Asia Pacific Forum on Loss and Damage Newsletter 6 | March 2015

 

 

Asia Pacific Forum on Loss and Damage

 

Creating a community of practice across the Asia Pacific

Operationalizing Loss and Damage Beyond Warsaw

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  The objective of the forum is to disseminate knowledge and new research on loss and damage in the Asia Pacific region so as to create a community of practice among researchers. Project Coordinators: Supported by: Design: Stephanie Andrei Published by: International Centre for Climate Change and Development 98 Park Road | Baridhara | Dhaka Bangladesh The views expressed in this publication are those of the author(s). Publication does not imply endorsement by the International Centre for Climate Change and Development, International Institute for Environment and Development or the Asia-Pacific Network of Global Change Research. Copyright © 2015 March 2015 Front cover: © Reuters / Adrees Latif A Buddha is partially submerged by floodwaters in the ruins of Wat Mahathat temple in Thailand's ancient capital, Ayutthaya, on November 6, 2011.

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Objective of the Forum

The objective of the Forum is to disseminate knowledge on loss and damage research in the Asia Pacific region, to create a community of practice and to ensure that research is targeted to those who need it most. By providing a platform for discussion, the Forum also hopes to shed light on the challenges and potential solutions to assessing and addressing loss and damage. Researchers are encouraged to send us links to their literature to be included on the website and to participate in the monthly Q&A sessions that will be available on LinkedIn as well as on the website (http://lossanddamageforum.org).

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Information about our event in Sendai

On March 16th the Asia Pacific Forum on Loss and Damage will host a workshop in Sendai, Japan together with partners ActionAid International, the Asia Pacific Adaptation Network (APAN), and LEAD Pakistan with support from the Asia-Pacific Network on Global Change Research (APN). The theme of the workshop is enhancing resilience through the integration of disaster risk reduction (DRR), climate change adaptation (CCA) and loss and damage and will bring together researchers, practitioners and others conducting research on loss and damage. The workshop will be held on the margins of the World Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction (WCDRR) to take place from March 14th to 18th, 2015. The aim of the workshop is to

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provide organizations with a unique opportunity to share knowledge of how DRR, CCA, and L&D can be harmonized and integrated to enhance resilience in vulnerable communities and countries and to continue to build partnerships and networks in the Asia Pacific region. In addition participants will discuss how the relevance of HFA2 to addressing loss and damage and how the actions undertaken under the HFA2 can contribute to resilience building. If you are interested in registering, please send an inquiry to: lossanddamageforum@gmail.com Information from all our past events and workshops is available here: http://lossanddamageforum.org/events/

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The World Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction

(WCDRR) and its Relevance for Loss and

Damage

By: Stephanie Andrei International Centre for Climate Change and

Development (ICCCAD)

The eyes of the world will be on Sendai, Japan in early March as country representatives, researchers and practitioners come together for the World Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction (WCDRR). It is the first of three major global processes culminating this year with the next being the finalization of the Sustainable Development Goals in New York in September and the establishment of a new climate change agreement in Paris in December. In particular, several developing countries are closely monitoring how these discussions may be able to feed into the loss and damage debate that has been progressing. This article briefly explains why this process is important for loss and damage and the climate negotiations more generally. The United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNISDR) facilitates the conference and is in charge of coordinating the development of the post-2015 Hyogo Framework of Action (HFA2). The first HFA came into action in 2005 and was primarily used as a guideline for countries to reduce vulnerabilities due to natural hazards. Both HFA and its successor HFA2 are closely linked to climate change and the work being done under the UNFCCC as research has proven that climate change will substantially increase the frequency and intensity of extreme events globally.

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At present, the draft text for the HFA2 has referenced climate change impacts 15 times (not including references to the UNFCCC) and has recognized the risk that climate change poses to DRR efforts. It will also be important to recognize the spectrum of climate change impacts that will require risk reduction efforts. Climate change will not only increase sudden onset events but also exacerbate slow onset events such as ocean acidification, drought, and sea level rise, to name a few. Considering the practical importance of DRR to climate change, there is enormous opportunity to link this process to the work being done under the UNFCCC, specifically under the Warsaw international mechanism on loss and damage. Although both processes work at arguably different temporal and spatial scales, DRR and CCA share a common goal: to reduce vulnerability and increase resilience. As the two-year workplan has ambitiously included, it is of growing urgency that Parties understand comprehensive risk management frameworks in order to respond to and build resilience against loss and damage, tasks that require the expertise of the DRR and CCA community. Addressing loss and damage is a new challenge, one that will only get more difficult as time passes. To do this most effectively will require innovative ways of thinking and acting. Countries will need to Integrate DRR and CCA and develop comprehensive risk management frameworks to address risks from a multitude of environmental hazards – including climate change impacts. The three on-going global processes can provide signals for how countries – particularly those still developing – can tackle climate change in the light of other challenges. Like most things, these international negotiations should be seen as more than just the sum of its parts particularly in their efforts to reduce future losses and damages.

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Operationalizing the Warsaw International

Mechanism on Loss and Damage

By: Erin Roberts

International Centre for Climate Change and Development (ICCCAD)

At the 19th Conference of the Parties (COP) the Warsaw international mechanism for loss and damage associated with the impacts of climate change was established. Throughout 2014 an interim Executive Committee worked to develop a workplan for the permanent Executive Committee (ExCom) to implement. In December the workplan was approved by Parties at COP 20 in Lima. The workplan in its entirety can be found here. The workplan contains several elements focused on enhancing understanding on various elements of loss and damage that on-going and emerging research could contribute to. Key topics include the impacts and responses to slow onset events, non-economic losses and how they can be addressed, how loss and damage affects vulnerable populations and countries and influences patterns of human mobility and how to develop comprehensive risk management frameworks to address loss and damage. In Lima it was determined that the permanent ExCom will consist of ten representatives from Annex I countries (or developed countries) and ten representatives from non-Annex I countries (developing countries), two of whom will come from the Asia Pacific region. The decision mandates that the ExCom should meet before the end of March. However, as of late February the UNFCCC had not yet received all of the nominations for the membership of the ExCom. In a recent letter to Parties the Executive Secretary invited Parties to submit their nominations by March 9th. The first

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meeting the ExCom will be held thereafter at which members will discuss how the two-year workplan will be operationalized. The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) has already reached out to several research organizations to ask how they might be able to contribute to the workplan of the ExCom. Researchers and practitioners can support the implementation of the workplan in two important ways:

1) Those able to do so can attend the meeting of first meeting of the ExCom where it is expected that input from Observer organizers will be requested in order to support the implementation of the workplan.

2) Those undertaking research on loss and damage can support the implementation of the workplan by sharing their research findings, particularly those relevant to the nine action areas of the workplan.

There is significant research on loss and damage in the Asia Pacific region as well as early lessons learned which can help not only the ExCom in the implementation of the workplan but can also countries grappling with how to implement comprehensive risk management frameworks that maximize resources to both avoid and address residual loss and damage. If you have any research you would like to share with us, please send us an email at: lossanddamageforum@gmail.com

       

                                                                                           © Stephanie Andrei, ICCCAD

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A People’s Centered Approach to Addressing

Loss and Damage

By: Jack Bolland ActionAid Bangladesh

The concept of Loss & Damage (L&D) has emerged, with increasing prominence, as environmental specialists have realized that both mitigation and adaptation efforts, at some point will fail to address the adverse impacts of climate change. There is a “growing recognition amongst scientists that, as the earth faces a rate of warming, largely due to human-related greenhouse gas emissions, we will be, and already are, exposed to situations where people will be unable to adjust or adapt” (Kindra, 2013). As the UNFCCC has identified, climate change-induced L&D lies on the continuum from extreme disasters to slow-onset incremental hazards ranging from floods, cyclones/storm surges and droughts to sea level rise, ocean acidification, glacial retreat, salinization, land and forest degradation, loss of biodiversity and desertification, where inherit losses or damages are either unavoidable or beyond the current reach of adaptation and mitigation strategies and other coping mechanisms (UNFCCC, 2012). This view has been further supported and expanded by national level research such as the L&D in Vulnerable Countries Initiative. This is not to say the continued emphasis on progressive mitigation and adaptation agreements is not of the utmost importance; progress on the integration of disaster risk reduction and climate change adaptation into more resilience development strategies remains critical. But the emergence of L&D related to climate stimuli has created a space for greater understanding of the negative effects of a changing climate. So, understanding the impacts, both economic and non-economic, associated with such climatic stressors is

     

New in Research

                 

© EEP.shiree | ActionAid Bangladesh

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essential to inform resilience-building strategies, including adaptation and mitigation policies, while further advancing complimentary instruments. One of the projects currently being undertaken by ActionAid Bangladesh along with Asian Disaster Reduction and Response Network (ADRRN) and Climate Action Network – South Asia (CANSA) is an empirical pilot research project across South Asia. Research will be collected in five countries –Bangladesh, Cambodia, Myanmar, Nepal and Vietnam – and will develop and promote a people-centred approach to address loss and damage due to climate change. The research is funded by the Asia-Pacific Network for Global Change Research (APN) and was launched in August 2014.

Methodology The multi-stakeholder approach of the methodology – ‘Developing and Promoting a People-Centred Approach to Assess and Address Impacts of Climate Change- Induced Loss & Damage’- aims to combine scientific evidence with a community-level perspective through original and secondary data collection. The rationale being, action and engagement will be sustained by localized stakeholders, meaning there is a need to engage these actors in framing the situation and proposing solutions and ultimately shifting away from a solely prescriptive approach to address climate stressors. The methodology consists of multiple activities, resulting in three data management outputs:

1) Scientific Data Collection: The objective is to compile information and clarify definitions regarding climate change, adaptation and L&D, based on scientific evidence from the international community and local experts

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(such as government officials, weather officers, I/NGOs, research centres, universities, think tanks, etc). It highlights knowledge offered by specialists regarding on essential threats, historical trends, current adaptation strategies, institutional actors and possible future impacts.

2) Community-Based Questionnaire: To understand the limitations of adaptation strategies and the real impact of L&D on vulnerable communities. It is designed to gather information about local awareness regarding L&D, current adaptation strategies and governmental responsiveness, and local perspective of resource recruitments to address the various threats. It will also be used by as an educational mechanism for local communities and serve as a means to challenge authorities and local actors on resiliency strategies. The target groups are, on the one hand, the local affected communities (household level) and, on the other hand, the local authorities/main stakeholders (communities, local government, landowners). The 2 main outreach activities are individual household assessment surveys and Focus Group Discussions (FGDs) divided into vulnerable citizens (farmers, fishermen, female, and male); stakeholders (market actors – businessmen/landowners vs. civil society); and local authorities (village/community and sub-district levels).

3) Data Management Dashboard: To organize

data collection above and close the knowledge gap between the scientific contributors and vulnerable communities in hopes to mend synergies between the two communities leading to better informed policies and practical actions.

The pilot study centres on community case studies across

Bangladesh, Cambodia, Myanmar, Nepal and Vietnam and focuses on three hazards: sea-level rise, floods

and salinity intrusion.

A component of this methodology places emphasis on the

incorporation of impact scenarios at the community level for educational

purposes.  

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A component of this methodology places emphasis on the incorporation of impact scenarios at the community level for educational purposes. The reality is that climate modeling systems and projected atmospheric changes elaborate upon macro-level climate trends and projections, which themselves are subject to a degree of uncertainty. But there is limited accessibility of these scenarios on the micro-level. In other words, although global trends populated international scientific literature, country-level or sub-national evidence is limited, particularly related to the most vulnerable areas. In order to validate these atmospheric variations, the establishment of baseline measures is required in order to track and analyse volatility over time. In certain locations, these practical measures exist, but many lack the resources to compile such evidence. These activities are important in order to assess and measure the physical changes in a region. Although it is not necessarily within the expertise of this project to establish science-intensive techniques to collect climatic data, it does aim to assess the impacts through community-level experiences and expectations. These accounts will then serve as evidence to further develop locally informed impact scenarios which can be communicated to local stakeholders and authorities. A further goal of this work is to extend beyond the realm of understanding and establish linkages with the policy, public knowledge and practice related to DDR, CCA and L&D. In order to achieve this, the project intends to create and/or support knowledge forums/platforms/networks where scientists, policymakers and practitioners can actively engage in discussions and dissemination activities. Additionally, it will host capacity building workshops in collaboration with partner organizations in the region. Next Steps The methodology is currently being refined to fit local context for individual village case studies. Researchers in each country of focus have been recruited and are being trained on procedures to implement the methodology through desk research, interpersonal interviews and focus group discussions which will transpire over the course of the next 4-6 months prior to publication of results. Work Cited: Kindra, J. (2013) ‘The Climate Loss and Damage Mechanism: why and why nots? IRIN Humanitarianews and Analysis’. UN Office for the Cooperation of

Humanitarian Affairs. Available at: http://www.irinnews.org/report/99224/the-climate-loss-and-damage-mechanism-whys-and-why-not UNFCCC (2012) ‘Background paper to the expert meeting on: A range of approaches to address loss and damage associated with the adverse effects of

climate change, including impacts related to extreme weather events and slow onset processes’. Available at: http://unfccc.int/files/adaptation/cancun_adaptation_framework/loss_and_damage/application/pdf/literature_review_barbados.pdf

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Assessing the Vulnerability of

Tennessee Transportation Assets to

Extreme Weather

By: Dr. Mark Abkowitz Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering at

Vanderbilt University The State of Tennessee has distinct geographical regions, whose varied topography leads to conditions that produce different forms of extreme weather. Frequent storms bring rains of high intensity that often lead to local and widespread flooding. These storms can be accompanied by damaging winds and hail, and may occur as tornadoes. Yet, extended dry periods characterized by excessive heat are also prevalent, increasing the threat of drought. Winter (ice and snow) storms with the potential to paralyze an area for an extended period of time, and heavy pockets of fog have also proven problematic for the state. These forms of extreme weather are expected to occur more frequently and/or intensify in the future. For example, the last decade has been the warmest on record in the southeastern U.S. There has also been an upward trend in extreme weather events over the past three decades, with Tennessee experiencing more than fifteen weather disasters that each resulted in over $1 billion in impacts during this period of time. When extreme weather occurs, the impacts to the transportation system can be significant. Beyond damage to the infrastructure itself, these events can cause service disruptions that impact access to jobs and schools, business continuity, medical visits, recreational trips and other social activities. Moreover, these impacts extend beyond the state, as regional and national mobility is affected by Tennessee’s strategic location as a major distribution hub and transportation corridor. Using a grant awarded by the Federal Highway Administration, this project was undertaken by the

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Tennessee Department of Transportation (TDOT) for the purpose of conducting a statewide assessment of the vulnerability of Tennessee’s transportation system to extreme weather events. It encompasses all major transportation infrastructure located within Tennessee – highways, railroads, waterways, airports, pipelines, mass transit systems, and support facilities – both state and privately-owned. The temporal scope extends through calendar year 2040, thereby ensuring the provision of input to capital and rehabilitation cycles, and aligning with the time horizon of long range transportation plans now under development. Among the objectives of this initiative are the following:

• understand the vulnerability of Tennessee’s overall transportation system to current and anticipated extreme weather events

• identify segments and facilities that are deemed critical to transportation mobility and highly vulnerable to extreme weather

• inform the development of adaptation strategies that involve short-term and long-term implementation

• promote greater stakeholder coordination in dealing with the impacts associated with anticipated extreme weather events

The study is being performed by a team led by Dr. Mark Abkowitz and involves the following tasks:

1) Compile an inventory of transportation assets located within the state and identify those that are considered vital to the

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functioning of the state’s transportation system (i.e., critical assets). A variety of criteria are being used to define asset criticality, such as volume of activity, strategic importance, use as an emergency response resource, network connectivity, and local knowledge and experience.

2) Utilize historic weather data and future climate forecasts to identify the extent to which various extreme weather events are more likely to occur based on geographical location. Event types include extreme temperatures (high and low), heavy rain, drought, strong straight-line winds, tornadoes, ice storms, snow, and fog.

3) Evaluate the damage potential and resilience of various types of critical transportation infrastructure when exposed to extreme weather events that are more likely to occur in their location.

4) Prepare a list of critical transportation infrastructure deemed most vulnerable to extreme weather, and provide recommendations for how to use these findings in developing adaptation strategies.

The project is making extensive use of color-coded geographic information system (GIS) maps to visually display critical assets, extreme weather exposure, and impact assessment. An important component of this project has been engagement by TDOT of key stakeholders representing government functions, economic sectors, transportation modes, geographic regions and political jurisdictions. This has included their involvement in a comprehensive on-line survey, administered to a broad range of transportation stakeholders, to assess the potential impacts (asset damage and system disruption) to each asset type when exposed to specific extreme weather scenarios. Respondents were asked to evaluate the impacts according to a four-point qualitative scale (nominal, moderate, significant, catastrophic). The survey was sent to slightly over 400 stakeholders considered knowledgeable about various transportation assets and the project received 220 responses. This is a very high response rate for a survey of this kind, perhaps indicative of the level of concern about extreme weather within the transportation community. TDOT plans to integrate the results from this project into a broad range of agency activities, including transportation investment planning; developing the state transportation improvement program; introducing appropriate maintenance and asset management strategies; adjusting road design policies; modifying the way TDOT designs, constructs and repairs bridges; selection of materials used in building roads and bridges; and coordination with local and regional planning organizations.

Figure 1. Study Approach of the Project

Extreme Weather Events

Damage Potential & Resilience

Critical Assets

Vulnerability

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Loss and damage – could a new source of finance

unlock the impasse?

By: Julie-Anne Richards Climate Justice Programme (CJP)

The corridors of the February UNFCCC intersessional in Geneva saw some surprising suspects ask the question “could loss and damage be a make-or-break issue for Paris?” It’s good to see loss and damage has gained the attention of a wide range of countries, but it needn’t deter Parties from reaching an agreement in Paris. Clearly loss and damage is an essential piece of the final Paris agreement. As Saleemul Huq of ICCCAD says, ‘an agreement without loss and damage will be obsolete the moment it is signed’. Countries who do not want to see loss and damage in the Paris agreement are concerned that they will be asked to pay. The costs of loss and damage from climate change are already high, and expected to grow to approximately US$1.2 trillion by 2060.

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Funding for loss and damage needn’t come entirely from developed country budgets however. A global levy on the extraction of fossil fuels, if well planned and executed, could provide the majority of the funding needed for the next 30-40 years. A global fossil fuel extraction levy, paid into the UN Mechanism for Loss and Damage, is soundly based on international law – the polluter pays principle, the no harm principle and the principle of transboundary harm. It is consistent with the UNFCCC and is informed by precedents from other fields developed in line with the Rio Declaration on Environment and Development (1992). Our proposal is closely modeled on the oil spill compensation regime (IOPC), where companies who ship oil pay a levy for every barrel of oil they ship into an international fund that is used to compensate victims of oil spills.

Financing Loss and Damage

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         

                                                     © Euronews

If you would like to stay up to date with the Carbon Majors funding Loss and Damage Initiative please

fill out this form: http://bit.ly/1D4GfI4

                         

                                                                                                                       © New Europe Online

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As laid out in the 2013 Carbon Majors report the majority of carbon emissions in the atmosphere – 63 percent - have come from the coal, oil, and gas extracted and cement manufactured by the “Carbon Majors”, 90 of the largest companies in these industries. A global fossil fuel extraction levy, at a relatively low starting point of US$2 per tonne of CO2, would raise approximately US$50billion each year. The levy would need to increase each year since the costs of loss and damage from climate change grow annually and since it is imperative to agree on a pathway to phase out fossil fuels. The potential to explore such a levy, and to unlock the gridlock on loss and damage, exists in the negotiating text adopted at Geneva. There are sufficiently robust references to loss and damage as we can note from the previous articles and it is urgent that Parties agree to a loss and damage financial mechanism additional to that of adaptation. The Geneva text also includes a process to identify and implement new sources of finance – of which a global fossil fuel extraction levy could be one. It is also important to note that included in the two year workplan of the Warsaw International Mechanism for Loss and Damage Executive Committee is an action area devoted to identifying and implementing new sources of finance for addressing loss and damage. The Geneva text provides a base for ensuring that the Paris climate agreement fully acknowledges that loss and damage from climate change is already impacting the most vulnerable, and agrees a comprehensive architecture for addressing this loss and damage, including the issue of compensation. Importantly it also offers the opportunity to raise the funds for loss and damage from the entities whose products are largely responsible for the climate change experienced to date – the fossil fuel industry.    Work Cited: Richards, J.A., and Boom, K. (2014) ‘Carbon Majors Funding Loss and Damage’. Available at: http://www.boell.de/en/2014/11/25/polluters-pay-carbon-

majors-funding-loss-and-damage  

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#CarbonMajors #ClimateJustice #LossandDamage #PolluterPays http://www.climatejustice.org.au

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International Centre for Climate Change and Development (ICCCAD) 98 Park Road | Baridhara | Dhaka

Bangladesh

If you have any further comments/inquiries or if you would like to sign-up to become a member, please send us an email at: lossanddamageforum@gmail.com