Trade Union perspectives on climate change

1

• Trade Union perspectives on climate change
• Introductory training session
• Saturday 8th December 2007

2
WHAT IS ADAPTATION TO CLIMATE CHANGE?

• Adjustments in social, economic or ecological
  systems in respons to effects / impacts of
  climate change
• Implying changes in processes / practices /
  structures in order to moderate / offset
  potential damages
• ( - or take advantage of climate change
  opportunities)
• People and communities have always adapted to
  variations in their climate based on accumulated
  knowledge.
• Adaptation is the process of decreasing
  vulnerability (to weather patterns or climate
  extremes)
• Current climate change Coping capacities have
  been exceeded

3
POLICY RESPONSES

• Humanitarian aid (to victims of weather extremes)
• Mitigation (of greenhouse gas emission).
  Magnitude of change depends on mitigation
  policies
• Adaptation (to climate change impacts). Capacity
  to respond to climate change depends on capacity
  for adaptation. Important complement to
  mitigation action

4
NEGOTIATON RESPONSES
CLIMATE CHANGE
HUMAN INTERFERENCE
IMPACT VULNERABILITIES
MITIGATION
ADAPTATION
POLICY RESPONSES
5
ADAPTATION POLICY INTERVENTIONS

• Mainstreaming adaptation into sustainable
  development (social, economy, environment)
• Strenghten institutional capacity to lessen gaps
  between
• - local and national processes
• - formal and informal economies
• Improved governance active civil society
  accountable policy and decision making

6
TRADE UNION POSITION

• Adaptation capacity is primarily related to
  income and capabilites affected by availability
  of resources, information or access to services
• Global solidarity through adapatation fund
  technology transfer direct financial flows
• Social dimension in implementation of flexible
  mechanisms social indicators / involvement
• Positive employment effects
• - diversification of income opportunities
• - agriculture, forestry, health, construction
  etc.

7
UNFCCC PROCESS

• 2004 Buenos Aires elaboration of five-year work
  programme
• 2005 Montreal Adoption of programme on impacts,
  vulnerability and adaptation to climate change
• 2006 Nairobi Renamed the Nairobi work programme.
  Agreed plan of activites up to 2008

8
UNFCCC OBJECTIVES

• Assisting in particular DC / LDC in
• improving understanding and assessment of
  impacts, vulnerability and adaptation
• deciding on practical actions and measures to
  respond to climate change

9
ADAPTATION FUND

• GEF Strategic Priority on Adaptation (SPA) 2004.
  Ecosystem focused, ensuring that climate change
  concerns are incorporated in the management of
  ecosystems. Pilot demonstration projects. USD 50
  million
• GEF Least Developed Countries Fund (LDCF) 2001.
  Development focused. Supports the poorest
  countries, which are most vulnerable to climate
  change impacts. Requires the preparation of
  National Adaptation Programmes of Action (NAPA).
  USD 90 million (Medium-sized projects up to US
  1.5 million)
• GEF Special Climate Change Fund (SCCF) 2005.
  Development focused. concerned with development
  sectors most affected by climate change i.e.
  agriculture, water resources management, health,
  disaster-risk management and coastal zone
  management. Operational in October 2005. USD 60
  million
• The Adaptation Fund Not expected to generate
  significant resources until at least 2010
  (Adaptation levy of 2 from the Clean Development
  Mechanism ?)