Download Panel 2 - global change SysTem for Analysis, Research & Training

Adaptation opportunities,
barriers and strategies
AIACC Regional workshop, Panel 2
South Africa, March2003
1 . Introduction
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Common themes when developing a strategy for adapting to change
 Vulnerability to change is determined by the frequency and
magnitude of extreme events and not on average events ;
 Adaptations to current climate risks are generally consistent with
adapting to future changed conditions;
 The capacity to adapt varies by region and through time;
 The enhancement of the capacity to adapt is necessary to reduce
vulnerability.
 Developing countries have lower adaptive capacity (IPCC 2001)
 Coping capacity can improve where people have financial resources,
access to technology, high levels of education and training , good
health, security , strong institutions and effective organizations
 Climate adaptation strategies are simply a form of risk management
and are best implemented if they are a component of or a
modification to an existing management programme
2. Adaptation Opportunities in Sudan
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2.1 Macro-scale opportunities
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Under the terms of UNFCCC , developed countries have agreed
to “assist the developing country parties that are particularly
vulnerable to the adverse effects of climate change in meeting
the costs of adaptation to adverse effects” (article 4.4)
Numerous possible measures and initiatives that have the
potential to moderate adverse impacts in various sectors e.g
NAPA
There is room for the integration of adaptation with activities
linked to other multilateral environment agreements (MEAs)
such as UNCCD CBD
Increasing frequency and intensities of climate threats may
generate commitment from governments to take actions to
enhance adaptation to climate change.
The development of the Adaptation Policy Framework: A Guide
for Policies to Facilitate Adaptation to Climate Change can
improve the knowledge , societal awareness and governments
preparedness
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2.2 Micro-scale opportunities
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A rich history of community-based coping
strategies exists, which can be supported and
built upon to increase community resilience
and adaptive capacity.
Numerous projects exist which have
successfully increased community resilience to
climate impacts; these too can be supported,
built upon, and scaled up, to increase
community resilience and adaptive capacity
3. Adaptation Barriers in Sudan
•3.1 Examples of macro-scale barriers
•Significant challenges exist in developing adaptation
strategies, due to such factors as uncertainties in climate
change science related to extent and rate of climate change
impacts.
•Difficulties in ascertaining necessary timeframes for
adaptation, and institutional barriers to adaptation.
•Knowledge uncertainty, arising from our incomplete
understanding of the interaction between natural and human
processes. Awareness and recognition of climate threats by
policy makers can assist in putting adaptation and long-term
planning in the economic development agenda
3.1 Macro-scale barriers cont.
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Relief dependency, ( donors providing support and
food stocks to drought stricken communities ) –
without addressing the root causes , this may
increase the vulnerability to future disasters.
Lack of a broad powerful integrated strategies
addressing issues of adaptation to climate change.
The divergence between the priorities determined in
global negotiations and local-level priorities.
Little research work on the practical application of
policy measures for adapting to climate change.
3.2 Examples of micro-scale barriers
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Compounding problems of poor/worsening
local conditions (e.g., land degradation, social
network breakdown).
Lack of community resources (financial,
human, social, etc) to enhance own resilience.
Lack of local institutional capacity and
resources to support community resiliencebuilding
4. Adaptation Strategies in Sudan
4.1 Examples of strategies for macro-scale action
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Ensure that the evolving policy framework is built on enhancing
the capacity to manage forthcoming change rather than
allowing stagnation and the emergence of barriers to
adaptation.
Incorporate adaptation into national and sector-specific
development planning
Link the adaptation plans to specific community development
objectives so as to make them more attractive options for policy
makers and development planners
Maintain synergies between the UNFCCC and related
environmental conventions, especially Biodiversity and
Desertification, in relation to adaptation and coordinate the
implementation of their respective national strategies and action
plans
4.2 Examples of strategies for micro-scale action.
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Understanding the processes , priorities and dynamics of
local communities before formulating practical adaptation
strategies
identify and share lessons from successful communitybased resilience-building experience – both autonomous
and project-based (AF-14 project goal).
Channel resources from national adaptation process
(capacity building activities, financial support, etc) to local
organizations capable of facilitating and supporting
community-based resilience-building activity.
Explore means for harmonizing the adaptation policy
developed at the community level with nationally
developed policies, i.e., focus more on community–driven
adaptation measures, assessing of traditional knowledge
and practices evolved upon exposure to past and current
extreme climatic events, analyse the enabling environment
that supported the development of this knowledge.
Adapt and prosper