presentation of the unfccc technical paper on coastal adaptation technologies (fccc/tp/1999/1)

Presentation of the UNFCCC Technical Paper on

Coastal Adaptation Technologies(FCCC/TP/1999/1)

UNFCCC Regional Workshop on Transfer of Technology Consultative

ProcessCebu, Philippines, 17-19 January 2000

Dr Stephen PeakeUNFCCC Secretariat

Presentation of the UNFCCC Technical Paper on Coastal Adaptation Technologies(FCCC/TP/1999/1)

Transfer of Technology Regional Workshop, Cebu

17-19 January 2000

Outline of Presentation

• Background and introduction

• Needs, concerns, how coastal adaptation technologies are transferred, barriers: a Pacific Island perspective

• Coastal adaptation technology transfer: an IHE perspective

Secretariat activities related to adaptation technologies

• Amsterdam meeting 1997

• Overview paper (FCCC/TP1997/1)

• Series of sectoral papers

• First is coastal adaptation technologies

Goal of the UNFCCC technical paper on

coastal adaptation technologies • What coastal adaptation technologies are

available/needed to respond to sea level rise and its associated effects?

• Identify options to accelerate the development and transfer of sustainable coastal adaptation technologies to coastal nations and small island states

UNFCCC expert meeting on coastal adaptation technologies, Germany,

March 22-23 1999• Study involved inputs from over 20 coastal

engineers

• Expert meeting included 11 participants from 9 countries: Argentina, Barbados, China, Fiji, Netherlands, Sierra Leone, Tanzania, UK, US (IPCC Lead Author)

UNFCCC expert meeting on coastal adaptation technologies, Germany,

March 22-23 1999

What’s in the technical paper?

• Description of technologies

• Technology needs

• How coastal adaptation technologies are transferred

• Barriers

• Options

Sustainable Coastal Adaptation Technology Development and

Transfer

• The project cycle is the key pathway for the development and transfer of sustainable coastal adaptation technologies

• National funds, bank loans and international aid are the main sources of finance for coastal projects

Five Characteristics of Sustainable Coastal Adaptation Technology

Development and Transfer • sound understanding of coastal processes

• coastal zone plans and decisions in place

• ‘best practice’ project cycle undertaken

• local/regional capacity building enhanced

• longer term collaborations achieved between finance providers, government, and the private sector

Various stakeholders can help accelerate the development and transfer of sustainable coastal

adaptation technologies• Development banks, other loan providers

and aid agencies

• Intergovernmental Organisations

• National, regional and local government

• Universities

• Private Sector

• Non-governmental Organisations

Status of institutional capacities to support sustainable coastal

adaptation technology development and transfer

• Few institutions in Africa, Caribbean, Latin America, South Pacific, Developing Asia

• Few international/regional centres

• Challenge is to find ways to boost institutional capacities for sustainable engineering within a network of enhanced centres of coastal zone management

Sea Level Rise: The IPCC’s Second Assessment

• Global mean sea level is expected to rise in the order of 20 to 86 cm by 2100 (assuming the IS92a emissions scenario)

• Big uncertainties• Spectrum of adaptation options:

retreat (managed); accommodate; and protect

• …but not just SLR

Coastal Adaptation Technologies:A Pacific Island Perspective

• Concerns of Pacific SIDS

• Needs - local and regional

• How are coastal adaptation technologies transferred?

• Barriers to the transfer of coastal adaptation technologies

Concerns - Environment and People • Population, industries and infrastructure

located along the coast.

• Communities and infrastructure are highly susceptible to ASLR.

• Pacific SIDS are small, flat, low lying, geological young, affected by frequent natural hazards and face severe erosion problems: THEY ARE VULNERABLE.

Concerns - Expertise and Finance

• Pool of local expertise, knowledgeable of local conditions are few.

• Retention of technically trained staff is low.

• Pacific SIDS are largely developing nations, with restricted capital flow and finance.

Pacific SIDS Needs - Data and Training

• Fill gaps in local database on baseline conditions: natural and man-made, e. g. SOPAC- GEF proposal .

• Understand the local, natural and built environment.

• Capacity building and institutional strengthening; develop local awareness.

• Create local institutions/departments for addressing local/regional problems.

Pacific Needs - Funding & Collaboration

• Seek funding for basic research on the local and regional problems e.g. SOPAC-GEF proposal .

• Seek collaborative technical efforts with assistance of countries with a tradition of coastal engineering/ICZM.

• Develop local/appropriate technology, e. g. SOPAC-GEF proposal .

How are coastal adaptation technologies transferred?

• Through externally funded (bi- and multi-lateral aid) projects, consultancies collaborative research and development.

• University and technical training: privately funded studies, scholarships and fellowship programs.

• Donor agencies and institutions.

Barriers to Transfer - Ownership and Priority

• Ownership of the project.

• Not always perceived as a priority.

Barriers to Transfer -Information and Technology

• Lack of information and awareness.

• Lack of or inappropriate technology.

• Poor or inadequate institutional capacity.

Barriers to Transfer - Socio-Economic Factors

• Social and cultural preferences: peoples perception of appropriate solutions.

• Economic/financial problems.

• Legal framework.

Basic problems in Technology Transfer

• Coastal problems are issue driven, therefore focus on symptoms, and not on causes

• Basic training on understanding processes

Climate change aggravates existing problems

• Climate change is usually blamed for coastal problems

• But often the problem is an uncontrolled development at an eroding coastline

• The Bali example

• …directions of winds and waves and ultimately coasts

Chronic erosion vs. Acute erosion

• Chronic erosion is caused by gradients in longshore transport, by rise of the sea level; so by structural processes

• Acute erosion is caused by storms, sometimes even cause flooding; however the original situation will recover

Acute Erosion

“Once and for all” solutions

• These do not exist

• So you need local capabilities to maintain your protection in a sustainable way

• The major mistake is trying to solve chronic erosion with solutions against acute erosion

Prevention is better than cure

• Integrated approach is needed

• You need to know on beforehand what is the consequence of your decision

• Often “doing nothing” is a not acceptable option, and therefore sustainable protection is part of the job

Local tasks to be executed

• Recognition of the problem

• Data collection

• Integrated approach

• Supervising work contracted out

• Construction of small initial works

• Supervision of maintenance work

• Execution of maintenance work

Work which can be contracted out

• Detailed hydro-morphological analysis

• Overall design of protection schemes

• Design of initial works

• Construction of large initial works

Capabilities needed

• Focus should be on tasks to be executed locally

• This implies focus on integration, supervision and data collection

• This implies less focus on– detailed and advanced design– execution of large works– fundamental research activities

UNFCCC Technical Paper on Coastal Adaptation Technologies on the web

• Go to www.unfccc.de; then

• go to “programmes”; then

• go to “technology”; then

• click on the technical paper