Jamaica’s Second Communication to the UNFCCC

1. Jamaica’s Second Communication to the UNFCCC Mr. Jeffrey Spooner

2. Faculty of Social Sciences, UWI, Mona and CARICOM Caribbean Climate Change Centre“Climate Change Impacts on the Caribbean, with special attention to Tourism and Insurance”June15-17, 2007, Mona Campus PRESENTATION ON JAMAICA’S SECOND NATIONAL COMMUNICATION Jeffery Spooner & Clifford Mahlung

3. Meteorological Service, Jamaica OUTLINE • INTRODUCTION • NATIONAL COMMUNICATIONS • What are National Communications? • Convention Requirements • Funding Options • INC • GHG Inventory • Mitigation Options • V&A Assessment • Limitations • SNC • Guidelines • Financial & Technical Assistance • Elements of SNC • Institutional arrangements

4. THE UNFCCC • The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) was adopted in 1992 and entered into force in March 1994. • Ultimate The objective of the Convention: • To stabilize atmospheric greenhouse gases at levels that would prevent “dangerous” human interference with the climate system. Such levels, should be achieved within a timeframe sufficient to allow the ecosystems to adapt naturally to climate change, to ensure that food security & production is not threatened and to enable development to proceed in a sustainable manner. • Jamaica became a party to the Conventionin April 1995. Meteorological Service, Jamaica

5. THE KYOTO PROTOCOL • The Kyoto Protocol (KP) was adopted at COP-3 in Kyoto, Japan in December 1997 and entered into force in February 2005 . • The Major objective of the KP: • Is that industrialized countries (termed Annex B countries) will reduce their combined greenhouse gas emissions by at least 5% compared to the 1990 levels by the (first) commitment period 2008-2012. • The targets ranged from 8% below 1990 levels for some, to 10% above 1990 levels for others. • There are no targets for developing countries. • Jamaica became a party to the Kyoto Protocol in June 1999. Meteorological Service, Jamaica

6. What Are NC? • National Communications: is one of the mandated periodic reports to the UNFCCC by all parties to the Convention on all aspects of their implementation of the Convention. • All parties are mandated to report on steps taken or envisaged to be undertaken to implement Articles 4.1 and 12 of the Convention. • What is included in these NC’s and the frequency of submission is different for Annex I and non-Annex I Parties. • Jamaica’s initial NC was submitted in November 2000 and we started work on the 2nd NC. Meteorological Service, Jamaica

7. CONVENTION REQUIREMENTS ARTICLE 12: COMMUNICATION OF INFORMATION RELATED TO IMPLEMENTATION 1. In accordance with Article 4, paragraph 1, each Party shall communicate to the Conference of the Parties, through the secretariat, the following information: • A national inventory of anthropogenic emissions by sources and removals by sinks of all greenhouse gases not controlled by the Montreal Protocol, to the extent its capacities permit, using comparable methodologies to be promoted and agreed upon by the Conference of the Parties; • A general description of steps taken or envisaged by the Party to implement the Convention; and • Any other information that the Party considers relevant to the achievement of the objective of the Convention and suitable for inclusion in its communication, including, if feasible, material relevant for calculations of global emission trends. Meteorological Service, Jamaica

8. Initial National Communication • 1994 GHG Inventory Meteorological Service, Jamaica

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10. Initial National Communication V&A Assessment (Scenarios) Meteorological Service, Jamaica

11. INC V&A Assessment (Rainfall Scenarios) Meteorological Service, Jamaica

12. INC V&A Assessment (Water use) Meteorological Service, Jamaica

13. INC V&A Assessment (Agriculture) Meteorological Service, Jamaica

14. Initial National Communication V&A Assessment CONCLUSIONS (VULNERABILITIES) While this initial national communications report has an initial investigation of potential vulnerabilities it is clear that there is a need for further work in the area of vulnerability with regards to climate change. There is a considerable amount of infrastructure located on the coast, with the international airports, seaports and a number of industries being located in areas that would be extremely sensitive to climate change. It will be necessary to investigate a number of the socio-economic vulnerabilities, particularly in area such as tourism. Additional funding will be required for thorough in-depth analysis in most areas, in particular coastal zones, water resources, agriculture and the health sector. Meteorological Service, Jamaica

15. Initial National Communication V&A Assessment ADAPTATION For Jamaica to respond to many of the vulnerability concerns which have been identified in the previous section it is clear that constructive adaptation policies will have to be implemented so that many of the potential impacts of a changing climate could be avoided in Jamaica, or mitigated. Meteorological Service, Jamaica

16. Initial National Communication V&A Assessment (Adaptation) Coastal Zones With regards to the coastal zones it is clear that there is the need for comprehensive management of the island’s ecosystem, which would involve strategic planning to avoid the worst impacts, an assessment of the needs for modification of land-use and implementation of identified land-use strategies and guidelines. Water Resources Adaptation options for the Water Resources sector will revolve around an improved distribution network incorporating water conservation techniques. Agriculture Changes in the climate will obviously affect agricultural production and output. The recent chapter the IPCC regional impacts report notes that with an extension in a dry season in Pacific islands yields from sugar cane will decrease. Thus the need to examine alternatives is quite clear. Meteorological Service, Jamaica

17. Initial National Communication V&A Assessment CONCLUSIONS (ADAPTATION) While the above tables have suggested possible andpotential adaptation options it is clear that there is a need for further comprehensive integrated studies in the area of adaptation, which will examine the socio-economic issues which are relevant for the implementation of suggested adaptation options. What is clear is that the cost for implementing many adaptation options will be prohibitive and will call on financial resources that may not be available to the Government of Jamaica. Meteorological Service, Jamaica

18. Second National Communication • UNFCCC Guidelines for the Preparation of National Communications from non-Annex I Parties The guidelines for the preparation of initial national communications were adopted by the COP at its second session, by decision 10/CP.2. These guidelines were used by 106 non- Annex I Parties to prepare their initial national communications. At its fifth session, the COP initiated a process to revise those guidelines. The UNFCCC guidelines, as adopted by the COP, at its eighth session, by decision 17/CP.8, is the outcome of that process. Meteorological Service, Jamaica

19. Second National Communication • Financial & Technical Assistance: • Provided to the tune of US $405,000.00 by the GEF and administered through the UNDP • GOJ counterpart financing to the tune of US $70,000.00 (in-kind • Work started in September 2006 and is expected be completed in August 2008. Meteorological Service, Jamaica

20. Total sums allocated for each component of the communication Meteorological Service, Jamaica

21. Second National CommunicationGHG INVENTORY • Compiled for the years 2000-2005 • Lead Consultant - Dr. Claude Davis • Anthropogenic Emissions of Carbon Dioxide, Nitrous Oxide, Methane by source and removal by sinks and are encouraged to report HFCs, PFCs, and SF6. • Using the 2006 Revised IPCC Guideline Meteorological Service, Jamaica

22. Second National Communication Elements of V&A assessments • What impacts/vulnerability have been observed/ experienced and what are the underlying drivers? (current vulnerability assessment) • What are the impacts and vulnerability under projected climate and projected socio-economic conditions? (future vulnerability assessment) • What are the adaptive responses that will be required to reduce the vulnerability? (adaptation assessment) • What are the implications for sustainable development? (policy recommendations) Meteorological Service, Jamaica

23. Second National Communication V&A ASSESSMENTS • Sectors/zones • Coastal Zone, Human Settlement, Human Health, Water Resources, Agriculture, Tourism • Four contracts awarded (Coastal Zone & Human Settlement; Water Resources & Agriculture: Scenarios & Human Health; Socio-economic assessments) • Methods and approaches available include • IPCC Seven- Step Approach and derived methodologies • UNDP Adaptation Policy Framework • NAPA Guidelines • UNEP V&A ASSESSMENT HANDBOOK • Possible monitoring of the assessment Meteorological Service, Jamaica

24. Second National Communication V&A ASSESSMENTS For each of the sector/zone studied the Key Findings will be presented on the: • Effects (direct and indirect) of climate variability and change (impacts) • Vulnerable areas/communities • Adaptation strategies • Integration of socio-economic and environmental scenarios • Interrelations between the effects on the different sectors/zones Meteorological Service, Jamaica

25. Second National Communication V&A ASSESSMENTS For each sector/zone studied adaptation strategies and measures will reflect: • Specific adaptation options to the effects of climate change (current and future) • Assessment/prioritization of these options • General policies having implications for adaptation • Needs for capacity strengthening • Needs for awaraness raising, education and public information Meteorological Service, Jamaica

26. Second National CommunicationInstitutional Arrangements Meteorological Service, Jamaica

27. Second National CommunicationInstitutional Arrangements National Communication Support Program NCSP is a GEF funded programme jointly implemented by UNDP and UNEP To facilitate the preparation of Second National Communications To prepare and disseminate technical and policy-relevant materials, including training To help sustain the national capacity building efforts Meteorological Service, Jamaica

28. Second National CommunicationInstitutional Arrangements UNDPin collaboration with theMeteorological Serviceprovides: • Procurement Services • Logistical Assistance • Financial Disbursements • Technical Advice • Office Space with telephone, faxsimile, Internet connection Meteorological Service, Jamaica

29. SNC -USEFULNESS • V&A assessments will be used to identify potential projects for funding • Institutionalization of nation response to climate change • Produce policy-relevant knowledge and information to effect policy dialogue • Facilitate public education and awareness for mainstreaming CC concerns at different levels of the society

30. Mitigation is a Win…Win…Win Option for Jamaica • Mitigation: The reduction of green-house gas emission. • The reduction proposed by the Kyoto Protocol is considered by many as very limited reduction; and that there is need for further cuts. • Business as usual with the high dependence on fossil fuel is an expensive option. We therefore now more ever need to manage our energy resource more efficiently as well as look for other sources of energy Meteorological Service, Jamaica

31. Mitigation: • More efficient power production - less waste • Switch to low level green-house gas emission: ( eg. from coal to oil and from oil to natural gas • Switch to non-fossil fuel, i.e., from oil to renewables: • Alternative energy sources such as wind, solar, hydro, geothermal, and bio-energy such as biofuels, and other new and renewable energy sources and technologies where possible (more Research &Development needed) • Others as well such as fuel cells (more Research and Development needed) Meteorological Service, Jamaica

32. The END Thanks for listening Interaction: Any Questions / Comments?? Meteorological Service, Jamaica