1. Use of Indicators in linking science to policy in the context of Climate Change Impacts Perspectives from Seychelles & Comoros Rolph Payet SIS90

2. Relevance of Indicators for Climate Change Research Can be represented or used to reflect a quantitative or qualitative characteristic; Can be represented or used to reflect a quantitative or qualitative characteristic; Useful in making judgments about system conditions -- historical, present, or projected in the future. Useful in making judgments about system conditions -- historical, present, or projected in the future. There is usually an abundance of data and information (of variable quality) from various programmes and models but these are not always be in a policy relevant form for decision-makers. There is usually an abundance of data and information (of variable quality) from various programmes and models but these are not always be in a policy relevant form for decision-makers.

3. Role of Indicators Indicators can therefore play an important role in turning data into relevant information for decision-makers and the public. Indicators can therefore play an important role in turning data into relevant information for decision-makers and the public. Importantly, they can help to simplify a complex array of information with respect to the health- environment-development nexus. Importantly, they can help to simplify a complex array of information with respect to the health- environment-development nexus.

5. Indicators need a framework For indicators to be meaningful, they must be anchored within a generic framework: To bring together science and policy To bring together science and policy Allows certain policy areas to be expressed in qualitative terms Allows certain policy areas to be expressed in qualitative terms For presenting the various linkages between factors influencing response to climate change – natural & socioeconomic systems For presenting the various linkages between factors influencing response to climate change – natural & socioeconomic systems For continuous re-assessment of the effectiveness of adaptation policies and response For continuous re-assessment of the effectiveness of adaptation policies and response For dealing with different types of data For dealing with different types of data

6. Conceptual Indicator Framework Modelled after the PSR (OECD- 1993, PSIR (Harvard -1996), DPSEEA (WHO -1995) and the frameworks for Vulnerability Assessment (Klein & Nicholls – 1999; SEI - 2001) Climate Change-Vulnerability-Impact and Adaptation (CLIVIA) Framework

7. Relevance to studying the impacts of climate change on tourism Climate change and climate events can affect the resources that tourism depend on – beaches, coastal areas, coral reefs, tourism infrastructure – reducing the potential economic benefits of tourism (forex earnings, employment, regional development, taxes) Climate change and climate events can affect the resources that tourism depend on – beaches, coastal areas, coral reefs, tourism infrastructure – reducing the potential economic benefits of tourism (forex earnings, employment, regional development, taxes) The resulting impacts will be reflected in the changes in the quality of the beaches (coastal erosion), reef ecosystems (coral bleaching), & loss of coastal property (hotels). The resulting impacts will be reflected in the changes in the quality of the beaches (coastal erosion), reef ecosystems (coral bleaching), & loss of coastal property (hotels). In response to these changes governments (coastal land use policies), the private sector (investment strategies) or the public (planting of beach vegetation) each implement certain response measures, which may increase vulnerability to any future change. In response to these changes governments (coastal land use policies), the private sector (investment strategies) or the public (planting of beach vegetation) each implement certain response measures, which may increase vulnerability to any future change.

8. Linkages to Policy Changes in sea-level - Indicators such as accelerated rates of coastal erosion, which then cause damage to coastal infrastructure Changes in sea-level - Indicators such as accelerated rates of coastal erosion, which then cause damage to coastal infrastructure Changes in habitat health – Indicators such as coral reef cover change (as a result of coral bleaching), which then cause tourists to complain, which causes them to come again, which leads to low occupancy in hotels Changes in habitat health – Indicators such as coral reef cover change (as a result of coral bleaching), which then cause tourists to complain, which causes them to come again, which leads to low occupancy in hotels