A closer look at climate change

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A closer look at climate change

• Neranda C. Maurice
• Climate Change Unit
• Ministry of Economic Affairs, Economic Planning,
  Investment National Development , GOSL

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The Science of Climate Change
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The Cause

• Emissions of greenhouse gases (GHGs) into the
  atmosphere as a result of human activities such
  as the burning of fossil fuels. GHGs include
• Carbon dioxide (cars, wood fires, etc)
• Methane (landfills, agriculture, livestock)
• Nitrous Oxide (Industry)
• CFCs (Refrigeration)

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What is climate change?

• A change of climate
• attributed directly or indirectly to human
  activity that
• alters the composition of the global atmosphere
  and which is
• addition to natural climate variability observed
  over comparable time periods. UNFCCC.

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The greenhouse effect
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Evidence

• 12 hottest year on record have occurred within
  the last 14 years.
• 1998, 2005(tied)
• Earth warmed 0.6 degrees C in the last 100 years

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Snowmelt in 2005

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Oceans and heat
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All those of a contrary opinion say NAY!

• Doubt whether much or any of the warming can be
  linked to increases in CO2
• Weather stations close to towns reflect heat
  associated with the growth of those towns or
  cities
• Real warming discounted for bias falls within
  variability
• Flawed model simulations, faulty computers

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Pillars of Sustainable Development
SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT
Links Between All Sectors (Goals, Complimentarily
and Conflicts)
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Impacts

• Sea Level Rise and sea surface temperature
  increase
• Changes in local and regional temperature regimes
• Changes in rainfall patterns
• Increased frequency and severity of weather
  events such as droughts, rainstorms and
  hurricanes

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Implications

• Coastal Zone and Fisheries
• Healthy vs. bleached coral
• Loss of pelagic

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Implications

• Human health and settlements

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Implications

• Tourism

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Implications

• Forestry and terrestrial resources-
• Overlap of breeding seasons for birds,
  biodiversity, what they use to start nesting,
  those to end breeding continues, clashes
• Financial sector financial services, loans real
  estate, coastal properties
• Government allocation

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Implications

• Agriculture and livestock- heat and water
  stresses, disease affecting crops, reduction in
  yields.

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• Water resources-
• Changes in rainfall pattern,

 
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Mitigation of Climate Change effectsHOW?

• Mitigation to Climate change is cross- sectoral
  and the approach is through the reduction of
  emissions via
• Agriculture, forestry and rural development
• Urban planning and development including
  transportation
• Energy efficiency including industry and
  residential and commercial end use.
• Power generation including clean fossil fuels and
  renewable energy

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International response

• The convention-
• United Nations Framework on the Convention for
  Climate Change
• Conference of parties meet every year, decision
  making body, Saint Lucia as well as all countries
  who have signed on have an opportunity to
  participate and have their concerns addressed.

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International response

• The Protocol
• Kyoto Protocol which was adopted in 1997 and
  entered into force in 2005, regulates six major
  GHGs including carbon dioxoide(CO2),
  methane(CH4) nitrous oxide (N2O) perflorocarbons
  (PFCs) , hexaflorocarbons (HFCs) and sulfur
  hexafloride (SF6) into force in 2005.

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International Response

• KP contributes to combating CC by assigning
  amount or limits on the quantity of emissions
  that a country is allowed.
• Reduction to 5.2 below 1990 emission levels for
  Annex B countries.
• First commitment period 2008-2012

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Regional response

• MACC- integrate climate change adaptation issues
  in the national agendas of member states. Five
  components-
• Training for surveyors and engineers, and met
  officers to monitor sea level rise
• SPAC-
• Pilot project in St. Lucia US200,000 to retrofit
  building to make them resistant to category three
  hurricanes. Eight sites have been selected to be
  short listed to 3. Not just roofs and hurricane
  straps but incorporating green architecture
  issues.
• Looking at the water resource availability in
  Vieux Fort. What is the current state? What can
  we do to augment water supply in VFort.
• Looking at coastal marine resources, how they
  stand to be impacted. Response. Bridging land
  activities and their marine impacts.

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Local response

• Communications- reports on what has been done to
  address CC issues. Objectives- to fulfill
  reporting requirements to the convention and to
  enhance our capacity to plan for adaptation and
  mitigation and mainstreaming CC in national
  development planning.
• Elements
• GHG inventory
• V A (vulnerability and adaptation assessment)
• National circumstances, determines our capacity
  to adapt and mitigate CC. Economy, geography
• Mitigation -
• Gaps Challenges
• Other relevant country info in meeting objectives
• Initial communication to UNFCCC, 2003
• Currently Second national communication 2006-2009

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Local response

• Policy documents
• Capacity building
• KAP
• Video
• Teachers toolkit
• Brochures, climate change calenders
• Addressing various audiences
• Radio programs, Creole and English
• Future- national symposium for policy makers

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Mitigation of Climate Change effects

• The energy link

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What have we done?

• 1999 COP 5 declaration- That Saint Lucia would
  be come a sustainable energy demonstration
  country by 2010.
• 1999-Cabinet conclusion, incentives for renewable
  energy technologies for the benefit of private
  citizens and ESCO.
• 2000- Energy Plan and Policy process begins
• 2001- SEP developed
• 2003- SEP endorsed

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What have we done?

• 2004-Signing of UNEC TOR and GEA, GeoCariabes
• 2004-Wind Farm sight feasibility-CREDP/GTZ
• 2004- Energy Audits of hotels
• 2004/05-Solar financing through UNIDO (ongoing)
• 2005/05 Climate care bulbs(5000)
• 2005-2006 Consultations for NEP (ongoing)
• 2007- Cuban bulb project (250,000)
• 2007-greenhouse gas inventory and training for
  all sectors

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Where are we now?

• Geothermal-
• No drilling no real progress since 2004
• Wind-
• None of the sites identified have actually been
  acquired, Bordelais, hotel development, final
  site, yet to be determined
• Solar-
• tax rebate for solar water heaters
• Low interest loan for low to middle income
  households

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Where are we now?

• Hydro-
• Potential of dam was assessed by CREDP/GTZ (2006)
  
• Talks with WASCO to determine next steps (2007)

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Where are we headed?

• Becoming a sustainable energy demonstration
  country,
• Fulfilling our common but differentiated
  responsibility under KP

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Mitigation of Climate Change effectsHOW?

• Mitigation to Climate change is cross- sectoral
  and the approach is through the reduction of
  emissions via
• Agriculture, forestry and rural development
• Urban planning and development including
  transportation
• Energy efficiency including industry and
  residential and commercial end use.
• Power generation including clean fossil fuels and
  renewable energy

33
Mitigation of Climate Change effects

• The energy link

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What have we done?

• 1999 COP 5 declaration- That Saint Lucia would
  be come a sustainable energy demonstration
  country by 2010.
• 1999-Cabinet conclusion, incentives for renewable
  energy technologies for the benefit of private
  citizens and ESCO.
• 2000- Energy Plan and Policy process begins
• 2001- SEP developed
• 2003- SEP endorsed

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What have we done?

• 2004-Signing of UNEC TOR and GEA, GeoCariabes
• 2004-Wind Farm sight feasibility-CREDP/GTZ
• 2004- Energy Audits of hotels
• 2004/05-Solar financing through UNIDO (ongoing)
• 2005/05 Climate care bulbs(5000)
• 2005-2006 Consultations for NEP (ongoing)
• 2007- Cuban bulb project (250,000)
• 2007-greenhouse gas inventory and training for
  all sectors

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Where are we now?

• Geothermal-
• No drilling no real progress since 2004
• Wind-
• None of the sites identified have actually been
  acquired, Bordelais, hotel development, final
  site, yet to be determined
• Solar-
• tax rebate for solar water heaters
• Low interest loan for low to middle income
  households

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Where are we now?

• Other- A number of proposals for other
  renewable energy sources
• Hydro-
• Potential of dam was assessed by CREDP/GTZ in??
  No other work done since

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Where are we headed?

• Becoming a sustainable energy demonstration
  country,
• Fulfilling our common but differentiated
  responsibility under KP

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Your response

• Building- green architecture, building codes
• Clear land systematically
• Water conservation
• Helping to reduce fossil fuel imports,
• Staying informed- local SDE offices

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Thank You

• OUR WORLD IN OUR HANDS!