The AIACC ProjectThe AIACC ProjectAssessments of Impacts and Assessments of Impacts and

Adaptations to Climate ChangeAdaptations to Climate Change

Ravi SharmaRavi Sharma

United Nations Environment Programme-United Nations Environment Programme-Global Environment FacilityGlobal Environment Facility

UNFCCC Workshop, Manila UNFCCC Workshop, Manila

29 April 200429 April 2004

2

3

AIACC BackgroundAIACC Background

• GEF enabling project in climate change focal GEF enabling project in climate change focal areaarea

• Geographic scope: GlobalGeographic scope: Global• Project period: 2001-2005Project period: 2001-2005• Implementing Agency: UNEPImplementing Agency: UNEP• Executing Agencies: START & TWASExecuting Agencies: START & TWAS• Proposal developed as collaboration between Proposal developed as collaboration between

authors of IPCC Third Assessment Report, authors of IPCC Third Assessment Report, UNEP, START, and TWASUNEP, START, and TWAS

4

AIACC Support

Co-finance

$700,000$700,000 In-kind$1.8m$1.8m

GEF$7.5m$7.5m

AIACC$10m$10m

5

AIACC ObjectivesAIACC Objectives• Build scientific and technical capacity Build scientific and technical capacity

to support National Communicationsto support National Communications

• Advance scientific understanding of Advance scientific understanding of climate change impacts, vulnerabilities climate change impacts, vulnerabilities and adaptation opportunitiesand adaptation opportunities

• Link science and policy communities Link science and policy communities for adaptation planningfor adaptation planning

6

AIACC Means for AIACC Means for achieving objectivesachieving objectives

• Implement regional V&A assessmentsImplement regional V&A assessments– ““Learning-By-Doing” capacity buildingLearning-By-Doing” capacity building

• Supplemented by mentoring, training, Supplemented by mentoring, training, technical support, and networkingtechnical support, and networking

• Engage stakeholders in the regional Engage stakeholders in the regional assessmentsassessments

• Work with National Communications teamsWork with National Communications teams• Regional workshops, publications, Regional workshops, publications,

participation in scientific and policy participation in scientific and policy workshops, working paper series, workshops, working paper series, newsletter, website, synthesisnewsletter, website, synthesis

7

Regional V&A AssessmentsRegional V&A Assessments• Country ownedCountry owned

– Proposed, led and implemented by developing Proposed, led and implemented by developing country proponentscountry proponents

– Endorsed by GEF National Focal PointsEndorsed by GEF National Focal Points– Focused on generating knowledge & capacity to Focused on generating knowledge & capacity to

support regional priorities for adaptationsupport regional priorities for adaptation

• Stakeholder participationStakeholder participation– Each regional assessment engages stakeholders Each regional assessment engages stakeholders

from a variety of institutionsfrom a variety of institutions

• Selected through international review of Selected through international review of 150 proposals based on150 proposals based on– Scientific merit, regional significance, policy Scientific merit, regional significance, policy

significancesignificance

8

24 Regional Assessments 24 Regional Assessments ImplementedImplemented

• V&A being assessed in 46 developing V&A being assessed in 46 developing countriescountries

• More than 150 institutions from 50 More than 150 institutions from 50 developing and 12 developed countries developing and 12 developed countries participate.participate.

• More than 300 developing country More than 300 developing country scientists, stakeholders and students scientists, stakeholders and students participateparticipate– Africa: 11 projectsAfrica: 11 projects– Asia: 5 projectsAsia: 5 projects– Latin America: 5 projectsLatin America: 5 projects– Small Island Developing States: 3 projectsSmall Island Developing States: 3 projects

9

Topics of Regional Topics of Regional AssessmentsAssessments

(Number of projects addressing each topic noted in parentheses)(Number of projects addressing each topic noted in parentheses)

• Agriculture/food security (14)Agriculture/food security (14)• Water resources (13)Water resources (13)• Land use (7)Land use (7)• Rural livelihoods (5)Rural livelihoods (5)• Coastal zones (5)Coastal zones (5)• Biodiversity (3)Biodiversity (3)• Aquatic ecosystems, fisheries (3)Aquatic ecosystems, fisheries (3)• Human health (2)Human health (2)• Extreme events (2)Extreme events (2)• Tourism (1)Tourism (1)

10

AIACC Accomplishments (1)AIACC Accomplishments (1)

• Contributing to goals of UNFCCCContributing to goals of UNFCCC– Established ties to National CommunicationsEstablished ties to National Communications

• Working with appropriate agencies/persons in Working with appropriate agencies/persons in participating countriesparticipating countries

• Providing place specific V&A info for national Providing place specific V&A info for national communicationscommunications

• Will provide evaluations & recommendations for Will provide evaluations & recommendations for adaptation actionsadaptation actions

– Contributed to NAPA guidelines & workshopsContributed to NAPA guidelines & workshops– Adding to UNFCCC V&A methods/tools databaseAdding to UNFCCC V&A methods/tools database– Contributed to UNDP’s Adaptation Policy Contributed to UNDP’s Adaptation Policy

FrameworkFramework– Contribute to UNEP projectsContribute to UNEP projects

11

AIACC Accomplishments (2)AIACC Accomplishments (2)

• Advancing knowledge & methodsAdvancing knowledge & methods– Participants published 5 papers in peer-Participants published 5 papers in peer-

reviewed journalsreviewed journals• more papers in pipelinemore papers in pipeline• AIACC Working Paper Series, a peer-reviewed AIACC Working Paper Series, a peer-reviewed

electronic publicationelectronic publication– Advanced methods for:Advanced methods for:

• climate scenario generationclimate scenario generation• vulnerability indicatorsvulnerability indicators• livelihood approacheslivelihood approaches• integrated assessment modelingintegrated assessment modeling• benefit/cost analysis of adaptationbenefit/cost analysis of adaptation

12

AIACC Accomplishments (3)AIACC Accomplishments (3)

• Building capacityBuilding capacity– Capacity for scientific/technical V&A assessmentCapacity for scientific/technical V&A assessment

• >200 scientists and >60 students in 46 developing >200 scientists and >60 students in 46 developing countries have benefited from “learning-by-doing” and countries have benefited from “learning-by-doing” and training activitiestraining activities

– Capacity to engage with stakeholders and Capacity to engage with stakeholders and formulate adaptation strategies and policiesformulate adaptation strategies and policies

• Have established networks that link science & Have established networks that link science & stakeholder institutions from 62 countriesstakeholder institutions from 62 countries

– Stakeholder knowledge & awarenessStakeholder knowledge & awareness• Numerous local workshops with stakeholdersNumerous local workshops with stakeholders

– South-south capacity transfersSouth-south capacity transfers• AIACC participants have conducted several successful AIACC participants have conducted several successful

south-south capacity transfer activitiessouth-south capacity transfer activities

13

AIACC Accomplishments (4)AIACC Accomplishments (4)

• Contributing to international scienceContributing to international science– IPCC 4th Assessment ReportIPCC 4th Assessment Report

• Contributed to outline & plans for 4th Assessment ReportContributed to outline & plans for 4th Assessment Report• Anticipate invitation of many AIACC participants to be authors of Anticipate invitation of many AIACC participants to be authors of

IPCC AR4IPCC AR4

– Millennium Ecosystem AssessmentMillennium Ecosystem Assessment• 2 projects contributing to MEA reports2 projects contributing to MEA reports

– Global Environmental Change & Food Security Global Environmental Change & Food Security (GECAFS)(GECAFS)

• AIACC projects contributing to this joint project of IHDP & IGBPAIACC projects contributing to this joint project of IHDP & IGBP

– Presentations in international science meetingsPresentations in international science meetings• Human Dimensions of Global Change Open Meeting, Montreal, Human Dimensions of Global Change Open Meeting, Montreal,

Sept 2003Sept 2003• UNEP/SEI Adaptation Research Workshop, New Delhi, Nov 2003UNEP/SEI Adaptation Research Workshop, New Delhi, Nov 2003• Stanford University EMF Workshop on Climate Change Impacts & Stanford University EMF Workshop on Climate Change Impacts &

Integrated Assessment, Snowmass, Aug 2003Integrated Assessment, Snowmass, Aug 2003• Many othersMany others

14

Upcoming AIACC ActivitiesUpcoming AIACC Activities

• 3 Regional Workshops in 20043 Regional Workshops in 2004• Continuation and completion of Continuation and completion of

regional assessments by late regional assessments by late 2004/early 20052004/early 2005

• Synthesis of AIACC regional studies Synthesis of AIACC regional studies in 2005in 2005

15

Regional Workshops in 2004Regional Workshops in 2004

• Dates & venuesDates & venues– Dakar, 24-27 MarchDakar, 24-27 March– Buenos Aires, 24-27 AugustBuenos Aires, 24-27 August– Manila, 18-21 OctoberManila, 18-21 October

• ParticipationParticipation– Regional assessment investigatorsRegional assessment investigators– Local, regional & international stakeholdersLocal, regional & international stakeholders

• PurposesPurposes– Share knowledge about regional activities, report progressShare knowledge about regional activities, report progress– Explore how to make AIACC assessments as useful as Explore how to make AIACC assessments as useful as

possible to stakeholderspossible to stakeholders– Plan for synthesisPlan for synthesis

16

Completion of Regional Completion of Regional AssessmentsAssessments

• Assessment activities will continue Assessment activities will continue through 2004through 2004– Finalizing vulnerability analyses & scenariosFinalizing vulnerability analyses & scenarios– Evaluating adaptation optionsEvaluating adaptation options– Engaging stakeholders in evaluation of Engaging stakeholders in evaluation of

adaptation optionsadaptation options– Communicating progress, results to in-country Communicating progress, results to in-country

National Communications teamsNational Communications teams– Dissemination of informationDissemination of information

• Regional assessments to be completed by Regional assessments to be completed by late 2004 or early 2005late 2004 or early 2005– Final reports from regional assessments by mid Final reports from regional assessments by mid

20052005

17

Synthesis of AIACC ProjectSynthesis of AIACC Project

• Participants in AIACC will synthesize Participants in AIACC will synthesize lessons that transcend contexts of lessons that transcend contexts of individual assessmentsindividual assessments– Nature and causes of vulnerabilityNature and causes of vulnerability– Effective adaptation and risk management Effective adaptation and risk management

strategiesstrategies– Methods for engaging stakeholders in generating Methods for engaging stakeholders in generating

and communicating information for decision and communicating information for decision makingmaking

• 2 workshops to be held in 2005 to facilitate2 workshops to be held in 2005 to facilitate– Synthesis book volumes to be completed by fall Synthesis book volumes to be completed by fall

20052005

18

Follow-up to AIACCFollow-up to AIACC

• AIACC partners planning activities to AIACC partners planning activities to build upon successes of AIACC projectbuild upon successes of AIACC project

– Encourage regional assessment teams to Encourage regional assessment teams to extend/apply their work individuallyextend/apply their work individually

• UNDP/GEF Small Grants ProgramUNDP/GEF Small Grants Program• Projects for “piloting an operational approach to Projects for “piloting an operational approach to

adaptation”adaptation”

– Develop new suite of global activities with Develop new suite of global activities with partnerspartners

19

A new global projectA new global project

• Retain proven elements of AIACC but Retain proven elements of AIACC but include innovations for greater impact:include innovations for greater impact:– Stronger policy implementation focusStronger policy implementation focus– Broaden scope beyond climate change to Broaden scope beyond climate change to

include other focal areasinclude other focal areas– Stakeholder engagement more integralStakeholder engagement more integral– Training and technical support to be lead by Training and technical support to be lead by

developing country institutions, organized developing country institutions, organized regionallyregionally

– Provide for more uniformity of approachProvide for more uniformity of approach• Develop, test, evaluate and document a protocol Develop, test, evaluate and document a protocol

for participatory, policy-focused assessmentfor participatory, policy-focused assessment

20

Objectives of New Global ProjectObjectives of New Global Project

• Enhance capacities to evaluate, plan and Enhance capacities to evaluate, plan and implement adaptation strategies related to implement adaptation strategies related to UNFCCC and other MEAsUNFCCC and other MEAs

• Advance knowledge needed to support Advance knowledge needed to support adaptation decisions and implement adaptation decisions and implement actionsactions

• Develop regional “centers” to provide Develop regional “centers” to provide training & technical assistance in their training & technical assistance in their regionsregions

• Strengthen networks for collaboration Strengthen networks for collaboration among stakeholders & scientists on global among stakeholders & scientists on global environmental problemsenvironmental problems