ADAPTING INFRASTRUCTURE TO CLIMATE CHANGE A CASE FOR

ADAPTING INFRASTRUCTURE TO CLIMATE CHANGE: A CASE FOR TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER UNFCCC Tobago. June 15. 2005 Ian Burton (with Heather Auld and Don Mac. Iver)

Features. • Creative. • Visionary. • Practical. • UNFCCC = UNFCC Calypso • C’est a vous de deviner.

OUTLINE • 1. Increase in disaster losses – adaptation deficit. • 2. Infrastructure and climate change adaptation requirements. • 3 Weather extremes and designing against infrastructure damage. • 4. The Climate Change Adaptation Factor • 5. Structural codes and standards. • 6. Global Adaptation Assistance Program. • 7. A role for insurance.

Features. • Creative. • Visionary. • Practical. • Creative: the UNFCCC or the UNFCC Calypso. • Il faut deviner.

1. Adaptation Deficit.

2. Infrastructure and adaptation requirements. • Long lifetime of infrastructure investments • Robustness of present stock variable, often use incomplete or outdated climate information. • Stock not being replaced or maintained at sustainable rates. Vulnerability increasing. • Apparent preference for more exposed or dangerous locations. • Construction industry, building codes and standards change slowly. • Land use and building materials and designs are dominated by short-term commercial interests.

3. Designs for weather Extremes -1

3. Design for Weather Extremes-2 Substandard Construction Standard Construction High Quality Construction

4. The Climate Change Adaptation Factor • Pending revision of codes and standards require a Climate Change Adaptation Factor. • Has climate change been factored in? • What modifcations were made? • Describe expert judgement. • Case by case analysis.

5. Structural Codes and Standards. • A matter for professional bodies acting under legislation. • Promoted by international cooperation and agreement, through relevant bodies. • Sharing of experience and know-how • Possible financial assistance for capaqcity building. • Use of external partners e. g. I. S. O.

6. Global Adaptation Assistance Programme? • Compare to cooperation for mitigation. • Compare to climate change scenarios, and downscaling. • Modeled on UK CIP? • Part of the Convention process and the adaptation regime? • On going process – multiple partners.

7. A role for insurance. • Develop insurance products for marketing through the private insurance industry, such as weather derivatives, cat loss bonds, underwriting of national insurance programmes or other. • Make insurance available at concessionary rates initially. • Development of adaptation strategies and policies as eligibility criteria. • Deductibles or lower premiums for demonstrated adaptation measures in place, and enforced (monitored).

Thank you for your attention. Merci de votre attention!