Small Island Developing States – SIDS - Perspectives:

On Hazards, Disasters, Risk, & Resilience?.

Natural hazards in the CaribbeanFrom: Munich Re, 2002.

Regional Tectonic Map

Hurricane ‘Season’ ………(?June 1–Nov 30?)

Northers High Seas /local floods (Mid Dec–March) Floods Floods(+lslides)

Wildfires 1(Feb-April)

Drought (can last years .. Associated with el Nino?)

Earthquakes and Tsunamis, Rare Events (no season)

NATURAL DISASTER “CALENDAR”

Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec

Wildfires 2(June–Aug)

Caribbean Vulnerable to many risks and hazards (not confined to Hurricanes)

Geophysical: Earthquakes, Tsunamis, Volcanic Events, etc

Climatic: Hurricanes, Floods, Drought, Windstorm, Northers etc

Biological: Human, Animal and Plant DiseasesTechnological: Fires, Air / Marine Transport

Accidents, Releases of Toxics and Biological Agencies

Other: Civil Disorder, Terrorism, Conflict, War, Displaced persons

SLOW ONSET: Drought, Climate Change

Trends / Emerging Issues • Climate Instability possibly related to GLOBAL CLIMATE CHANGE• “Environmental” Emergencies

– Marine Accidents / Spills ; Atmospheric Pollution; – Wildfires

• Consequence Management– Effects of ‘Offshore’ / Transboundary events– 9/11 ; Airport Closures; Trade / Energy “Shocks” – Business CONTINUITY Planning / Processes

• Complex Emergencies / Humanitarian / Human Displacement / Refugee Events (Haiti / Cuba etc)

• BioSafety ; Human DISEASE SARS / Avian Flu • Linkages to Development Targets better understood

– SUSTAINABILITY Links– National Goals & Priority Setting– Global / Regional / National / Subnational / Sectoral Capacity

Building

Coping Processes must …• Cover credible events, scenarios and futures, their

mitigation and their potential consequence(s)– Large, medium and small scale– Natural / Man induced / High / Low Probability– Effects on Human, Natural, Social and Economic

Capital Assets and systems• Adequately deal with all facets of RISK• Cover all phases including return to ‘normalcy’• Be part of MAINSTREAM / CORE Functions of all

Societal Stakeholders ie The State + Private + Civil Society in genuine PARTNERSHIPS

• Ensure that Command, Control, and Communication functions are carried out to secure– people, property, EMERGENCY PHASE– natural resources, physical assets, livelihoods,

revenue streams and sectors PRE and POST EMERGENCY

• Be based on PROACTIVE systematic approaches NOT ONLY REACTIVE response

• Cover Mainstreaming MITIGATION / PREVENTION

SPECIAL CONCERNS

• Major investments eg Hotel Plant / Energy / Utilities / Health Facilities / Infrastructure preferentially located in HIGHEST HAZARD ZONE – on Coast (Coastal Inundation fr Hurricanes, Tsunamis)– On soils prone to LIQUEFACTION (Reclaimed Lands) and– Landsliding

• Many structures (eg Hotels) are dangerously close to the shoreline and susceptible to WAVE Damage / COASTAL INUNDATION from both Storm Surge + Tsunami!

• The Removal / Damage to Natural Protective Systems eg Reefs, Wetlands has been a feature of Caribbean Development

The Barbados Programme of Action (BPOA) included Priority Areas Related to Risks Oceans

and Coasts• Climate change and sea level rise

• Natural and environmental disasters

• Coastal and marine resource

Climate Change and Sea Level Rise

Requirements for SIDS under the 1994 BPoA • Ensure early ratification of or accession on the

UNFCCC, Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer and other related legal instruments.

• Create and/or strengthen projects to monitor and improve predictive capacity for climate change, climate variability and sea level rise and assess the impacts of CC on marine resources

Climate Change and Sea Level Rise

Climate Change and Sea Level RiseProjects Implemented since 1994:• National Enabling Activities (NEAs)• Caribbean Planning for Adaptation to

Climate Change (CPACC) 1998-2001• Adaptation to Climate Change in the

Caribbean (ACCC) Project 2001-2004• Mainstreaming Adaptation to Climate

Change (MACC) Project 2001 – 200?

Climate Change and Sea Level RiseImplementation of the BPoA Climate Change and SeaLevel Rise components by Caribbean SIDS:• 100% of Caribbean SIDS have ratified the UNFCCC• 100% have submitted their first National Communication to the

Conference of Parties to the UNFCCC• 88% of SIDS have produced a National Assessment Report• 50% of SIDS have a climate change and sea level rise adaptation

and mitigation plan• 88% of SIDS have established a national disaster preparedness

plan or office• Increased awareness of the potential impacts of climate change• Establishment of the Caribbean Community Climate Change Centre

(CCCCC=5Cs) in Belize in 2002 + MACC in 2004

• Is this enough??

Climate Change and Sea Level Rise

Identified Challengesand Issues• Inadequate financial and

technical capacity to implement many of the requirements under the BPoA

• Inadequate data on the potential impacts of climate change on the Caribbean

Identified Priorities• Improvements of

renewable energy technologies (especially reduced cost)

• Assistance from the international community in establishing data points and in installing instruments to monitor, survey and collect data on climate change and sea level rise.

Natural and Environmental Disasters

Requirements for SIDS under the BPoA:• Establish and/or strengthen disaster management

institutions and policies • Strengthen the capacity of local broadcasting to assist

remote communities• Establish a national disaster emergency fund• Integrate natural and environmental disaster policies into

national development planning processes• Establish and/or strengthen, where appropriate regional

institutions to complement and support national efforts in disaster mitigation

• Establish and/or strengthen mechanisms for sharing experiences, information and resources among SIDS

Natural and Environmental DisastersRegional initiatives on natural and environmental disasters adoptedsince 1994 include:• OECS Emergency Recovery and Disaster Management Project –

reduce physical vulnerability and increase capacity to respond to natural disasters

• Caribbean Hazard Mitigation Capacity Building Programme (CHAMP) – enhance regional capacity to reduce vulnerability to the effects of natural hazards

• Caribbean Disaster Management Project – mitigate damages in CDERA member states

• Caribbean Risk Management Initiative – build capacity to address the growing natural hazard and environmental risk

• Mainstreaming Adaptation to Climate Change (MACC) – facilitate the creation of an enabling environment for climate change adaptation

Natural and Environmental Disasters

Implementation of the BPoA natural and environmentaldisaster components by Caribbean SIDS:• Development of a Comprehensive Disaster Management

(CDM) Strategy and Framework by CDERA in 2001• All countries have established disaster management

agencies• Countries have developed and implemented national

projects and processes such as hurricane preparedness and the promotion of safer building practices

• Increased coordination to disaster preparedness, management and recovery through the CDERA

Natural and Environmental Disasters

Identified Challengesand Issues• Legislation and

regulations are still inadequate

• Inadequate finances to develop disaster management programmes

• Potential increase for frequency and severity of tropical storms and hurricanes

Identified Priorities• Develop and adopt

adaptation and mitigation strategies for natural and environmental disasters

• Develop and land use and zoning plans

Coastal and Marine ResourcesRequirements for SIDS under the BPoA:• Establish and/or strengthen, where appropriate, institutional,

administrative and legislative arrangements for developing and implementing integrated coastal zone plans and strategies.

• Design comprehensive monitoring programmes for coastal and marine resources

• Develop and/or strengthen national capabilities for the sustainable harvesting and processing of fishery resources

• Ratify and/or adhere to regional and international conventions concerning the protection of coastal and marine resources

• Develop and/or strengthen the capacity of regional organisations to undertake activities in coastal and marine areas

• Develop programmes to enhance negotiating skills for the management and exploitation of coastal and marine resources, including fisheries agreements

• Develop and/or strengthen regional capabilities for the effective surveillance and monitoring of activities in the EEZ of SIDS

• Develop a methodology for ICZM appropriate to SIDS, particularly very small, low elevation and coral islands

Coastal and Marine Resources

Implementation of the BPoA coastal and marine resourcesrequirements for Caribbean SIDS include:• Ratification of major regional and international marine

related conventions. Most SIDS are party to UNCLOS; Cartagena Convention; and the CBD.

• Antigua and Barbuda and Grenada are party to the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety

• Many States have one or more of the following NBSAP’s, Fisheries Management Plans, and Integrated Coastal and Marine Management Strategies

• 81% of the Caribbean SIDS had some relevant legislation addressing ocean and coastal issues

• 63% have developed mechanisms for ocean management coordination through MPA’s

• 50% have legislated EIA Acts

Coastal and Marine Resources

Relevant coastal and marine resources related initiatives and projects:

• The Caribbean Sea Ecosystem Assessment (CARESA) – assess the state of the Caribbean Sea ecosystem

• Oceans Governance – SIDS of the Caribbean, Indian and Pacific Ocean are seeking to cooperate and share experiences in the management of their ocean spaces

• The Sub-Commission for the Caribbean and Adjacent region (IOCARIBE)

• White Water to Blue Water Initiative• CARICOM Regional Fisheries Mechanism• Establishment of a Caribbean Fisheries Unit• Meso-American Barrier Reef Systems Project and the

International Coral Reef Action Network

Coastal and Marine Resources

Relevant coastal and marine resourcesrelated initiatives and projects cont’d:• Integrated Watershed and Coastal Area

Management (IWCAM) GEF Funded Project in Caribbean SIDS - seeks to provide a framework for countries to better address environmental management challenges

• Sustainable Management of the Shared Marine Resources of the Caribbean Large Marine Ecosystem (CLME) and Adjacent Regions GEF funded project – sustainable management of the shared living marine resource of the Caribbean

Coastal and Marine Resources

Identified Challengesand Issues• Lack of financial support

to meet many of the commitments under the BPoA

• Low level of coordination among the various agencies with responsibility for coastal and marine management

Identified Priorities• Delimitation of EEZ’s and

depositing charts with UNDOALOS

• Clearly articulated, national policies on coastal and marine issues

• Coastal zone management processes, policies and practices that explicitly address improving livelihoods of coastal communities

• Support ratification and effective implementation of the LBSMP Protocol of the Cartagena Convention

Mauritius Strategy

• Climate Change and sea-level rise– Recommends that parties that have not ratified the

Kyoto Protocol do so as soon as feasibly possible.– Fully implement the UNFCCC and further promote

international cooperation on climate change.– Promote increased energy efficiency and

development and use of renewable energy– Work to facilitate and promote the development,

transfer and dissemination to SIDS of appropriate technologies

Mauritius Strategy

• Natural and Environmental Disasters– Strengthen the International Strategy for

Disaster Reduction and related SIDS regional mechanisms as facilities to improve national disaster mitigation, preparedness and early-warning capacity

– Augment the capacity of small island developing States to predict and respond to emergency situations

Conclusions

• Caribbean SIDS are committed to the provisions in the BPoA

• Implementation of the BPoA in the Caribbean Region has been slow due to number of constraints including:– Lack of financial and technical resources– Sectoral approach to management and low level of

coordination amongst government agencies– Inappropriate and outdated legislative frameworks

Recommendations for Improved Implementation of the BPoA on Oceans and

Coasts Related Issues• Ensure a high level of political endorsement and

ministerial commitment to programmes• Improved inter-agency coordination and collaboration• Increased south-to-south collaboration amongst SIDS

with regards to lessons learnt• Development and management programmes should be

long-term, designed, implemented and evaluated to develop and maintain coherence and continuity

• Establishment of regional funding mechanisms• Establish linkages amongst existing projects such as the

GEF Caribbean International Waters Project on Integrating Management of Watersheds and Coastal Areas in Small Island Developing States

Mauritius Strategy

Key oceans and coasts areas identified aspriorities in the Mauritius Strategy, outcomeof the international meeting to review theimplementation of the BPoA for SIDSinclude:• Management of Waste – marine debris, ballast

water and ship wrecks threaten the integrity of marine and coastal habitats– Work towards the control of transboundary movement

of waste through the region– Implement the new IMO Convention on Ballast Water– Works towards the cessation of the transport of

radioactive materials through SIDS

Mauritius Strategy

• Climate Change and sea-level rise– Recommends that parties that have not ratified the

Kyoto Protocol do so as soon as feasibly possible.– Fully implement the UNFCCC and further promote

international cooperation on climate change.– Promote increased energy efficiency and

development and use of renewable energy– Work to facilitate and promote the development,

transfer and dissemination to SIDS of appropriate technologies

Mauritius Strategy

• Natural and Environmental Disasters– Strengthen the International Strategy for

Disaster Reduction and related SIDS regional mechanisms as facilities to improve national disaster mitigation, preparedness and early-warning capacity

– Augment the capacity of small island developing States to predict and respond to emergency situations

Mauritius Strategy • Coastal and Marine Resources

– Complete the delimitation of their maritime boundaries– Submit any claims to the Continental Shelf Commission by 13

May 2009– Further the work on the assessment of seabed living and non-

living resources within their national jurisdiction– Establish effective monitoring, reporting and enforcement and

control of fishing vessels to further implement international plans of action to prevent, deter and eliminate illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing

– Strengthen or develop, national and regional sustainable and responsible fisheries management mechanisms consisted with the FAO Code of Conduct

– If they have not done so consider becoming parties to UNFA and the Compliance Agreement

– Adopt integrated policies and sound management approaches, such as marine protected areas

– Fully implement the GPA

Conclusions

• Caribbean SIDS are committed to the provisions in the BPoA

• Implementation of the BPoA in the Caribbean Region has been slow due to number of constraints including:– Lack of financial and technical resources– Sectoral approach to management and low level of

coordination amongst government agencies– Inappropriate and outdated legislative frameworks

Recommendations for Improved Implementation of the BPoA on Oceans and

Coasts Related Issues• Ensure a high level of political endorsement and

ministerial commitment to programmes• Improved inter-agency coordination and collaboration• Increased south-to-south collaboration amongst SIDS

with regards to lessons learnt• Development and management programmes should be

long-term, designed, implemented and evaluated to develop and maintain coherence and continuity

• Establishment of regional funding mechanisms• Establish linkages amongst existing projects such as the

GEF Caribbean International Waters Project on Integrating Management of Watersheds and Coastal Areas in Small Island Developing States

BioDiversity +

Habitat Conservation Programs

Watershed / Water Supply Management

Forestry Activities

Urban Developmen

t

Coastal: Infrastructure /Tourism

Development

Harbor Management Agricultural

Development

Courtesy:

UNEP-GPA

Fisheries / Aquaculture Programs

+

MPAs

Industrial Development

WW2BW/IWCAM:WW2BW/IWCAM:Integrated Watershed and Coastal Area Management –

Ecosystem Based Management Initiatives

Concerns Cont.,

• ‘New’ Sectors (Financial/Tourism) often not integrated into National Response / Recovery systems

• Lessons from recent disasters (eg IVAN in Cayman / Tsunami / recent Quakes) learnt slowly or not at all

• Business continuity planning not institutionalised

• REACTIVE rather than PROACTIVE• SCENARIOS not consistent (within / across

the society and critical entities)

“Capacity Development”

TimeTime

Com

plex

ityC

ompl

exity

Individual/Local

National/Societal

Organization

Educate, Increase Capacity to access, create, use skills, &

KNOWLEDGE

Programmes & Projects to

Improve Systems Structures,

Mechanisms & Procedures

Enabling Strategies Supportive Policy,

Legal & Institutional Frameworks

Components of Risk (Davis) Risk of Disaster

Human Vulnerability Natural Hazards

Exposure Resistance Resilience Magnitude Duration Frequency

Location

relative

to Hazard

Environmental

Surroundings

Livelihood Health

Adjustments Risk Reduction Actions Preparation

After Mark Pelling 2003 ‘The Vulnerability of Cities’ Page 48

The Safety Chain

Risk Sensitisation / Early Warning / Vulnerability Awareness / Capacity Building systems involves chains of actors / processes Narrow “technical” conceptions of such systems leave weak links in the chain – where failures occur (eg Warning System failures in Haiti/Grenada?2004, S AsiaTsunami 2004, TONGA 2006) “Mainstreamed” = ‘infused’ into education and culture as well as the business and livelihood related societal value systems.

Shared Societal Knowledge of the risks faced by Communities = Risk ‘Culture’

‘Technical’ awareness =, zoning, safer built env; & monitoring + Alert / Warn’g Services

Wide Formal and Informal Diffusion/ Dissemination of Useable risk info products

Knowledge and capacity for timely action (pre, during, post) threat at appropriate levels

Effective coping systems

Coastal Inundation

NEEDS• Improved Business Continuity Planning• WORST CASE SCENARIOS

– High Impact Rapid Onset– Evacuation vs ‘Hardening’– PLAN COMPREHESIVELY CONSIDER WORKERS,

RESIDENTS – Integrated with NATIONAL / REGIONAL

• EFFICENT SHARING OF LESSONS LEARNT– TSUNAMI / IVAN– CAYMAN “CARS’ to CARIBBEAN– Details on Vital Records / Flooding / – Communication Issues

• RISK REDUCTION NEEDS TO BE TAKEN SERIOUSLY BY ALL SECTORS INCLUDING TOURISM

UWI ISD / DRR Initiative

UWI DRR Initiative : Responds to -

• Exposure of our WCR to a range of hazards; • Urgent need to further develop coping capacities

and mainstream risk reduction strategies • Shift from Reactive to Proactive Measures• Improve the low societal/national ‘Resilience’ • Implications for Sustainable Development; and • the recommendations of key regional and global

For a, Conferences and Seminars over the past decade

VISION

• To be a multi-disciplinary Centre of Excellence in the field of risk reduction, resilience, incident management, and disaster mitigation in the Wider Caribbean specifically and in Small Island Developing States globally

Objectives• Build, mobilise, and coordinate regional capacity to

provide a knowledge network and • carry out research to support and strengthen the

national, regional, and sectoral mechanisms responsible for coping with, avoiding, reducing, managing and mitigating risks particularly those related to natural disasters in the region;

• Serve as a provider of policy advice to regional entities (eg CARICOM, affiliated bilateral and multinational institutions) the private sector, Civil Society and national Governments.

• Emulate / Cooperate with similar university based Risk/Disaster Research capacity building entities in other regions and build upon the World Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction (WCDR) guidance on the establishment of National/Regional Disaster Risk Reduction Platforms.

Cont

• benefit from the interactions and synergies with other components of the ISD– Environmental Management; – Foresighting ; – and the Hospitality and Sustainable Tourism related activities

• Work closely with other elements of UWI– Seismic Research Unit (TT), – Unit for Disaster Studies, Earthquake Unit, (Mona)– the Sir Arthur Lewis Institute for Social and Economic Studies

(SALISES), CARIMAC and – other existing UWI / Tertiary stakeholders and entities who have

developed competencies in risk related areas.

Summary and Conclusions • Historical Hazard Information, sound science, data

derived from demographic, economic and environmental sources, Vulnerability analysis and exposure related factors can be used to assess risks, prognosticate on impacts, provide foresighting scenarios and measure various types of likely, possible, probable outcomes.

• The identification of risk factors, the relationships / correspondence between projections based on assessed risks and historical disaster patterns, makes these risks foreseeable and the worst cases avoidable??

• This creating an opportunity for action to build RESILIENCE in communities / enterprises / sectors and to reduce risks and losses through pre-emptive action rather than perpetuating [the current] repetitive cycle of disaster event, relief and recovery, followed by other disaster impacts.

• In high risk areas, where disasters are most frequent and losses highest, failure to reduce risks allows disaster losses to continually drain off hopes of economic development.

Continuity of Business:Tourism/Financial Services Sectors• Tourism and Financial Services Sectors are NEW critical

elements of the economy. • Their hurricane experience is varied and apparently their

special vulnerabilities, needs and sensitivities have not as yet been comprehensively integrated into all National Disaster Planning Processes

• Tourism Sector concerns include the exposure of plant, the special evacuation/welfare needs (of the Guests + workers), marketplace communication and recovery plans.

• Financial Service Sector concerns include continuity of utility and communication services, business interruption, and welfare of staff (+ families)

• Traditional HURRICANE COMMITTEES may not be fully aware of all the needs / concerns of private sector elements as they are largely public sector / safety focussed.

• The impact of interruptions of these sectors on REVENUES / JOBS s have significance for the entire country!!

Lesson • New / Emerging Economically important

sectors need to be engaged in the Contingency Planning processes.

• The lessons from these sectors in Cayman / Bahamas / elsewhere in the Caribbean need to be compiled into a Best Practice Guide as soon as is possible.

• The implication for Jobs and the State Revenue impacts of Natural Disasters need to be analysed and responded to by Stakeholders in a more systematic way across the Region