Background note for CineONU 'The Anthropologist' - UNEP and climate change adaptation & UNEP and indigenous* people

UNEP and Climate Change Adaptation

Science & Assessments

·UNEP has a legacy of facilitating credible impact assessments based on the drivers-pressures-state-impact-responses (DPSIR) framework used for the Global Environment Outlook (GEO) series.

·UNEP has developed different vulnerability and impact assessment (VIA) methodologies suitable for different purposes, including climate change VIA assessment at the national and municipal levels.

• Assessments respond to demands from Governments, and are normally led by them.
• The scientific and assessment activities lay the foundation for UNEP’s policy support and capacity building work.

http://bit.ly/1OnjU4n

• Vietnam assessment: http://bit.ly/1ZM5hIv

Knowledge & Policy Support

·To improve access to knowledge for adaptation, UNEP works to mobilize existing knowledge and good practices at the global, regional and national levels, including through the Global Adaptation Network (GAN) and its Regional Networks.

·NEP also provides capacity building and advisory services to governments and other actors

·This involves mapping the institutional and political contexts for adaptation planning and mainstreaming, identification of relevant national priority issues and entry points to target dissemination of country-specific evidence based on impact and vulnerability assessments and economic analysis

http://bit.ly/1UY3VLq

Building Resilience of Ecosystems

·“Ecosystem-based Adaptation” (EbA), uses biodiversity and ecosystem services as part of an overall adaptation strategy to help people and communities adapt to the negative effects of climate change at local, national, regional and global levels.

·In addition to protection from climate change impacts, EbA also provides many other benefits to communities, for example through the maintenance and enhancement of ecosystem services crucial for livelihoods and human well-being, such as clean water and food.

·http://bit.ly/1UY4i8X

Facts from Adaptation Gap Report (Finances)

·The cost of adapting to climate change in developing countries could rise to between $280 and $500 billion per year by 2050, a figure that is four to five times greater than previous estimates.

·This report serves as a powerful reminder that climate change will continue to have serious economic costs.

·UNFCCC has called on developed countries to provide $100 billion annually by 2020 to help developing countries mitigate climate change, and adapt to its impacts.

·There is no agreement as to the type of funding that shall be mobilised to meet this goal. This hampers efforts to monitor progress toward meeting the goal.

·The Green Climate Fund, which was set up by the UNFCCC, with its stated goal of splitting funding equally between mitigation and adaptation efforts, is expected to play a significant role in efforts to fund adaptation

The Paris Agreement on climate change includes several key provisions designed to advance adaptation. Three are particularly momentous:

• the adoption of a global goal on adaptation
• the commitment to increase developed country funding to developing countries
• the requirement that all parties draw up and regularly update adaptation plans and strategies

http://bit.ly/1X6v9zI

Global Environment Facility (GEF)

·As an implementing agency of the Global Environment Facility (GEF) and Multilateral Implementing Entity of the Adaptation Fund, UNEP supports LDCs to develop and implement adaptation projects by facilitating their access to UNFCCC climate change adaptation finance.

http://bit.ly/1TStkDL

·The National Adaptation Plan - Global Support Programme (NAP-GSP) for non-Least Developed Countries (non-LDCs) commenced in July 2015. The NAP-GSP is funded by the Special Climate Change Fund of the Global Environment Facility. The programme is a support mechanism to countries engaged in national adaptation planning processes (institutional support, knowledge, training).

http://bit.ly/1UY6SLX

List of country initiatives: http://bit.ly/1YpDpJT

UNEP and Indigenous Peoples / Communities

Their close relationship and dependency on functioning ecosystems have made many Indigenous Peoples extremely vulnerable to changes and damages in the environment.

UNEP recognizes the importance of Indigenous Peoples’ participation as well as the valuable inputs that these holders of traditional knowledge can contribute to sustainable ecosystem management and development.

·UNEP has a dedicated part-time Focal Point on indigenous issues since 2004. The position is located within UNEP’s Major Groups and Stakeholder Branch.

·The Focal Point is the main liaison officer for Indigenous Peoples and any related activities on indigenous issues and with Indigenous Peoples within UNEP.

• Indigenous Peoples can contact the Focal Point at any time regarding UNEP’s work programmes, project activities, participation in conferences, collaboration to workshops and meetings as well as the accreditation of Indigenous Peoples organisations and networks to the UNEA of UNEP.

UNEPs engagement with Indigenous Peoples is supported by a Policy Guidance ( English ) to guide UNEP’s work by supporting staff to understand the synergies and linkages between Indigenous Peoples and the environment, informing decisions in policy development and implementation.

http://bit.ly/1OA1Bqx

* This is a non exhaustive list. The information relates to an intervention by Ms Christine Haffner-Sifakis (UNEP) at the CineONU screening of 'The Anthropologist' at the Italian Cultural Institute on Thursday 19 May, 2016