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Cost of Adaptation in
Coastal Zones of Africa
UNESCO
African Ministerial Conference on the EnvironmentSpecial Session on Climate Change
Nairobi, Kenya, 25-29 May 2009
Prepared and researched by: Presented by: Jurgen Theiss Isabelle NiangIOC of UNESCO IOC of [email protected] [email protected]
The
African Union Commissionmandated
UNESCO“The African Union Commission
welcomes the initiative of UNESCO on preparation and involvement of African scientists and negotiators in the
Copenhagen Climate Change Conference, 2009.”
The African Union Commission seeks network partners to work beyond COP 15.
Please contact us.
Our approach
We have been talking and listening in Africa.
Here is what we have learned and concluded about perceptions of and
threats to Africa’s coastal zones.
Our learning and conclusion
Building Africa’s capacity to plan coastal activities today,
will lower costs of adaptation tomorrow.
Many benefits unrelated to climate change are waiting to be gained.
Features of coastal zones figure in all IPCC Fourth Assessment Report sectors:
Water Agriculture Infrastructure/Settlement Human Health Tourism Transport Energy
Addressing coastal zones holistically will aid the development of a comprehensive plan of climate change adaptation in the coastal zones.
Climate Change and Coastal Zones
From African scientists to African negotiators, all worry about sea level rise.(Communications with African experts; UNESCO-IOC 2009, African Oceans and Coasts)
“Sea level rising faster than expected” and “may well exceed one meter by 2100”
(Quote and figure: Stefan Rahmstorf, March 2009)
Adapt to what?
Sea level rise
Africa did not cause the climate to change. Yet Africa has to deal with its impacts, and is more vulnerable than most. Can we turn the threat around by innovating the best adaptations?
Adapt to what?
Implications of sea level rise
Permanent flooding
Coastal erosion
Salinization of drinking water
Other implications of climate change in the coastal zones
More severe and frequent storms
Rising coastal ocean temperature
Salinification and acidification of the coastal ocean
2005: 50% of population living within 200 km of coast, 40% of population derive livelihoods from coastal & marine ecosystems.(Advisory Committee on the Protection of the Sea)
2025: 75% of population living within 200 km of coast. An unbroken chain of cities from Accra to the Niger Delta?(UNESCO, 2003, Environment and development in coastal regions and in small islands)
Life in the coastal zone: Fisheries Trade (e.g. harbours, coastal roads) Tourism Biodiversity Culture (e.g. monuments, traditional practices)
How important are Coastal Zones?
Coastal zones are “most important areas in the world to humans”(FAO, 2005, Coastal GTOS – Strategic design and phase 1 implementation plan)
Loss of Land Displacement of populations (emotional distress, loss of jobs, social conflicts) Loss of agricultural land Loss of infrastructure Loss of cultural sites (next three slides)
Loss of biodiversity Loss of fish stock and habitat that replenishes it Loss of tourism
Loss of water supplies (intrusion of salt water)
Loss of lives (increased storm surges and flooding)
Losses in Coastal Zones I
What is the cost of loosing an ancient graveyard?
•Ancient royal graves in the Bay of Loango, Republic of Congo
What is the cost of loosing a cultural heritage?
•Island of Mozambique
•UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1991)
What is the cost of loosing a sacred site?
•Libation near Eastern coastal forest zone
Besides loss of land (previous slides)
Loss of biodiversity Loss of fish stock and habitat that replenishes it Loss of tourism
Loss of water supplies (intrusion of salt water)
Loss of lives (increased storm surges and flooding)
The African Process of the Advisory Committee of the Protection of the Seas addresses these potential losses with five working groups on: Coastal erosion Tourism Sustainable use of living resources Pollution Management of key habitats
How are these losses enumerated, and how costly is protection?
Losses in the coastal zones II
Impacts of sea level rise on a coastal aquifer at the head of the Cap Vert peninsula
FEFLOW Model
A
B
Dissolved salts isovalue curves (mg.l-1)
A: now
B: with a 0.5 m sea level rise
Values > 15,000 mg.l-1
Isovalue of 1,000 mg.l-1
•LOSSES IN WATER SUPPLIES
National Communications have enumerated costs of losses and protection
Cost of losses• Destruction of coastal infrastructure: US$ 400 million or 2.2 X GDP (Comoros, 2002)• Inaction: US$ 2.9 billion (Egypt, 1999) • Damage due to sea level rise in Tewalet area: US$ 14 million (Eritrea, 2002)• Loss of land due to sea level rise: US$ 217 million (The Gambia, 2003)
Inaction is costly by any standards
Costs of protection:• Protecting entire coastline of Tanzania: US$ 7 billion (Tanzania, 2003)• Building a wall along entire coast of Eritrea: US$ 50-500 million (Eritrea, 2002)• Full protection of Sierra Leone coast: US$ 1.5 billion (Sierra Leone, 2007)
Is building sea walls the best response?
Cost of losses and protection
Change current human activity that will stop: Beach dredging Development in low-lying areas or close to the beach
Build protection e.g. sea walls
Adaptation possibilities
Comprehensive approach (outlined in the next several slides)
Sea wall had to be raised to protect Stone Town in Zanzibar, a UNESCO World Heritage site, from flooding.
In every crisis there is opportunity.
Kila lenye ubaya halikosi wema.
Opportunities General capacity building
Needed to adapt to climate change in the coastal zones and generates many other benefits
Improving the coordination between all stakeholder of the coastal zonesMakes the coastal zones naturally more resilient Other benefit: Policies are mutually beneficial (e.g. fisheries and tourism benefit)
Preparing financial institutions for financial flowsBetter management of financial flows to adapt to climate changeOther benefit: Generally improved financial sector (e.g. benefits trade)
Diversifying the economyJobs for those that lost jobs (e.g. erosion of agricultural land) Other benefit: Further development of the manufacturing and services industries
Strengthening institutes of marine sciences Science input to policy from Africa’s own scientistsOther benefit: Produces scientists benefiting also other sectors (e.g. telecommunication)
Opportunities Strengthening of institutes of marine sciences
Example: Capacity-building in coastal modelling at the Institute of Marine Sciences in Zanzibar, Tanzania (www.ZanzibarProject.org)
Simulation of one typical year (Arrows: Ocean currents; Color: Ocean temperature)(Zavala-Garay, J. and Mahongo, S., 2008)
Zanzibar
Coastal models help investigate:
magnification
Beach erosion Pollution dispersion Coral reef health (coral larvae dispersion)
OpportunitiesPreservation of Africa’s heritage
Preserving and/or restoring the natural resilience of the coastal zonesUNESCO’s programmes in Africa help find workable approaches, e.g.
UNESCO’s MAB Biosphere ReservesUNESCO’s Africa Bio Carbon Initiative (new)
Preserving indigenous and traditional knowledgeUNESCO’s programmes in Africa help, e.g.
UNESCO’s World Heritage sitesUNESCO’s Frontlines of Climate Change
Needed to adapt to climate change in the coastal zones and a worthwhile effort in itself
Financing Facilitating the funding management
UNFCCC’s Financial Needs Assessment programmeAssists in determining the financial needs for adapting to climate change
Close collaboration with the Finance MinistriesAllows better integration of climate change issues in economic planning(Watkiss, P., 2009, Economics of climate change: Key messages)
Capacity-building in financial institutionsEnsures preparedness for financial flows for adaptation to climate change (Watkiss, P., 2009, Economics of climate change: Key messages)
Financing Funds
Architecture of the new climate funds (www.climatefundsupdate.org)
Explained by previous UNEP presentation
Some funds have been dispersed, but most represent only pledges(Watkiss, P, 2009, Personal communication)
Besides these major climate funds, other funds are also available (next slide).
UNESCO’s Frontlines of Climate Change
Financing More funds
National Adaptation Programmes of Action (NAPA) fundsOnly 1 in Africa for coastal zones
CDM ProjectsOnly 2% in Africa
Funds for technology transfer / knowledge sharingGovernments need to plan coasts as low interest from private sector
Funds from socially responsible local businesses
International Assistance Funds under the 1972 World Heritage Convention
Fund under the 2003 Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage
Conclusion
If we can help you Prepare Coastal Issues for COP 15 and beyond
Please contact us at AUC / UNESCO
Climate change impacts the coastal zones in many facets
Planning and early adaptation reduces losses and generates other benefits
Large pledges (Can they be converted into funds?)
Main contributors
AUC Bather Kone
UNESCO Jurgen Theiss Ehrlich Desa Joannes Berque Stefano Mazzilli Mika Odido Andrew FanningFumiko Ohinata
GEF Project ACCC Isabelle Niang
[email protected]@unesco.org [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected]
