REPUBLICA ARGENTINA Seminar of Governmental Experts Bonn, May 17, 2005

CLIMATE CHANGE: IMPACTS AND MAJOR CONCERNS REPUBLICA ARGENTINA

IMPACTS AND MAJOR CONCERNS CLIMATE CHANGE Water shortage due to increasing temperatures Glaciers receding Sea level rise impact in Buenos Aires Increasing frequency of extreme storms

THE PLATA BASIN (shared with other 4 countries) 75% OF THE PRECIPITATION EVAPORATES. ONLY ABOUT 25% RUNOFF TO THE RIVERS ARE HIGHLY VULNERABLE TO CLIMATE CHANGE AGRICULTURE HIDROPOWER NAVEGATION WATER SUPPLY A 4°C WARMING WOULD INCREASE EVAPORATION BY 30%

GLACIER RECEDING (48 out of 50) Glacier Upsala Picture from a plane, Nov, 1968 Landsat image, May 2004

25% OF ARGENTINA POWER INSTALLED GLACIER RECEDING (48 out of 50) GENERATION HAS ALREADY BEEN DEPLETED BY 30% CAPACITY IS IN COMAHUE

AIACC Project Sea level rise effect Area flooded with a return period of 5 years Year 2070: 1.5 M persons affected Damages: About 10 B U$S

Precipitation events of more than 100 mm in less than 48 hours in 16 stations of central and eastern Argentina PRECIPITATIONS

CLIMATE CHANGE For Argentina is vital to address climate change because: it is a new and additional barrier to sustainable development its adverse effects divert resources essential to social policies (housing, health, education and environment) Thus, it is of the country’s interest to contribute to the international climate policy regime after 2012

MITIGATION REPUBLICA ARGENTINA

MITIGATION In the last three decades: Hydroelectric power (50% of electricity generation) Substitution of fuel oil for natural gas in combined cycles The largest automotive fleet run with natural gas (1,100,000 vehicles) Subsidies to Wind Energy

RESULTS: ENERGY MIX COMPARISON MITIGATION

CARBON SEQUESTRATION FORESTRY: Ha ( ) Forest Promotion Law MINIMUM TILLAGE: 14 M hectares 62% of the total crop land

MITIGATION CLEAN DEVELOPMENT MECHANISM 75 Projects in the pipeline representing 15 M tons of CO 2 reductions We believe that CDM is to be successful Argentina can make a substantial contribution After 2012, it is necessary to expand the scope of CDM to include all possible means of achieving emission reductions

ADAPTATION REPUBLICA ARGENTINA

ADAPTATION Argentina is already working on adaptation It has several Programs, i.e.: Water Management Infrastructure National Climate Scenarios Program National Adverse Effects Impact Program Several major problems have been identified, but there are severe financial constraints due to heavy public debt

ADAPTATION Argentina is already working on adaptation Like in other developing countries, adaptation requires of international cooperation Buenos Aires Program of Work on Adaptation and Response Measures is a proper initiative to conduct and enhance this cooperation

We should not wait till 2012 to think about the future REPUBLICA ARGENTINA