The Role of MPs in Building A Unified Policy Response to Climate Change Presented by The Climate Change Division of The Ministry of Water, Land, Environment.

The Role of MPs in Building A Unified Policy

Response to Climate ChangePresented by

The Climate Change Division of

The Ministry of Water, Land, Environment and Climate Changeto

Members of ParliamentNovember, 2013

A Summary:• Responding to climate change requires

multiple actions, each tailored to the situation/constituency

• Climate change creates many opportunities for those who are prepared

• The Climate Change Division will coordinate actions and help mobilise resources

Building Customised, Integrated ReponsesResponding to climate change requires an internalization of the response by all citizens at all levels. The problem is too important and too pervasive.

With climate change, we must change!

CC Affects Constituencies DifferentlyEverywhere is affected, but…

•The West (2,3,8,9) dries the most•The South East (5) at highest disaster risk•The South (3,4,5) will see major saline intrusion•The South (3,4,5,6) warms the most

How Will CC Affect Your Constituency?

THE ROLE OF POLITICAL LEADERS IN RESPONDING TO CLIMATE CHANGE

Mobilizing Communities – Non-Partisan, but Political• Community engagement in projects vital for

sustainable implementation• Climate change adaptation and mitigation measures

require a consultative, community centred approach– Constituency plans vital

• Political mechanisms are well positioned to engage citizens and to disseminate/collect information and resources

Climate Change Must Influence Development Project Choices• Project conceptualization and execution must be

forward-thinking and climate conscious– Risk mitigation– Resource efficiency

• Coordination is needed, especially to overcome perceived conflicts in priorities

• Recognition of the role of local government in planning• The CDF can be geared towards climate change

adaptation and mitigation.

Using Opportunities to Build Climate Resilience, and Vice Versa • Every infrastructure project (large and small) is a

chance to build resilience, for example:– Rain water harvesting– Efficient and resilient buildings

• Jobs can be created through resilience building and green job initiatives (per ILO)– Renewable energy, energy efficiency, smart

agriculture and civil/environmental engineering works

Funding Climate Adaptation and Mitigation• International mechanisms– UNFCCC– Multilateral and development bank support

• Local funding– CDF already recognises disaster mitigation. Possibility to

expand?• Non-climate specific funding– Building climate resilience into other funding/financing– E.g. energy retrofits

Annette Thompson changes crops

Farmers in rural St. Andrew begin terracing

Mangrove replanting and channel engineering in Portland Bight

Energy efficiency initiatives create jobs

Wigton Wind Farm – cheap energy with local and international investment

The Barbados Coastal Infrastructure Programme – enabling climate-smart tourism

Alternative Livelihoods for fisherfolk

THE CLIMATE CHANGE DIVISION’S ROLE

Vision 2030 Jamaica & The CCD

• Goal 4 – Jamaica has a healthy environment

• National Outcome 14 – Hazard Risk Reduction and Adaptation to Climate Change

• National Development Plan recognizes

– Climate Change Adaptation, Mitigation and Hazard Risk Reduction as a National Outcome for our sustainable development.

Jamaica, the place of choice to live, work, raise families, and do

business

Priority Strategies Through 2015• PRIORITY POLICY: V2030/Outcome 14 – Hazard Risk Reduction and

Adaptation to Climate Change

• National Strategy 14-3: Develop Measures to Adapt to Climate Change

• National Strategy 14-4: Develop mechanisms to influence the global rate of climate change(linked to National Outcome 10)

• Sector Strategy: Identify strategic priorities for Climate Change

The Climate Change Policy FrameworkThe vision is that:

“Jamaica achieves its goals of growth and prosperity for its people while meeting the

challenges of climate change as a country with enhanced resilience and capacity to adapt to the

impacts and to mitigate the causes in a coordinated, effective and sustainable manner.”

The Climate Change Policy FrameworkThe Climate Change Division will implement:

“…a sustainable institutional mechanism to facilitate the development, coordination and

implementation of policies, sectoral plans, programmes, strategies, policies and legislation

to address the impacts of climate change.”

Functions of the CCD1. Coordination of policy development and

programmes including CC mainstreaming; 2. Information and data management; 3. Public awareness, education, research and science; 4. Mobilization of climate finance and other resources

including through the private sector / PIOJ, and 5. International cooperation and negotiations.

A Summary:• Responding to climate change requires

multiple actions, each tailored to the situation/constituency

• Climate change creates many opportunities for those who are prepared

• The Climate Change Division will coordinate actions and help mobilise resources

How Will Your Constituency Respond?

Addenda

STRATEGIES FOR THE CLIMATE CHANGE DIVISION

Strategies

1 Development of key policies on climate change

Strategies

2 Establish and operationalize the Climate Change Division

Strategies

3 Establish a Net-work of Climate Change focal points across government

Strategies

4Creation of a database of current activities and project proposals in the pipeline designed specifically to address adaptation and mitigation of climate change

Strategies

5Set standards for the reporting, monitoring and evaluation of integrated climate change activities

Strategies

6Research agenda developed in collaboration with the Climate Change Advisory Committee and academic institutions

Strategies

7 Improve mechanisms for the financing of climate change

THE POTENTIAL IMPACTS OF CLIMATE CHANGE, SECTOR BY SECTOR

Climate Change Will Affect JamaicaParameter Predicted Change

Surface temperature s Rise of 1.4 to 3.2°C

Sea level rise Rise of 0.28 to 0.98 m

Ocean acidity Reduction in pH of 0.14 – 0.35 units (more acidic)

Tropical storms / hurricanes Likely (>66% certainty) increase in hurricane intensity

Precipitation Less summer (June, July, August) precipitation

Extreme weather events Number of flood events expected to increase; longer drought periods

CC Affects Constituencies DifferentlyEverywhere is affected, but…

•The West (2,3,8,9) dries the most•The South East (5) at highest disaster risk•The South (3,4,5) will see major saline intrusion•The South (3,4,5,6) warms the most

Climate Change Affects All Citizens and All Sectors Deeply, But Differently

Some studies exist already; here’s what we can visualise.

Agriculture Will Be Disrupted• Higher temperatures and lower precipitation

– Reduced crop/ livestock productivity (quality, quantity and mortality)– Disruption of planting cycles

• Irrigated areas: saline ground water (esp. South)• Rain fed areas: less rain overall, intense rainy spells • Erosion• More disaster events

Must shift to climate resilient agriculture

Sugar productivity over 3 climate scenarios

Coastal Resources are in Danger• Increased storm surge

– Inundation of low lying areas

• Erosion• Habitat loss

– Reefs (acidification, heat stress)– Wetlands (up to 60% loss, per WB study)

• Losses of about US$630 million annually.Major infrastructure may be required

Tourism May Experience Major Losses• By 2050, cumulative losses due to…– Decreased arrivals: up to US $132 M– Extreme events: up to US $5,488 M– Sea level rise/acidification: up to US $7,956M– Total: up to US $366 M per year

More resilient infrastructure and coastal protection/restoration necessary

The Health Sector will be Challenged• Water availability / quality• Sanitation• Heat stress and related mortality• Changes in vectors• Varying effects:– Leptospirosis, gastroenteritis may see slight worsening– Dengue projected to be much worse