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Transcript of Regional Programme to Combat Sand and Dust Storms (SDS) Seminar on the Legal Aspects of Dust Storms,...
Regional Programme to Combat Sand and Dust Storms (SDS)
Seminar on the Legal Aspects of Dust Storms, centre for International Law Studies, Dubai, 9 February 2015
(delivered by Skype)
Abdul-Majeid HaddadClimate Change Coordinator, UNEP/ROWA
Regional Programme to Combat Sand & Dust Storms
Objective & Outline of the PresentationOUTLINE
1. What we know so far about SDS phenomenon in the Region from UN perspective
2. What are the gaps in knowledge
3. The Regional Programme:– Conceptual Framework– Strategy, Components & Structure
4. Progress so far with programme development
5. Obstacles & Challenges
6. Future activities and recommendations for next steps
Objective:
To present the programme
concept & update on its latest development
Regional Programme to Combat Sand & Dust Storms
Common language necessary!
Storms or Sand Encroachment or Dunes?
Sand Storms or
Dust Storms?
Sand or Dust?
Dust storms cannot be stopped by natural or artificial barriers because it leaves a column of suspended dust reaching 1 km height, so it has to be managed at the source and coped with at the recipient end
Hot spots (source areas) are point source (small exporting area) within a cluster (large area)
Primary sources (originating area) and secondary sources (dust coming from the primary source blown through this secondary source area)
Rising or suspend or blowing dust?
Regional = Iran, Iraq, Turkey, Syria, Jordan + (GCC: Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, UAE) although sources from other
countries exist (e.g North Africa)
Important to be clear since each need different mitigation interventions although they contribute to each other’s solutions especially if local
source is at the same time regional source (e.g dust = fine particles less than 6 microns)
Regional Programme to Combat Sand & Dust Storms
Cited Studies About Dust Sources in the region
(UCAR, 2012)(Al-Dousari, 2012)(Humaid et. al, 2007)
WHERE THE DUSTS ARE COMING FROM?
Regional Programme to Combat Sand & Dust Storms
Dust Trade BalanceCountry Local Sources Export to
(Regional Source)
Import from (Regional)
Turkey Anatolia (soil erosion) ??? North African (winter & spring)Southwest, central-eastern Sahara in summer;Jordan/Syria/Saudi Arabia (Extension of Nafud Desert)Upper Euphrates (Iraq)
Syria Eastern Badia (most of the year)
Iraq, Jordan, Turkey
North Africa, Arabian Peninsula (summer)
Jordan Al Badia region Iraq?? North Africa, Arabian Peninsula (spring & summer, khamaseen)
Iraq Numerous locations clustered in 4 large areas (Al Jazeera, North Al Tharthar Lake, Zubair desert, alluvial plain between Tigris & Euphrates), east of Tigiris
Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Iran
Syria, Jordan?
Saudi Arabia
Numerous UAE, Iran, Bahrain, Kuwait
Syria/Jordan (extension of Nafud desert)Iraq (lower Mesopotamia), Central desert (Da’hna)Sudan (Tokar Gap), Oman, UAE, Yemen (Empty Quarter)
Kuwait Small local sources Limited Iraq, Iran, Saudi Arabia
Iran Local sources (west, centre & east)
Iraq, UAE, Oman Iraq (from several areas), Saudi ArabiaBetween Caspian & Aral SeaTuran depressionDry lakebeds (central region)Turkmenistan (Land Strait Lake!)Sistan Basin
Regional Programme to Combat Sand & Dust Storms
Dust Trade Balance - continue
Country Local Sources Export to (Dust
Sources) (Regional)
Import from (Regional)
Bahrain Small locations Limited Iraq, Saudi Arabia (Da’hna & empty Quarter), Iran (southern coast of the Gulf)
Qatar Small locations Limited Same as Bahrain
UAE Empty Quarter Qatar, Bahrain, Iran
IraqSaudi ArabiaAfghanistan, Pakistan
Oman Empty Quarter ??? IraqIran (southern coast of the Gulf)Yemen
Still debatable among countries, political consensus needed
Regional Programme to Combat Sand & Dust Storms
Regional approach requires good understanding of climate and land use dynamics on larger as well as local geographical scales
This informs exact interventions at the local level
Upto now, such knowledge is INCOMPLETE
BUT
The Regional Programme is a transboundary environment initiative, focus on Dust Storms)
Solutions focuses on soil, water & ecosystem management
Knowledge Gaps
Regional Programme to Combat Sand & Dust Storms
Location of AERONET stations in West Asia. Stations circled in red correspond to present operationally active stations.
Country Gravimetric Method NRT (Beta** or TEOM***) Chemical A nalysis
United Arab Emirates
~40
Islamic Republic of Iran
5 118
Kuwait 3 11 (2 NRT)
Oman* 4 (with a mobile unit)
Saudi Arabia 5
Turkey 45 (cities) More than 100 (cities) 45 (cities)
NOT ENOUH MONITORING STATIONS
Number of PM10/ PM2.5 stations per country in the West Asia Region
Regional Programme to Combat Sand & Dust Storms
Root Causes, Drivers, Climate & Land dynamics Not Yet Well Defined at the Source Areas, We
need local studies (example below)
IRAQ IRAN
Al Jazeera Hammad Basin (transboundary with Syria, Jordan, Saudi Arabia)
Alluvial Plain(Dalmaj to Rumaithah)
Eastern Sand Belt (transboundary with Iran)
Heet (salah e-ldin province)
South West Cluster (Khuzestan and Ilam provinces)
South East Cluster (Sistan, Blueshitan & Karman provinces)
Gypsum, Wadis,Rangelandpastoralists
Rangeland 24% of lad area of Iraq
Fertile agriculture land
Wind soil erosionSalty
??/ Soil & Alkaline
Water & watershed management issues
Mining Land degradation
Degraded vegetation cover
Land degradation, land use, land abandonment
AgricultureOver grazingWatershed management
Tillage practices
Land & water management issues
??? ??? ??? Salty soil
Land abandonment
??? ??
Regional Programme to Combat Sand & Dust Storms
Any programme to combat SDS should be comprehensive as to address the full cycle of sand and dust storms:
Issues Requires knowledge & capacities for
Causes and sources Knowledge on land use, drought, desertification
transportation & climate dynamics
Historical trends, prediction climate models, region-wide assessment
Monitoring, early warning & preparedness
Network of monitoring stations, early warning system, communication, public alert and advisory tools
Impacts Assessments Impacts on health, productivity and economy as a whole
Prevention and Effective Mitigation
Land & ecosystem rehabilitation, appropriate and nation-wide designed programme of soil fixation, plantations, wind barriers, etc
Management Strong Science-Policy Link, Institutional Collaboration at the governorate, country and regional levels, LEGAL ASPECTS
Knowledge Gaps
Iraq Programme to Combat Sand & Dust Storms
However, we have regional Complimentarity in capacities & experiences
Country Turkey
Iran Iraq Kuwait
Saudi Arabia
UAE Oman
Qatar Syria
Jordan
Dust Monitoring (in-situ)
? ?? ?? ??
Dust Monitoring (satellite)
Air Quality Monitoring
Forecasting & Modeling
Dust mineralogy & geological studies
?? ??
Control of Soil Erosion & Dune Movements
Sand fixation
Land Management
Water Management
Greening & Green belts
Community & Livelihoods Approaches
Regional Programme to Combat Sand & Dust Storms
The Regional Programme - Rationale
1. Alarming acceleration in the frequency and pervasiveness of SDS in the West Asia Region (and the additional concern that climate factors are going to be further compounding drivers of the SDS problem);
2. The transnational nature of the SDS problem (that requires a concerted, coordinated approach); and,
3. The lack, so far, of strategic, technically sound interventions in areas along the SDS corridor (national initiatives are patchy and perhaps not using the most appropriate technologies).
4. It will provide a catalyzing and harmonizing function that is critical for the data gathering and targeted interventions required to solve the regional SDS problems over the long-term. The Regional Programme will hopefully prevent the social and economic costs of sand and dust storms in the West Asia Region from escalating.
Regional Programme to Combat Sand & Dust Storms
Programme Objectives
1. Understand & diagnose the problem
2. Propose and get Consensus on
the Solutions3. Implement The
Agreed Actions4. Monitor, Learn
and Scale Up
To strengthen cooperation among countries of the region (and within countries)
To enhance scientific and societal knowledge about the causes, sources, impacts, dynamics of and coping with the SDS
To reduce sources and impacts of SDS through the design and support to the implementation of innovative and scalable solutions
To establish systems of coordinated and state-of-the art monitoring and early warning
Step-Wise Approach
Regional Programme to Combat Sand & Dust Storms
Understand & diagnose the problem
Propose and get Consensus of the
Solution
Implement The Agreed Actions
Monitor, Learn and Scale Up
Sce
ince Special Assessment of
the SDSResearch, Measurement and AssessmentInnovation and Knowledge NetworkMonitoring & Early Warning System
Polic
y
Regional Cooperation Framework
Country-Level Action Network
Dust Storms Fund/Facility
Act
ion
Country Level Action Plans
Investment Projects
The Programme Step-Wise Approach
The Corresponding Programme Components
OVERVIEW OF REGIONAL PROGRAMME TO COMBAT SAND AND DUST STORMS(strategic partnership for transformational and scaled-up actions to realize impacts)
Regional Programme to Combat SDS
Investment Programme(Mega and Community-Level Projects)
Country Action Plans
Research, Measurement & Assessment
Monitoring & Early Warning
System
Financial Mechanism/Fund/
Facility
Innovation & Knowledge
Network
Country-level Action Network
Preventing• water use
• ecosystem management
• Land use plans
Coping
• Adaptation
• Prep’dness
Mitigating
• Agriculture investment
• Green belts
Controlling
• Wind shields
• Sand fixation
• Artificial applications
Policy•institutions•Incentives/Funding•Stakeholder consultations
Science/Research
•Science/Knowledge•Monitoring/E-Warning•Capacity Building
Technical ProgrammeRegional Cooperation Framework
Ministerial Body
Secretariat Regional CentreTask Force
Regi
onal
Ass
essm
ent o
f SD
S
Expe
rt G
roup
Regional Programme to Combat Sand & Dust Storms
Outline of the Three Elements of the Programme
Component Features
Regional Cooperation Framework
(guiding the cooperation initiative)
Sets Broader goal, & objectivesClarify Governing rules (participation & decision-making)Implementation mechanismFinancial mechanismSupportive institutional structuresAreas of interventions and technical programme
Financial Mechanism
(to make and sustain impacts)
Contributions & funding sources (initial equal share)Gradual and voluntary contributionsDecision-making on fund allocationAccountability & reporting
Technical Programme
(Designed by countries)
Largest share for country-level actionsRegional components including regional centreCapacity buildingTechnology & knowledge transfer
Volunta
ry
Regional Programme to Combat Sand & Dust Storms
SDS Programme StructureHigh-Level Ministerial Meeting
(Ministers of Member Countries)Regional Steering
Committee
Scientific Advisory Panel
REGIONAL COOPERATION FRAMEWORK
Field Projects
Observation , Monitoring & Early
Warning System Regional Networking & Expert
Groups
Meteorology Expert Group
Monitoring &
Evaluation
Research Network
Land & Water
EG
Site to Site
Network
Technical ProgrammeTrust Fund
SDS Focal Points
National SDS Committees
Programme Management
Unit
Fram
ewor
k Fo
rum
Regional Programme to Combat Sand & Dust Storms
Phases of the Programme
Activity Phase 1 Phase 2 Phase 3
1. Project Management Unit (PMU) 0.5 1.0 - 2.0 3.0 - 5.0
2. Technical Programme
Regional Assessment of SDS 0.5 1.0 1.0
Regional Cooperation Framework 0.5 1.5 3.0
Research, Measurement & Assessment 0.5 2.0 3.0
Innovation & Knowledge Network 1.0 2.0 5.0
Monitoring & Early Warning System 5.0 5.0 – 10.0
Financial Mechanism 0.5 1.0 2.0
Country Action Plans 0.5 1.0 2.0
3. Investment Projects 10.0 >10
Total 4 25.5 > 41
Phase I Phase II Phase III
securing funding, essential activities, 3 years time
medium budget, pilot and scalable activities, 5 years
higher budget, full implementation and large investment components
Expected ResultsGood understanding of the problem; identifying knowledge gaps; cooperation among countries mainly at the technical and research level; nucleus of the facilitation mechanism (interim secretariat); large scale partnership programme developed and roundtable for resources mobilization.
In-depth understanding of the problem especially on local level processes, its impact and comprehensive region-wide approach to its solution; knowledge bases; enhanced cooperation of countries through sustained process of reaching consensus and agreeing on actions; one facility on dust storm established and operational; specialized and policy networks established; design & implementation of pilot projects; strategy for scaling up the investment.
Facilities on dust storm established and operational; specialized and policy networks and centres of excellence established/assigned; SDS controlled, mitigated and coping strategies; standard of living upgraded in affected rural and urban areas through large scale green investment projects.
Regional Programme to Combat Sand & Dust Storms
Consultation Process So Far1. Outcome of Kuwait Special Session,
November 2012
1. Special session on the scientific aspects of the regional programme, 21 November 2012 during the Dust and Dust Storms Conference organized by Kuwait Environment Public Authority
2. About 25 scientists participated
3. First introduction of the regional programme concept
4. Recommendations on improving the design of the programme
5. Alignment of the regional programme with the recommendations of the Kuwait Dust Storms Conference
Regional Programme to Combat Sand & Dust Storms
Consultation Process So Far2. Outcome of Nairobi meeting, 21 February
20131. Meeting at the level of Ministers and Head of
Delegations to UNEP Governing Council, 21 February 2013, Nairobi
2. Countries present: Iran, Iraq, Jordan, Turkey, UAE
3. Statements from countries supporting the programme:– Confirmed transboundary nature of the problem– Pledges from Iran and Iraq to contribute financially to the
trust fund– Encouraged countries to join hands to address the
problem– Emphasizing solving the problem from the root cause and
at the source– Need to discuss technical details and giving adequate
time to countries to come up with appropriate strategies
4. UAE offer to host a technical meeting in Abu Dhabi
Regional Programme to Combat Sand & Dust Storms
Consultation Process So Far3. Outcome of the technical Meeting, Abu Dhabi,
6-7 May 20131. Hosted by the Ministry of Environment and Water and
the National Centre for Meteorology and Seismology of the UAE
2. Total of 52 participants attended
3. Agenda covered all technical aspects of the programme
4. Five major outcomes:– Road map for the development of the Programme– Agreement on the overall programme framework
including technical bodies such as the Regional Steering Committee and the thematic expert groups
– Recommendations on the draft regional cooperation framework and regional trust fund
– Establishment of the Observation and Early Warning System
– Agreement on Listing the Hot Spots and Pilot Projects
Regional Programme to Combat Sand & Dust Storms
1. Work on Proposed Preliminary List of Hot Spots
Country
Name and Location
Type and summary of the Intervention (mitigation, adaptation, controlling, preventing, etc)
Additional details (e.g. ecological, social significance, likely contribution to impacts, etc)
Status (under implementation, in the national plan, or new)
2. Consider Enhancing Observation Network
Countries Agreed to Proceed with
3. Review the proposed TOR for Reg. Cooperation Framework & Trust Fund
Regional Programme to Combat Sand & Dust Storms
Progress so Far1. WMO-UNEP Regional Assessment on SDS-WAS Capacities
2. Hot Spots identified for Iraq, Syria, Iran
3. Iraq National SDS programme almost completed
4. AEMET & BSC are working on establishing the SDS-WAS Node for West Asia (thru its portal)
5. A draft Regional Master Plan under review
6. A project proposal (US $7M) submitted to GEF for funding (covering GEF-eligible countries: Iran, Iraq, Syria, Turkey); rejected by the GEF
7. Alternative smaller project (MSP US $1.98M proposed)
8. Resource mobilization strategy developed
Regional Programme to Combat Sand & Dust Storms
The programme Faced with Considerable Challenges
Political & Conceptual:• GCC position: the question of who is responsible for
action: (burden should be on source countries, cannot intervene to solve another transboundary issue. i.e water)
• Geopolitics of the region• The sensitivity of which country seen to be leading!• No firm political action seen!
Legal: No regional legal framework to hook to; GCC only has such legal cooperation mandate, putting it under global conventions like UNCCD, UNFCCC, is even more challenging; ROPME being a regional organisation with a regional agreement (Kuwait Action Plan) does not have the broad mandate needed, it is only marine environment
Regional Programme to Combat Sand & Dust Storms
The programme Faced with Considerable Challenges
Security: Accessibility to major source areas and local authorities (e.g., Iraq & Syria)
Technical:• Not enough knowledge about processes at the local
level, no concrete economic and health impact studies to make the case
• No quick fix, projects will take time to show impacts
Financial: no concrete pledges (US $$$$) from countries or donors so far, UNEP uses its core resources for programme development
Regional Programme to Combat Sand & Dust Storms
Conclusions & recommendations
Tackling transboundary environment problems takes long time so it needs patience, persistence and stable funding and capacities
Expanding partnerships with the scientific community is necessary to reach out to governments
We still need considerable impacts studies to make the case for intervention and how it will tackle the problem
Collaboration with the centres of excellence on legal aspects and sharing experiences are welcome