Download Dr. Joel Smith, Stratus Consulting Inc. (USA)

Transfer of Environmentally Sound
Adaptation Technologies under the
UNFCCC: A Discussion Paper
Presented by:
Joel B. Smith, Paul B. Violette (PADCO), Brian Hurd, and Megan Harrod
Presented to:
Transfer of Technology Consultative Process (Decision 4/CP.4):
Asia and the Pacific Regional Workshop
Lapu-Lapu City, Cebu, Philippines
17-19 January 2000
KEY ISSUES
 Start a dialogue:
– Identify what we mean by adaptation
technologies
– How is this different or does it compliment
technology transfer relating to climate
variability?
– What process can be used to address transfer
of adaptation technologies?
What is the Choice for Adaptation?
 Reactive climate change adaptation
– An action taken in response to climate change
• A farmer switches to drought tolerant varieties of
crops in response to a drier climate
• Is this because of climate change or variability?
 Anticipatory climate change adaptation
– An action taken before climate changes
• An oil drilling platform is built higher to anticipate
sea level rise
 Focus on anticipatory adaptations for now because they
are based on climate change
Two Types of Anticipatory
Adaptations
 No regrets (win-win)
– Make sense under current climate conditions
– Have more benefits under climate change
– e.g., reforms, water conservation technologies
– Can include mitigation technologies
 Low regrets
– Marginal changes in practices, processes, or
structures because of climate change
– e.g., expansion of beach set backs, marginal
changes to infrastructure being built anyway
Two Types of Adaptation
Technologies
 Soft Technologies
– Capacity building,
planning, institutions
 Hard Technologies
– Hardware,
Infrastructure,
Monitoring
Soft Adaptation Technologies
Soft Adaptation Technologies
No Regrets Low Regrets
Adaptations Adaptations
General Policies

Incorporate climate change in long-term planning
Tie disaster relief to hazard-reduction programs

Water Resources
River basin planning and coordination

Contingency planning for drought


Explore options for new dam sites
Conserve water

Allocate water supplies using market-based systems

Sea-Level Rise
Plan urban growth

Decrease subsidies or tax incentives to develop lands
sensitive to sea-level rise

Discourage permanent shoreline stabilization

Preserve vulnerable wetlands

Develop and implement integrated coastal zone
management

Implement rolling easements

Hard Adaptation Technologies
Hard Adaptation Technologies
Low
No Regrets
Regrets
Adaptation Adaptation
Water Resources
Use interbasin transfers

Use runoff measuring equipment

Use water saving technologies and practices


Marginal change in construction of infrastructure
Control water pollution

Develop and improve desalination technology

Agriculture
Increase irrigation efficiency

Upgrade food storage and distribution system

Reduce runoff, improve water uptake, and reduce wind erosion (e.g.,
bench terracing, tied ridges, deep plowing, roughened land surface,
windbreaks)

Conserve soil moisture and nutrients
(e.g., stubble/straw mulching, crop rotation, contour cropping, lower
planting densities)

Preliminary Steps for Transferring
Adaptation Technologies
 Demonstrate a country or region’s vulnerability to
climate change.
 Demonstrate the effectiveness and feasibility of
adaptation strategies.
 Define the roles of various groups in the
technology transfer process.
 Develop action plans that address priority needs.
Capacity building needed to address these.
Defining Roles
 Developing countries.
Play dominant roles in
assessing and determining needs and implementing adaptations.
Develop Action Plans
 Developed countries.
Participate in identifying
strategies, setting
standards, and removing
barriers.
Defining Roles (cont.)
 Private sector. Provide technologies and
expertise.
 NGOs. Identify technology needs, adverse
consequences, and promote transfer.
 Research community. Develop hard and soft
technologies, provide training.
Reactive Adaptations
 May eventually become an issue
 Problems
– Costs
– Attribution
Source: USBR.
Conclusions
 Focus on anticipatory adaptations
 Focus initially on soft technologies
– Capacity building for assessment
– Setting standards for assessment and
evaluation
– Identify and remove barriers
 Developing countries should develop action plans
– Need to be collaborative
– Address removal of barriers
– Can include pilot projects
 Examine how can build on existing programs