Don’t forget the people! Climate change adaptation and development

1. Don’t forget the people! Climate change adaptation and development Thomas Tanner Climate Change & Disasters Group, Institute of Development Studies, University of Sussex

2. Development and Adaptation to Climate Change • Responsibility not charity • Justice and equity • Adaptation is needed now • Reinforces socio-economic dimensions and root causes • Not all about climate (limit non-climate stresses)

3. Socio-economic Aspects of Adaptation to Climate Change STRUCTURE • Human dimensions of climate change and livelihoods impacts • Approaches to human vulnerability and adaptation • International context for adaptation • Tools and Methods • Why and how should the Network engage?

4. Human Dimensions of Climate Change: Climate change will compound existing poverty and put further pressure on natural resource use • Significant impacts on human systems esp through the natural resource base • Poor people in developing countries worst affected • Adaptation of natural systems is compromised • Communities tied to a particular ecosystem are exceptionally vulnerable

5. Human Dimensions of Climate Change: Climate change impacts on livelihoods • Requires understanding of livelihoods and role of NR • Predominant climate change impacts on livelihoods include: • Sea level rise displacement and reduced natural capital • Changing temperature and rainfall food and water security problems • Pests distribution changes • Extreme events stress livelihoods and reduce opportunities • Health impacts water borne and insect borne diseases

6. Approaches to VulnerabilityThe need to take on board broader aspects of vulnerability ‘The degree to which a system is susceptible to, or unable to cope with, adverse effects of climate change, including climate variability and extremes. Vulnerability is a function of the character, magnitude, and rate of climate variation to which a system is exposed, its sensitivity, and its adaptive capacity.’ (IPCC TAR, 2001) • Vulnerability as an ‘end-point’ or as a ‘starting-point’ • Broader vulnerability components, eg • Human security • Empowerment, accountability, corruption • Access to opportunities, natural resources

7. Defining Adaptation:Adjustments to a system to reduce impacts ‘Adjustment in natural or human systems in response to actual or expected climatic stimuli or their effects, which moderates harm or exploits beneficial opportunities.’ (IPCC TAR, 2001) Key distinctions: • Anticipatory versus Reactive Adaptation • Planned versus Autonomous Adaptation • Adaptation by who and to what

8. Approaches to AdaptationUse of science-driven or vulnerability-driven approaches • Science first (Top-down): • Climate modelling to predict, then assess adaptation options • Relative merits • Development first (Bottom-up): • Community-based field assessments to assess existing vulnerability and coping mechanisms to climate variations • Relative merits

9. Approaches to AdaptationWWF Network has experience with both approaches • Science-driven • Vulnerability Assessment of the North East Atlantic Shelf Marine Ecoregion • ‘Habitats at Risk’ Study • Vulnerability-driven • Climate witness toolkit (WWF South Pacific) • Responses to Climate Change Impacts: Building Coastal Resilience (Cameroon, Tanzania, India, Fiji)

10. Approaches to AdaptationAre discrete adaptation projects going to be enough? • More comprehensive approach in WWF? • Sensitising partners to challenges • Global campaigning on adaptation • Integrating adaptation across WWF’s work in the network • Revising ecoregional planning for adaptation of natural and human systems. • Combining science-driven work with engagement at the local level

11. Approaches to AdaptationCan we link adaptation with mitigation? • Adaptation – mitigation synergies (eg Community forestry) • The Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) under the UNFCCC • WWF role in developing a ‘Gold Standard’ for CDM • projects with real emissions reductions and a clear contribution towards sustainable development.

12. International Context for Adaptation Adaptation is rising up the agenda at some speed • Adaptation emerging in the UNFCCC debates after a slow start • Three funds for adaptation established, two are operational to date • Important links with Disaster Risk Reduction • Coping with extremes to build resilience • Hyogo Framework of Action and post-tsunami push for more resources

13. International Context for Adaptation Adaptation is rising up the agenda at speed • Political will: Recent high level interest • Recent disaster events (eg Katrina) • UK’s G8 and EU Presidencies in 2005 • Climate risk management • Investments are at risk from climate change • Screening methods and tools currently being developed

14. International Context for Adaptation NGOs are starting to engage more heavily in adaptation • Development of coalitions around adaptation as well as mitigation • Main adaptation focus of NGOs: • Awareness raising, internally and with partners • Adaptation projects, especially DRR and local coping strategies • Campaigning, particularly on equity issues Integrate adaptation across work portfolios

15. Why should WWF work in this area?Adaptation is a necessary part of future life on the planet • Major global challenges facing the planet • Natural resource governance can increase resilience • Meeting the human dimensions of WWF mission. • Reinforces the need for strong partnerships with local stakeholders • Strong comparative advantage through experience of natural resource governance and advocacy

16. How should WWF work in this area?Lessons and entry points for possible WWF • Emphasise socio-economic aspects of adaptation • Building stronger links with communities generally • Addressing root causes – inc. political dimensions • Complementing top-down assessments and models with field data • Build adaptation issues into advocacy campaigns

17. Where should WWF work in this area?Potential entry-points for WWF on adaptation • Support natural resources issues in national adaptation processes • Engage with disaster risk reduction activities • Tackling vulnerability to current climate variations as a first step to build resilience to longer term change • Opportunity to engage the poverty and development communities on natural resource issues

18. Tools for Adaptation How can I plan for adaptation to climate change? General Resources: • UNFCCC ‘Compendium on methods and tools to evaluate impacts of, vulnerability and adaptation to, climate change’ http://unfccc.int/adaptation/methodologies_for/vulnerability_and_adaptation/items/2674.php • UNFCCC ‘Database on local coping strategies’ http://maindb.unfccc.int/public/adaptation/ • IPCC Third Assessment Report - Impacts, Adaptation and Vulnerability http://www.grida.no/climate/ipcc_tar/wg2/index.htm • Linking Climate Adaptation Network – Online resource guide http://www.linkingclimateadaptation.org • WWF - “Buying Time: A User’s Manual for Building Resistance and Resilience to Climate Change in Natural Systems” http://www.panda.org/news_facts/publications/index.cfm?uNewsID=8678

19. Tools and references for Adaptation How can I plan for adaptation to climate change? Community-based adaptation planning • SSNAPP – Community-based adaptation project methodology www.southsouthnorth.org • IUCN Community-based Risk Screening Tool - Adaptation and Livelihoods (CRISTAL) http://www.iucn.org/en/news/archive/2005/12/adaptation_day2.pdf • Livelihoods and climate change references http://www.livelihoods.org/post/env-12-postit.html Vulnerability Assessments • WWF South Pacific Climate Witness: A Community Toolkit www.wwfpacific.org.fj/publications/climate_change/cw_toolkit.pdf • Action Aid participatory vulnerability analysis www.actionaid.org/index.asp?page_id=827

20. Tools for Adaptation How can I plan for adaptation to climate change? Policy Frameworks for Adaptation: • Adaptation Policy Framework (UNDP) http://unfccc.int/adaptation/methodologies_for/vulnerability_and_adaptation/items/2674.php • Guidelines for National Adaptation Programmes of Action (LDCs under UNFCCC) http://unfccc.int/files/cooperation_and_support/ldc/application/pdf/annguide.pdf