abeysinghe
Planning: NAPAs and
NAPs
National Adaptation Programmes of Action- NAPAs (2001)
To address urgent and immediate adaptation needs of
LDCs
National adaptation plans- NAPs (2010)
Medium and long term adaptation plans for all developing
countries
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Policy
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Dr. Achala
Abeysinghe
Institutional
Arrangements
Adaptation committee
Least Developed Countries Expert Group (LEG)
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Policy
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Dr. Achala
Abeysinghe
Learning, knowledge
and awareness
Least Developed Countries Expert Group (LEG)
Nairobi Work Programme
Adaptation Committee
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Policy
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Dr. Achala
Abeysinghe
Part III: funding for adaptation
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Dr. Achala
Abeysinghe
Adaptation finance and the
UNFCCC
“The developed country Parties and other developed Parties included in
Annex II shall also assist the developing country Parties that are particularly
vulnerable to the adverse effects of climate change in meeting costs of
adaptation to those adverse effects.”
“The Parties shall take full account of the specific needs and special
situations of the least developed countries in their actions with regard to
funding and transfer of technology”
“The extent to which developing country Parties will effectively implement
their commitments under the Convention will depend on the effective
implementation by developed country Parties of their commitments under
the Convention related to financial resources…”
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Policy
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Dr. Achala
Abeysinghe
Equity and principles of
adaptation finance
Adequacy
Predictability
Balanced between adaptation and mitigation
New and additional
Grant based
Easy access
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Policy
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Dr. Achala
Abeysinghe
Financial Mechanism: UNFCCC
The Global Environment Facility (GEF): an operating entity
of the financial mechanism of the Convention
The Least Developed Countries Fund (LDCF)
The Special Climate Change Fund (SCCF)
GEF Trust Fund
The Kyoto Protocol: Adaptation Fund (AF)
The Green Climate Fund (GCF): as an operating entity of
the Financial Mechanism of the Convention
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Policy
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Dr. Achala
AbeysingheStatus of Funds
Source: Climate Fund Update, June 2015
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Dr. Achala
Abeysinghe
Other climate funds
Source: Climate Fund Update, June
2015
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Dr. Achala
Abeysinghe
Amount/ Adequacy
Word Bank: $70–100 billion (between 2010 and 2050)
The UNFCCC: Up to US $67 billion a year annually by 2030
UNDP: Up to US $86 billion a year by 2015
DARA: 2030 - $1 Trillion
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Dr. Achala
Abeysinghe
Annual global climate finance flows
Reached an average of USD 364 billion in 2010/2011
USD 350 billion went to mitigation measures
Only USD 14 billion goes to adaptation
Key recipients: Emerging economies
Source: CPI, February 2013
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Dr. Achala
Abeysinghe
• Part IV: Adaptation in the Paris Agreement
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Dr. Achala
Abeysinghe
Adaptation in the Paris
Agreement: Key elements
Recognizes that the current need for adaptation is
significant
greater levels of mitigation can reduce the need for
additional adaptation efforts,
greater adaptation needs can involve greater adaptation
costs
Long term vision: global goal for adaptation
Equal footing with mitigation
Establish common responsibilities
Establish link to level of warming and adaptation support
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Dr. Achala
Abeysinghe
Paris Agreement…
Each Party to engage in adaptation planning
processes and the implementation of actions
including national adaptation plans
Continuous and enhanced international support
to be provided to developing country Parties for
the implementation
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Dr. Achala
Abeysinghe
Paris Decisions…
Reference to the Adaptation Committee and the
Least Developed Countries expert Group
Requests Parties to strengthen regional
cooperation and establish regional centres and
networks
Further requests the Green Climate Fund to
expedite support for the LDCs for the
formulation of the National Adaptation Plans
(NAPs)
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Dr. Achala
Abeysinghe
Adaptation in Intended Nationally
Determined Contributions (INDCs)
Adaptation as voluntary element in the
INDCs
Elements include:
Type(s) of climate change impacts, vulnerabilities
and adaptation needs, by Sector
Type(s) of Policies, Actions and Tools
Quantified goals (if any)
Timeframe
Methodologies and Assumptions
Implementation
Support Needs
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Dr. Achala
Abeysinghe
Example: Mexican INDC
Three areas of action in 2020-2030
1. Adaptation to climate change for the social sector
- e.g. Guarantee food security under CC; reduce by 50% number of
municipalities regarded most vulnerable etc.
2. Ecosystem-Based Adaptation
- e.g. 0% deforestation target, reforestation of watersheds, strengthen
coastal protection etc.
3. Adaptation of strategic infrastructure and productive systems
- e.g. infrastructure relocation in high-risk zones, incorporate adaptation
criteria in public building systems etc.
July 29, 2016
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Adaptation used to be thought that only poorer developing countries needed to worry about adaptation- this is no longer true as we now realise that all countries, including the rich will need to adapt as well
For example, the Hurricane Sandy has done a thousands of pounds worth damage in the US –the Obama Government recently allocated 60 million USD to recover from the Hurricane.
In 2007, The Cyclone “Sidr” hit the south and south-western parts of Bangladesh. A seven foot high tidal surge crossed through the country, killing about 4,000 people, flattening houses, uprooting trees, snapping telephone and power lines. When Bangladesh was still reeling from the shocks of Sidr, cyclone Aila hit the south-western part of the country in 2009. Several hundred thousands of homes were washed away when wind-driven tidal surges up to 3 meters destroyed the coastal belt.
However, while the US can take swift actions and allocate finance and technology to adapt to future similar events, Bangladesh will still be suffering and trying to heal from the damages done few years back. Lack of resources and capacity of vulnerable developing countries pose a serious challenge to equity in adaptation practice.