Integrating Disaster Risk Reduction and Climate Change Adaptation in Coastal Zone Management Policy and Practice : Case Study of Jamaica Regional Policy Dialogue on Disaster Risk Reduction Best Practice for Climate Resilient Coastal Development Thursday October 20-21, /10/11 Presented by Ronald Jackson, Director General ODPEM 1 OFFICE OF DISASTER PREPAREDNESS AND EMEREGENCY MANAGEMENT

Introduction Heavy dependency on coastal zone for the vast majority of economic and social products and services Jamaica’s Coastal Zone has come under significant stresses due to storm surge and sea level rise. Frequency and Intensity of events have led to further coastal ecosystems damage along the shoreline OFFICE OF DISASTER PREPAREDNESS AND EMEREGENCY MANAGEMENT

Introduction Coastal Zone houses the lions share of the country’s tourism investment and is the country’s main foreign exchange earner The tourism investment and major roads and bridges, airports and sea ports are within km of the coastline Greater risk of structural damage Numerous unenforced legislation to manage development in environmentally sensitive areas and coastal zones. 2/25/20103 Presented by Ronald Jackson, Director General ODPEM OFFICE OF DISASTER PREPAREDNESS AND EMEREGENCY MANAGEMENT

Key Issues Increase in frequency of natural events over the last years. Losses valued at in excess of US $1.2Bil. In last 4-5 years Severity of impact as a result of rapid urbanization and unplanned settlement in environmentally sensitive areas. Destruction of ecosystems and watershed areas. Measures to reduce risk and vulnerability minimal No delineation of no build zones 2/25/2010 Presented by Ronald Jackson, Director General ODPEM 4 OFFICE OF DISASTER PREPAREDNESS AND EMEREGENCY MANAGEMENT

Key Issues It is impossible to be absolutely certain about all the disaster-related effects due to the intrinsic uncertainty of climate projections, the diverse and rapidly changing nature of community vulnerability, and the random nature of individual extreme events Trend analysis of events of the past decade suggest that there will be more severe drought conditions in the Caribbean, more frequent and intense tropical cyclonic events, high temperatures and rising sea level 2/25/2010 Presented by Ronald Jackson, Director General ODPEM 5 OFFICE OF DISASTER PREPAREDNESS AND EMEREGENCY MANAGEMENT

Key Issues Perennial Drought Scenarios (especially in present and future climatic scenarios) – National and Local Water Management Policy Coastal Settlement Management – Coastal Zone Management Policy and Plan incomplete. Ecosystems degradation Has the 2 nd highest economic exposure Expected Losses from Climate Risk 6% of GDP OFFICE OF DISASTER PREPAREDNESS AND EMEREGENCY MANAGEMENT 6Prepared by Ronald Jackson

Key Issues Downscaling of Climate Change Models Necessary Dispelling the Myth regarding disconnect between Climate Change, DRR and Development Planning Promoting relocation of vulnerable populations Multi-Hazard Mapping for Coastal Towns Prepared by Ronald Jackson7 OFFICE OF DISASTER PREPAREDNESS AND EMEREGENCY MANAGEMENT

Project Interventions To Date or In Gestation Adaptation Planning is the main area of focus to address climate change and variability. Key interventions to date are: MACC Project – assisting countries with integrating CCA into development planning, tourism, health, agriculture, fisheries and infrastructure. Palisadoes Protection and Rehabilitation Project – protective dunes 09/06/20168 OFFICE OF DISASTER PREPAREDNESS AND EMEREGENCY MANAGEMENT

Project Interventions To Date or In Gestation Revision of the evacuation plan for coastal community CDEMA Funded DRM and CCA in the Tourism Sector Project ODPEM/IDB Funded Project Natural Hazard Management – Multi Hazard Mapping for Coastal Towns – Hazard and Risk Analysis of Major Towns – Community Hazard Management Plans 09/06/20169 OFFICE OF DISASTER PREPAREDNESS AND EMEREGENCY MANAGEMENT

Project Interventions To Date or In Gestation ODPEM/CIDA Building Disaster Resilient Communities Project – Mangrove replanting project – Climate Change Adaptation Plan in Old Harbour Bay – Coastal Zone Management Plans (Morant Bay and Port Maria) – Upgrading EWS and Multi Hazard Maps for Annotto Bay 09/06/ OFFICE OF DISASTER PREPAREDNESS AND EMEREGENCY MANAGEMENT

Challenges No National Climate Change Policy No Strategy in place Coordination of all actors in CCA, DRR and CZM No Central Authority for CCA and CZM Tendency for duplicity Getting Government to invest in CZM and DRR Limited Resources to address Deteriorating Coastal Protection Infrastructure Development Control and Enforcement Efforts OFFICE OF DISASTER PREPAREDNESS AND EMEREGENCY MANAGEMENT

Challenges Limited Land space Deteriorating Coastal Ecosystems OFFICE OF DISASTER PREPAREDNESS AND EMEREGENCY MANAGEMENT

Lessons Learned The approaches so far have been piecemeal It does demonstrate recognition by the political directorate of the problem and what is needed to correct it. There have been some encouraging developments towards the designation of “No Build Zones” and making better use of our existing building regulations as we seek to reduce our risk exposure nationally Sections of Portland Cottage and Caribbean Terrace have been declared ‘no build’ zones. In the interim however there are signs that the existing regulations can be effective in reducing risk and vulnerability. 09/06/ OFFICE OF DISASTER PREPAREDNESS AND EMEREGENCY MANAGEMENT

Lessons Learned Need for more effective coordination of efforts – Usefulness of the Thematic Working Group for DRR and CCA (Vision 2030) Operational and programmatic process to be lead by mandated agency – “too much duplicity” Interventions though useful are piecmeal and not within a national policy framework for coastal zone management or CCA OFFICE OF DISASTER PREPAREDNESS AND EMEREGENCY MANAGEMENT

Past Impact

“Dispelling the Myth” Presented by : Ronald Jackson, Director General, ODPEM, Jamaica 16 ENHANCED SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT Coastal Zone Water Resources Agriculture Human Health Severe Weather CLIMATE CHANGE ADAPTATION AGENDA Land Use Planning Settlement Management Development Control Community Development Poverty Reduction Sector Mainstreaming Coastal zone and Watershed Management Multi-hazard Management DRR AGENDA OFFICE OF DISASTER PREPAREDNESS AND EMEREGENCY MANAGEMENT

Critical Next Steps National Coastal Zone Management Plan to be completed and reflect issues related to coastal hazards Review of Development Orders to reflect challenges of coastal hazards (storm surge and sea level rise) Strengthen Development Control and continued integrating Hazard Impact Assessment in development planning process Prepared by Ronald Jackson17 OFFICE OF DISASTER PREPAREDNESS AND EMEREGENCY MANAGEMENT

Critical Next Steps Using Storm Surge Models for current and future forecasted sea level rise to guide the setback requirements for new coastal development Forecast extent of risk to present coastal investment and model likely damage and loss estimate Continue to produce decisions support products – ODPEM/IDB Project Results” OFFICE OF DISASTER PREPAREDNESS AND EMEREGENCY MANAGEMENT

CONCLUSION Mainstreaming of DRR in development planning is unquestionably the way forward, to this end tools such as designation of ‘No Build’ zones, reform of building regulations, revision of coastal zone management plan and redefining the setbacks for new coastal development will be critical if Jamaica is to successfully achieve goals as set out in Vision 2030 document 2/25/2010 Presented by Ronald Jackson, Director General ODPEM 19 OFFICE OF DISASTER PREPAREDNESS AND EMEREGENCY MANAGEMENT

CONCLUSION Governments to make very difficult choices and tradeoffs in respect of policy-making, which may involve, for example, a choice between undertaking or restricting coastal developments. Coping with limited Fiscal Space for DRR and Climate Change Adaptation Investment Doing nothing is not an option Prepared by Ronald Jackson20 OFFICE OF DISASTER PREPAREDNESS AND EMEREGENCY MANAGEMENT

THANK YOU We can avoid a lot of this if we apply the tools we currently have!!!!!! 2/25/2010 Presented by Ronald Jackson, Director General ODPEM 21 OFFICE OF DISASTER PREPAREDNESS AND EMEREGENCY MANAGEMENT