Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Aa5 Summary Final
Aa5 Summary Final
Table of contents
In implementing Action Area 5 of its initial two-year workplan, the Executive Committee
of the Warsaw International Mechanism (Executive Committee) invited relevant
national entities, through a questionnaire, to describe the systems and/or processes
currently in place for conducting and coordinating analyses of climate risk and loss and
damage associated with the adverse effects of climate change, taking into account
extreme and slow onset events.
The questionnaire was sent to the UNFCCC focal points of all the non-Annex I Parties on
two occasions: 2 August 2016 and 4 April 2017. This paper summarizes the 43 responses
received as at 16 June 2017 (see Annex 1 for the list of respondents). Where possible
qualitative information is illustrated with the help of graphs.
The information provided will serve as an input into the work of the Executive
Committee, in particular the preparation of a paper, mandated under activity (c), Action
Area 5 of its initial two-year workplan, with a view to consolidating experiences and
lessons learned and identifying priority areas for increasing capacity and investment.
1
UNFCCC secretariat, Loss and Damage team, 27 June 2017.
1|P a g e
1. Extreme weather events & slow onset events
The graphs below illustrate the relevance of extreme weather events and slow onset events to countries and the degree to
which each of these is integrated into countries’ disaster risk management.
0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100%
Data and knowledge of non-economic losses associated with the adverse effects of
climate change 86%
Data and knowledge of economic losses associated with the adverse effects of
climate change 77%
2|P a g e
3. Key development sectors
The graph below illustrates the key development resources or sectors indicated by countries to be at higher risk or have been
most impacted or adversely affected by extreme and/or slow onset events.
60%
40%
20%
0%
Water resources Agriculture & food Health Infrastructure Forests & ecosystems landloss
security
The most important elements from the following four key development sectors that countries consider might have been or
have been damaged or lost in relation to extreme and slow onset events are as follows:
Forests & ecosystems – Water resources – Infrastructure – Agriculture & food security
Annex 2 contains details pertaining to each sector and the most important elements from each sector that may have been
damaged or have been lost in relation to extreme and/or slow onset events.
3|P a g e
4. Climate risk analysis
The graph below illustrates the proportion of countries, among the 43 non-Annex I Parties that conduct climate risk analysis,
which responded to the questionnaire.
Data comparability and consistency and lack of linkage to systematic climate observation
Access to quantitative and long-term data, relevant to identification and prioritization of climate risk analysis (existing data
is not comprehensive because analysis was done on a project basis or only focused only on certain extreme events)
Access to skilled personnel (esp. with skills in data collection and modelling)
Lack of a common understanding of slow onset events
Lack of institutional frameworks and commitment amongst key stakeholders on issues related to slow onset events
Lack of baselines, capacities and resources to monitor, analyze and quantify desertification, acidification and its impacts on
fisheries, loss of productivity, biodiversity loss, temperature increase impacts in livestock and other natural ecosystems and other
non-economic losses
Details of the types of data reported to be used in conducting their climate risk analysis:
Climate scenarios (e.g. regional; downscaled global climate models; IPCC representative Concentration Pathways 8.5 and
4.5; regional and subnational climate models; scenarios modelled for UNFCCC National Communications)
Scientific information (e.g. IPCC; information generated by the national meteorological agencies; climate risk conceptual
frameworks; academic journals)
Hydro-meteorological data (e.g. rainfall/temperature data; information generated by national meteorological agencies;
historic hydro-meteorological data)
Climate services (e.g. numerical weather prediction; weather and climate forecasts; scientific information generated by
national meteorological agencies)
Others include expert opinions in climate risk analysis to compensate for deficiencies in data and information
4|P a g e
5. Challenges in integrating long-term changes
Of the 43 non-Annex I Parties that responded, 88% indicate that they face challenges in integrating long-term changes from
extreme weather events and slow onset events in their country’s climate risks analysis. The graph below indicates some of the
main challenges.
0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100%
6. Vulnerable groups
Yes
The graph to the right indicates the proportion of countries whose national risk 19%
analysis includes consideration of how vulnerable groups are exposed to the
adverse effects of climate change (e.g. because of geography, socioeconomic 58% No
23%
status, livelihoods, gender, age, indigenous or minority status or disability).
Uncertain
60%
40%
20%
0%
Emergency response Preparedness Prevention Rehabilitation Recovery
The next graph shows key requirements, as reported by countries, to better integrate considerations of the adverse effects of
climate change into national risk management.
0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%
Training/competence 95%
Finance 95%
Methodologies 93%
Technology/software 86%
Enhanced policies 84%
Enhanced coordination/incentives for coordination 70%
Enhanced ability to convince political leaders about the urgency or benefits 67%
5|P a g e
8. Information gaps
Key needs countries identify include:
Research, data and/or modelling (e.g. downscaled models to enable This graph indicates the proportion of
projection of climate scenarios and likely impacts on climate sensitive countries that indicated that there are
sectors, vulnerability assessments, cost benefit analyses for adaptation information gaps or problems with the
measures, baseline analyses, economic models for GHG emissions, climate service provision.
climate impacts, sea level rise mapping at the sub-national level, etc.)
Measurement and monitoring systems (e.g. more hydro-meteorological
stations, tools for measuring climatic characteristics in the field, better
monitoring systems using satellite, radar and other technologies, early 23% Yes
warnings systems for multiple risks, systems to monitor impacts in climate 5% No
sensitive sectors, etc.) 72%
Uncertain
Technical training (e.g. of the relevant stakeholders to increase their
understanding of the risk management technologies, etc.)
Insufficient forecasting and data coverage (e.g. weather services do not have comprehensive coverage because weather
stations are too widely distributed geographically, leading to weather and climate data being of low resolution, and so
unable to produce accurate information for some sub-district levels, and unable to provide localized area forecast and
quantitative forecast; insufficient spatial and temporal coverage of data)
Insufficient financial, technical and human resources (e.g. insufficient budget and investment in climate service
provision and equipment; understaffed in climate service institutions; insufficient staff with required knowledge and skills
for example in Geographical Information System (GIS) to undertake geospatial monitoring and mapping for sea level rise,
storm surges and other climate related extreme events; limited staffing and capacity in respect of specific climate services
in countries; capacity-building and technology transfer are needed to create comprehensive climate service provision for
key sectors)
Insufficient institutional frameworks (e.g. no structured framework or appropriate institutional arrangement to integrate
climate data into policy-making, poor communication channels, insufficient coordination among national, subnational
government agencies, research institutes and other stakeholders, low awareness and knowledge about available
technologies to adopt climate change)
Data not systematic or incomplete (e.g. data collection and assessment of economic losses are done on case by case and
not systemic manner; gaps exist in diffusion of information; data is not centralized, and if it exists, it cannot be found and
used when needed)
The graph below indicates the extent to which countries have science-based national climate impact projections for certain
aspects. In addition to those aspects, countries also indicated: saline intrusion of wells; cyclones; dust storms; landslides; super
storm/sea surges.
Floods 56%
Drought 47%
6|P a g e
9. Key public authorities/institutions
The graph below illustrates the key pubic authorities/institutions (or their equivalents) countries indicated as responsible for
assessing overall climate risk and vulnerability.
100% 91%
80%
60% 51%
40%
40% 33%
21%
20%
0%
Ministry of Ministry of Disaster Ministry of Planning Prime Minister’s office Ministry of Finance
Environment/Climate Management (or equivalent) (or equivalent) (or equivalent)
(or equivalent) (or equivalent)
In addition to the ministries mentioned above, the key institutions countries draw scientific and technical information on the
adverse effects of climate change for the purpose of development planning, policy advice and disaster risk management, include:
Meteorological and hydro-meteorological institutes or offices (e.g. for climate data, scientific climate projections, sea level
rise data and seismic information)
Scientific and technical research institutions (e.g. for research on climate, scientific climate projections, water and
atmosphere, geography, industry, space, and agriculture)
National universities (e.g. for science research)
National emergency system (e.g. for data on impacts of natural disasters)
Ministries/departments of agriculture and/or rural development (e.g. for agriculture sector data, and primarily damage
assessments)
Ministries/departments of fisheries (e.g. for fisheries data and resource assessments for coastal and marine ecosystems
including mangrove, beach, reef)
Ministries/departments of forestry (e.g. for forest data, and woodlands and watershed assessments)
Ministries/departments of tourism (e.g. for data on damage to tourism)
NGOs (e.g. for sector and area specific data)
Ministries/departments of civil defence/protection (e.g. for risk management data)
Ministries/departments for health (e.g. for health data)
Ministries/departments of energy (e.g. for data on the vulnerability of hydroelectric power dams)
National statistical agencies (e.g. to verify data)
Utilities or water authorities (e.g. for water resources assessment and management)
20%
0%
National/local NGOs UN agencies Academia/research International NGOs Private sector
organizations organizations
7|P a g e
11. Mechanisms for coordination
Countries reported that the following institutional coordination mechanisms are in place to bring together relevant stakeholders
to assess and address climate risks:
Multi-sectoral bodies (e.g. comprising members of government, NGOs, private sector, etc.)
Climate change commissions/committees/councils /advisory boards (e.g. steering/ technical; led by a prime minister
or environmental ministers, or members from all relevant ministries, etc.)
Interagency coordination mechanism (e.g. task force, working group, etc. to facilitate coordination of actions on climate
change between ministries and agencies)
Regular meetings coordinated by a relevant ministry (e.g. to bring together stakeholders from hydrometeorology and
monitoring services, and science institutions, etc.)
National platforms coordinated by a high state authority (e.g. by president, to bring together stakeholders
from NGOs, science institutions, etc.)
Agreement between key ministries (e.g. ministries for climate and disaster prevention)
Some countries that do not have legislation or are uncertain, have other national 12%
or sectoral policies and/or plans (e.g. national adaptation plan, land use and Yes
37%
infrastructure, agriculture, water, health) that enable links between dealing with No
the adverse effects of climate change and risk management (including disaster 51%
Uncertain
risk management).
8|P a g e
Annexes
9|P a g e
Annex 2: Details regarding key development sectors that may have been damaged or have been lost in
relation to extreme and/or slow onset events
WATER RESOURCES
A. General comments
Climate events lead to increased water insecurity by increasing water stress and scarcity, as well as
impacting water quality
Climate change leads to shortened rainy seasons, declining sources of surface and ground water, and a
decline in clean and potable water
There is increasing demand for water resources as a result of population dynamics
Climate events impacting water resources lead to:
o Less water for irrigation, could lead to decreased agricultural productivity
o High evaporation leads to the drying up of lakes, and rivers
o Dams can dry up or do not reach the minimum storage volumes for inland river navigation
o Potential increase in energy insecurity and declines in power generation due to changes in river
runoff
o Potential damages to population and biodiversity due to high or low river levels from to floods
and drought
o Significant impacts to industries reliant on water resources (e.g. fish farming, mining, oil and gas
exploration, cooling of power plants, etc.)
o Algal blooms and an increase in waterborne diseases due to increased temperature of water
resources
o Change in runoff levels which may cause water distribution problems and deficit of water in
associated dams, which in turn would impact hydro-energy generation
10 | P a g e
Sea level rise
o Population is at risk of exposure to flooding in coastal zones, including industrial settlements,
tourism-related infrastructure and facilities, and crops
o Water sources will be vulnerable to sea water intrusion
AGRICULTURE
A. General comments
Agriculture plays not only an economic role (significant proportion of GDP, and working population)
but a significant social role in some countries. Climate change events lead to:
o Damage to farm buildings, water scarcity (e.g. from changes in rainfall timing and quantity,
drought or floods, the drying of wells, etc.), pest outbreak, increase in harmful insects and
rodents, loss of grazing area, soil erosion and increased leaching of plant nutrients and fertilizers
to groundwater, which in turn can lead to major economic losses, such as from:
o Jeopardized quantity and quality of agricultural production
o Damage to, reduction in production/ yield of or complete failure of crops (such as grapes; stone
fruits; vegetables; field crops; irrigated vegetables, etc.), for rain fed agriculture in particular,
higher production costs
o Loss of livestock, which is substantial for some countries where livestock makes up more than
50-60% of the agriculture sector; production of meat and milk affected
o As a result of these impacts, there can be lower incomes in vulnerable areas, where smallholder
farmers and poor consumers are particularly affected; increased food price (domestic as well as
imported) and increased numbers of people who are food insecure
11 | P a g e
FORESTS & ECOSYSTEMS
A. General comments
Forested nations are especially vulnerable to events such as forest fires and forest die off.
Climate change events lead to: forest ecosystems significantly shrinking; tree death or extinction;
changes in forest and tree species composition; loss of genetic diversity and economic value of forests;
loss of biodiversity ; declines in native fauna and flora (including endemic birds); changes to biological
cycles of native fauna and flora due to scarcity of natural foods; reduced breeding success and
productivity of certain bird species; habitat modification, degradation and loss; shift in species ranges,
further challenged by species' limited abilities to move between terrestrial ecosystems; changes in the
distribution and composition of ecosystems; creation of vacant niches, which in turn may increase
invasion and proliferation of invasive species; system wide impacts due to changes in micro-systems
Fisheries are affected due to ocean acidification, loss of coral reefs and fish migration
INFRASTRUCTURE
A. General comments
Negative impact on people’s mobility
Affecting social services (health care, education institutions, etc.)
Disruption to economic chains of production
Reconstruction of infrastructure affected by extreme events is resource-intensive and poses a
significant burden on governments
There is need to create or update building codes
12 | P a g e
HEALTH
A. General comments
Extreme and slow onset events cause diseases to spread and emerge in untypical regions
In addition to the direct health risks, indirect risks exist (e.g. drought leads to less water for
sanitation; increased marine disturbances are likely to contribute to intoxication; floods affect
health services as a result of the damages to infrastructure, equipment, supply)
13 | P a g e
Annex 3: Key intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations2 that contribute to addressing the
adverse effects of climate change, as indicated in the 43 responses to the questionnaire,
UN agencies
FAO (Food and Agriculture Organization); IFAD (International Fund for Agricultural Development); IOM (International
Organization for Migration); IPCC (Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change); OCHA (Office for the Coordination of
Humanitarian Affairs); UN Women; UNDP (UN Development Programme); UNEA (UN Environment Assembly); UNECA (UN
Economic Commission for Africa); UNECLAC (UN Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean); UNEP (UN
Environment Programme); UNESCO (UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization); UNFCCC (UN Framework
Convention on Climate Change); UNHABITAT; UNICEF (UN Children's Fund); UNIDO (UN Industrial Development Organization);
UNISDR (UN Office for Disaster Risk Reduction); UNITAR (UN Institute for Training and Research); UNOOSA (UN Office for Outer
Space Affairs); UNPF (UN Population Fund); UN-REDD Programme; WB (World Bank); WFP (World Food Programme); WHO
(World Health Organization); WMO (World Meteorological Organization).
International NGOs
CARE International; Cooperazione Internazionale; COSUDE (Agencia Suiza para el Desarrollo y la Cooperación); German
Cooperation; GVC (Gruppo di Volontariato Civile); Handicap International; Help Age International; Helvetas Swiss
Intercooperation; ICCO (International Cocoa Organization); International Union for Conservation of Nature; Italian
Cooperation; KOICA (Korea International Cooperation Agency); Oxfam; Plan International; Practical Action; Protos; Red Cross;
Save the Children; SNV (Netherlands Development Organisation); Spanish Cooperation; The Asia Foundation; Tree Project;
Welt Hunger Life; Wetlands International; World Vision; WWF (World Wide Fund).
National/local NGOs
Action for Development; Amerindian Peoples Association; Arab Network for Environment & Development; Association
Burundaise pour la protection de la Nature; Association pou le Developpement Durable; Bolivian Red Cross; Brazilian Forum
for Sustainable Development; Caucasus Environmental NGO Network; Centro de Promoción de Tecnologías Sostenibles; Civil
society platform on climate change Niger; CREDEL Benin; ENDA Senegal; Environmental Awareness Group; Environmental
Foundation of Jamaica; Environmental Protection and Conservation Organisation; Fundación Moisés Bertoni; Fundación para
el Desarrollo Participativo Comunitario; Gaia Pacha Foundation; Gilber Agriculture Rural Development Centre; Global
Environment Facility Small Grants Programme National Council; Guyana Organisation of Indigenous Peoples; Guyra Paraguay;
HuMa (Association for Community and Ecology-Based Law Reform); HUNDEE Oromo Grassroots Development Initiative; IDID
Benin; Imazon; Indonesian Forum for the Environment; Instituto de Estudios Avanzados en Desarrollo; Inter-Governmental
Ministry of Environment and Water; Kuwait Environment Protection Society; Liga de Defensa del Medio Ambiente; MaliFolk
Center; Mauritius Council of Social Service; Mauritius Marine Conservation Society; Mauritius National Women Council;
Mauritius National Youth Council; Mauritius Wildlife Foundation; Milieukontakt Macedonia; Myanmar Red Cross Society;
National Amerindian Development Fund; National Service of Meteorology and Hydrology; PIKUL; Plan Paraguay; Plurinational
Authority of the Mother Earth; Raks Thai Foundation; Reef Conservation Mauritius; Regional Pastoral Livelihood Resilience
Project; Remisia; Saint Lucia National Trust; Secrétariat de Concertation des ONG nationales du Mali; SIDS Youth AIMS Hub;
Social Pastoral Caritas Boliviana; Sumaj Huasi Foundation; Sustainable Water; Thailand Environment Institute Foundation; Te
Ipukarae Society; The Amerindian Action Movement of Guyana; The Indonesian Biodiversity Foundation; The Nature
Conservancy; Wetland; Women Support Association; WWF Indonesia; Yayasan Terumbu Karang Indonesia.
Academia/research organizations
Anton de Kom University of Suriname; Belgrade University; Bolivian San Pablo Catholic University; Caribbean Agricultural
Research and Development Institute; Caribbean Institute for Meteorology and Hydrology; Chulalongkorn University; Climate
and Development Knowledge Network; Chancellor College; Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation;
Comoros University; l'Ecole Nationale d'Ingénieurs Abderhame Baba Touré; Faculties for civil engineering; Faculties of sciences;
Federal University of Sao Paulo; Federal University Rio de Janeiro; Federal University Santa Catarina; Food, Agricultural
Research and Extension Institute; Gabriel Rene Moreno University; Gaston Berger University; Global Research Alliance on
Agricultural Greenhouse Gases; Higher University of San Andres,; Institutes für Energiewirtschaft und Rationelle
Energieanwendung; Institute for Agriculture; Institute Geology; Institute of Botany; Institute of Geography of the Republic of
Kazakhstan; Institute of Zoology; International Research Institute for Climate and Society; Joint Research Centre; Kasetsart
University; Kuwait Foundation for the Advancement of Science; Kuwait Institute for Scientific Research; Kuwait University;
Lilongwe University of Agriculture and Natural Resources; Lembaga Ilmu Pengetahuan Indonesia; Macedonian Academy of
Sciences and Arts; Malawi University of Science and Technology; Malawi University of Science and Technology; Mauritius Cane
Industry Authority; Mauritius Oceanography Institute; Mauritius Research Council; Mechanical Engineering and agricultural
faculties; Mongolia National Agency for Meteorology and Environmental Monitoring; Myanmar Information Management Unit;
Mzuzu University; National Amazon Research Institute; National Space Research Agency; National Institute of Water and
2
Names of organizations are listed in an alphabetical order.
14 | P a g e
Atmospheric Research; Northern Caribbean University; Novi Sad University; Open University; PROCISUR cooperative research
programme; NOAA/NWS Storm Prediction Center; Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme; Thammasat
University; The Polytechnic Malawi; Universite des Mascareignes; University of Abomey Calavi; University of Dakar; University
of Mauritius; University of Parakou; University of San Simón; University of Technology Jamaica; University of Technology
Mauritius; University of the Republic Uruguay; University of the South Pacific; University of the West Indies.
-----
15 | P a g e