Structure of Presentation

Strong International Spirit

• Objective of the Convention

• Adaptation Planned Adaptation

Reactive Adaptation

• Increasing GHG Emissions

• National Adaptation Plans Increasing Vulnerability

Sectoral Adaptation Plans

• Conclusion

Strong International Spirit

• The Second World Climate Conference (SWCC)

(Nov 1990) confirmed the observed trend of

carbon dioxide concentrations and its

implications

• The Ministerial Declaration called on the

Secretary General to institute a mechanism to

protect the global climate

• General Assembly responded by establishing

the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee

(INC)

Strong International Spirit Contd.

• The International community, guided by the

principle of precautionary measure and the

provisions of the United Nations, took bold

decision amidst uncertainty - and adopted the

United Nations Framework Convention on

Climate Change (UNFCCC) on 9th May in 1992

• Climate change is caused by high concentration

of anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions in

the atmosphere and vulnerability will increase

with increase in greenhouse gas emissions

Objective of the Convention

• The ultimate objective of this Convention and any other

related legal instruments that the Conference of the

Parties may adopt is to achieve stabilization of

greenhouse gases concentrations in the atmosphere:

at a level that would prevent dangerous

anthropogenic interference with the climate system

within a time-frame sufficient to allow ecosystems

to adapt naturally to climate change

within a time-frame to ensure that food production

is not threatened

to enable economic development to proceed in a

sustainable manner

• The objective of the Convention is broad and

encompassing

Objective of the Convention Contd.

• Climate change is a serious problem to

humanity, development and ecosystems

• Sir John Houghton, re-known climatologist, described climate change as a weapon of mass destruction

• Can the No Harm Rule be applied to Parties who do not meet their mitigation commitments under the Convention?

• We must all prepare to face its brutality and also act now to reduce the future costs of adaptation

Vulnerability

• Humans and its ecosystems are

vulnerable to the negative impacts of

climate change

• Vulnerability can be minimized by healthy

ecosystems

• The slides below illustrate vulnerability of

humans and its ecosystems

Melting of Ice Cap on Mountains of the Moon

Melting of Rwenzori Mountains

Mount Stanley

293.19

186.26

84.83

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1906 1955 2005

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2005

Melting of Rwenzori Mountains Contd.

Mount Stanley

293.19

186.26

84.83

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1906 1955 2005

Year

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The Most Vulnerable are Threatened Left story house in Bangladesh & right malnourished child

Hailstone in Kashaka in Kashari, Mbarara

What is the adaptation measure against impacts of hailstone?

Objective of the Convention Contd.

• Adaptation is built into the objective of the

Convention: ”Such a level should be achieved within a time-frame sufficient to allow ecosystems to adapt naturally to climate change, to ensure that food production is not threatened and to enable economic development to proceed in a sustainable manner”.

Adaptation

• Two types of adaptation, responsive (re-active) and planned

• Responsive Adaptation Reacting to a disaster or extreme weather or climate events

Very little time to plan response actions need to anticipate and prepare to manage such risks

Lead institutions (Department of Disaster Preparedness) should take the lead in preparing and planning for the management of such risks

Institutions and Individuals can also implement responsive adaptation

Weather and climate information is essential for both preparation and management of the risks

Therefore capacity building is an important element for effective adaptation

Adaptation Contd.

• Planned Adaptation Event or risk is anticipated and therefore there is adequate time

to plan (assuming capacity exist)

Lead early warning system institutions should take the lead in preparing and planning for the management of risks

Planned adaptation can be undertaken at national, local government or individual level

Casualties can be minimized because of adequate time to prepare

Capacity building is an important element for adaptation

Adaptation technology plays a much bigger role in planned adaptation

Weather and climate information is essential for both preparation and management of risks

Increasing GHG Emissions

• Available information indicates increasing

GHG emissions, rise in surface temperatures

and increased frequency and intensity of

extreme weather and climate events (see

slides below)

• Some developed countries are not meeting

their commitments under the UNFCCC

• GHG emissions are also increasing in

developing countries

• Some developing countries have adopted

sustainable development approach

Increasing GHG Emissions Contd.

• Increasing GHG emissions means

increased intensity and frequency of

extreme weather and climate events

• Hence the need for sector wide adaptation

plans and implementation of concrete

practical adaptation programmes

Increasing Trend of Global Temperatures

Occurrence of Droughts in Uganda

OCCURANCE OF DROUGHTS IN UGANDA

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DECADES

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Increasing Frequency of Droughts Leaving Dry Bore Holes in Uganda

The National Adaptation Plan

• The National Adaptation must be derived

from key sectoral adaptation plans

• Sectors must undertake vulnerability

assessment prior to the development of

adaptation plans

• The vulnerability of sectors may change

over time and therefore need to review key

sectoral adaptation plans to enable the

review of the National Adaptation Plan

The National Adaptation Plan Contd.

• The National Adaptation Plan is a living

document and therefore will need to be

reviewed over time to take into account

emerging new science and adaptation

methodologies

• Provision of weather and climate information

is mandatory

• Strengthening and enhancing capacity of

meteorological services at both national and

global level is a necessity

Conclusion

• Adaptation may be likened to producing and

bringing-up children

• The parents are very happy when the

children grow and become successful in life

(settled and able to bring up their off springs)

• When developing countries have developed

resilience with support of developed countries

and therefore can withstand negative impacts

of climate change – then climate change is

no longer an issue

Conclusion

• Bringing up children is a

commitment of the parents – they

will be happy when the children are

successful

• Supporting adaptation in developing

countries is a commitment of

developed country Parties under

the Climate Change Convention

Conclusion Contd.

• Enhanced resilience is the reward

for developed countries supporting

adaptation in developing countries

• Developing countries must

gradually take up the funding of

adaptation to negative impacts of

climate change

THANK YOU