Disaster Risk Reduction and Climate Change Adaptation at Poznan

1. Disaster Risk Reduction and Climate Change Adaptation at Poznan Reid Basher, ISDR Secretariat Poznan and the UNFCCC processes – especially the Ad-hoc Working Group on Long-term Cooperative Action (AWG-LCA). Formulating concepts, guidance and messages for adaptation and DRR policy. Key outcomes of Poznan for the ISDR system.

2. www.unisdr.org COP 14, Poznan, 1-12 December 2008 • Major event - 8000 participants, 2 weeks. • Multiple layers operating in parallel. ● NGO events and advocacy. ● Exhibit booths (incl ISDR). ● Side events, e.g. ISDR; IASC; UNDP partners; UN System heads. Usually technical focus, with format of panel + discussion. ● Bilateral meetings (among Parties and non-Parties). ● Ministerial statements. ● Press events. ● Party-mandated workshops (in plenary). ● UNFCCC Subsidiary Bodies. ● Contact groups, informals. • ISDR team - Margareta Wahlstrom, Reid Basher, Glenn Dolcemascolo, Julio Garcia (ISDR Panama), Silvia Llosa

3. Scientific and technological aspects Implementation Ad hoc group SBI 1/CP.10 NAPAs SBSTA Nairobi work programme AWG-LCA Bali Action Plan Capacity-building www.unisdr.org UNFCCC subsidiary bodies and processes Note: the AWG-LCA is a formal body of all Parties

4. www.unisdr.org Ad-hoc Working Group on Long-term Cooperative Action (AWG-LCA) • Bali Action Plan (decision 1/CP.13) • The process to achieve the “Copenhagen agreed outcome” at COP-15 in December 2009. • Four elements: mitigation, adaptation, technology, finance, plus establishment of the AWG-LCA process. • Para 1(c) on adaptation identifies: Resilience, disaster risk reduction, risk management, risk transfer and insurance. • Parties requested specific technical papers and workshops.

5. www.unisdr.org Risk issues at Poznan • AWG-LCA • Workshop on risk related issues; technical report(s) • Advance the deliberations on adaptation • SBI (Article 4.8, 5/CP.7, 1/CP.10) • Roundtable to assess the status of the implementation of adaptation action and identify gaps and needs • SBSTA (Nairobi Work Programme) • Focal point forum: Review of progress; move to SBI?

6. www.unisdr.org Processes for formulating guidance on adaptation and DRR policy • Continuing UNISDR submissions, interventions, support to UNFCCC secretariat, Nairobi Work Programme • UN initiatives: SG Policy Committee policy; 8 July UNGA event hosted by GA President; 29 September 2008 Ministerial event hosted by SG; UN-CEB initiatives for coordinated information and support. • ISDR invited to give presentation at AWG-LCA workshop on risk issues at Poznan. • UNISDR convened ISDR partners to prepare system-wide submission to AWG-LCA; plus later joint IASC-ISDR submission.

7. www.unisdr.org Current recommendations First priorities? (i) National adaptation planning; sector plans including DRR. (ii) National risk assessments, focused on the vulnerable. (iii) Strengthened institutions, including to link climate change and risk reduction agendas. Measures? (i) Risk-related zoning and building codes. (ii) Protection of environmental buffers. (iii) Management of floods and droughts. (iv) Protection of critical facilities e.g. hospitals. (v) Early warning and response systems. (vi) Public education and awareness raising.

8. www.unisdr.org Challenges? - Building on existing capacities and institutions, including the Hyogo Framework for Action and the ISDR System. - National policy integration and cross-sector cooperation. - Integrating DRR and CCA into development. - Capacity development for resilience especially at community and municipality levels; ensuring funds reach local levels. - Solving the funding issues – size of funds; mechanisms to deal with the “additionality” principle of climate change effects; demonstrating economic value; balancing ex ante versus ex post intervention; tracking, monitoring and evaluation.

9. www.unisdr.org Two new initiatives at Poznan • Cooperation between IASC and ISDR at COP-14 - Aim to raise humanitarian issues in climate change. - IFRC, OCHA, UNISDR, UNHCR, WFP. - Joint press conference, side event, and bilaterals with USA, Mexico, Europeans, G77/SIDS. - ISDR presentation to AWG-LCA was jointly done with IASC. - Need to now develop substantive guidance via ISDR system. • UNISDR hosts DRR experts at Poznan - Aim to bridge gap between DRR and CC policymaking, and to strengthen national capacities. - Argentina, Cook Islands, Mexico, Philippines, Sudan. - Part of, and welcomed by, national delegations. - Successful – we hope to repeat this at future meetings.

10. www.unisdr.org Key outcomes and highlights • No new steps on adaptation negotiations. • But strong recognition of disaster risk reduction and Hyogo Framework at AWG-LCA Workshop (e.g. Bangladesh, AOSIS, China, EU, Peru, Philippines, USA) • Some Parties call for “common framework” between DRR and adaptation – this is critical opportunity for ISDR System. • Funding mechanisms under intense consideration – another critical opportunity for ISDR System alignment. • Strong interest in insurance – UNISDR must respond to this. • Calls for guidance for risk reduction action – methods, tools, economic information, etc, for scaling-up national efforts

11. www.unisdr.org Lessons for the Secretariat • Strengthen our support of national actors, to bridge the CC and DRR gap and build capacities. • Intensify relationship with UNFCCC secretariat and processes, to support and guide them on risk issues. • Strengthen the multi-partner ISDR thematic partnership on CC and DRR, for policy directions and tool development. • Stimulate new or stronger ISDR System thematic partnerships to provide guidance for key sectors. • Initiate dialogue with key Parties on the idea of a “common framework” between DRR and adaptation. • Stimulate dialogue and policy development to harmonise funding mechanisms for DRR and CC adaptation.

12. www.unisdr.org Concluding points • Climate change is an accelerant of risk and DRR. • Critical point; stage is set for significant growth of effort to reduce vulnerability and risks. • Core instruments are in place – UNFCCC mechanisms, Hyogo Framework for Action. • Substantial basis of technical guidance available. • National and regional strategies and capacities are growing but are often still embryonic, with DRR and CC de-linked. • Scaling-up the effort to reduce risks and prepare for climate change remains a central challenge. • Funding mechanisms need substantial development. • Urgent and important role for UNISDR and ISDR System, including demonstrating integration of DRR and CCA .