United Nations University Institute for Environment & Human Security Global Platform June 2009 "Advancing Knowledge for Human Security and Development United Nations University Institute for Environment and Human Security (UNU-EHS) Advancing human security through knowledge-based approaches to reducing vulnerability and environmental risks United Nations University Institute for Environment and Human Security (UNU-EHS)
United Nations University Institute for Environment & Human Security Addressing the Challenge: Recommendations and Quality Criteria for Linking Disaster Risk Reduction and Adaptation to Climate Change German Contribution to the Global Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction 2009 Jörn Birkmann (UNU-EHS) Korinna von Teichman (UNU-EHS) Global Platform June 2009
United Nations University Institute for Environment & Human Security Background of the Study Global Platform June 2009 IPCC 2007
United Nations University Institute for Environment & Human Security Objective & Methods Scientific and practical recommendations Identification of - Key challenges / barriers in linking DRR & CCA - Key recommendations for linking DRR & CCA - Quality and evaluation criteria for integrative strategies Methods: - Own field research/experience - Expert interviews - Document & literature review Global Platform June 2009
United Nations University Institute for Environment & Human Security Partners and Scope Commissioned to UNU-EHS by the German Committee for Disaster Reduction (DKKV) Sponsored by the German Federal Foreign Office Scope: April-May 2009 Global Platform June 2009
United Nations University Institute for Environment & Human Security Challenges and Barriers 1) Different spatial scales - DRR: local/community as well as hazard oriented; CCA: global and national focus 2) Different ministries/agencies responsible for DRR and CCA Global Platform June 2009
United Nations University Institute for Environment & Human Security Challenges and Barriers 3) Different temporal scales - short-term versus medium and long-term 4) Different funding schemes of DRR and CCA 5) Knowledge-Dimension - expert knowledge versus local knowledge - lack of localized data Global Platform June 2009
United Nations University Institute for Environment & Human Security Case Study Fiji Global Platform June 2009 Small Island Development State Population: 830, islands
United Nations University Institute for Environment & Human Security Coastal Protection - Beach Erosion Global Platform June 2009
United Nations University Institute for Environment & Human Security Global Platform June 2009
United Nations University Institute for Environment & Human Security Floods in Nadi, Fiji, January 2009 Global Platform June 2009
United Nations University Institute for Environment & Human Security Global Platform June 2009
United Nations University Institute for Environment & Human Security Global Platform June 2009
United Nations University Institute for Environment & Human Security Global Platform June 2009
United Nations University Institute for Environment & Human Security Global Platform June 2009
United Nations University Institute for Environment & Human Security Global Platform June 2009
United Nations University Institute for Environment & Human Security Global Platform June 2009
United Nations University Institute for Environment & Human Security Conclusions based on Case Study Fiji Reconstruction did not encompass climate change adaptation measures The disaster was not used as a window of opportunity DRR and CCA belong to different institutions Lack of local data on climate change Multi-hazard challenge (e.g. coastal erosion, floods etc.) Lack of quality criteria for reconstruction process Global Platform June 2009
United Nations University Institute for Environment & Human Security Findings of Standardized Interviews Global Platform June 2009
United Nations University Institute for Environment & Human Security Areas of Work linked to Climate Change Global Platform June 2009
United Nations University Institute for Environment & Human Security Degree of cooperation Global Platform June 2009
United Nations University Institute for Environment & Human Security Preliminary Findings Current adaptation strategies focus primarily on rural areas Water management and agriculture as well as DRR are areas in which climate change adaptation is already considered Adaptation strategies are often not coordinated between governance levels (national and local, etc.) Lack of coordination across institutions at the same level of governance Need for an improvement of cooperation among different stakeholders Global Platform June 2009
United Nations University Institute for Environment & Human Security What needs to be improved? Global Platform June 2009
United Nations University Institute for Environment & Human Security Integration of CCA into Phases of DRR Global Platform June 2009
United Nations University Institute for Environment & Human Security Conclusions Need for… More localized spatial resolution of climate change data Better links between short and long-term strategies (multi- temporal scales) More coherent funding schemes that enhance the cooperation between DRR and CCA More systematic consideration of climate change aspects in different phases of DRR Closer link between CCA strategies at different governance levels, sectors and between ministries involved Global Platform June 2009
United Nations University Institute for Environment & Human Security Recommendations for the CCA Community Implementation of funding schemes that encourage cooperation through quality criteria and require both DRR and CCA elements Development of urban climate change adaptation strategies that incorporate DRR Development of quality/evaluation indicators and recommendations that strengthen cooperation and the integrative character of combined strategies Global Platform June 2009
United Nations University Institute for Environment & Human Security Recommendations for DRR Community Recognition of change as a chance and window of opportunity (incorporation of CCA into reconstruction and recovery phases) Move from damage and needs assessment to vulnerability and adaptation assessment (reconstruction, mitigation) Improvement of dynamic social and economic vulnerability data and indicators as well as of information on different adaptation measures Global Platform June 2009
United Nations University Institute for Environment & Human Security Thank you for your attention! Download the study at Global Platform June 2009
United Nations University Institute for Environment & Human Security Outlook – Questions to be addressed Which are the 2-3 most important barriers of linking DRR and CCA which would have to be overcome first in order to path the way for further action? Who would be the responsible institution/ person to address and overcome these barriers? How can the DRR and CCA communities link up prior to the COP 15 conference in order to promote the necessary linkage and clearly outline the potential advantages? Global Platform June 2009
United Nations University Institute for Environment & Human Security Outlook – Questions to be addressed What exactly is meant by adaptation and to what do societies have to adapt? Which would be the right fora to address the necessity of linking DRR and CCA and promote the potential of DRR to further enhance CCA? Which stakeholders would have to be particularly addressed/educated/ trained? Which would be the right triggers to draw the attention of the CCA community to the potential of DRR? Global Platform June 2009