The policy context for ecosystembased adaptation Guy Midgley

The policy context for ecosystem-based adaptation Guy Midgley, South Africa National Biodiversity Institute

Reflecting on current policy context of ecosystem based adaptation AWG LCA - adaptation • Adaptation Framework to provide policy enabling environment for adaptation action and funding – “Enhanced Action” • Immediate and urgent needs; local, national, regional and global scales; developing, most vulnerable, countries; country-driven; development objectives • New, predictable, sustainable, adequate and stable financing additional to ODA; implementation focused • Environmentally sound (22 a iii), holistic (22 e), other conventions (22 i), “Ecosystem based approaches to adaptation” (22 j iii) • Paras 31 and 32 - Priority to vulnerable countries, populations, ecosystems and biodiversity; and ecosystem-based adaptation “in addition” • Current inconsistent use of the term and thus the concept

Components of the Adaptation Framework • Implementation – enabling activities (national adaptation planning/assessing needs) “take into account the dynamics of natural systems (para f)” • Implementation of adaptation actions (programmes and projects, R&D, economic diversification, migration etc. ) “ecosystem scale inter-sectoral linkages” (para 25 d) • Means of Implementation: finance, technology and capacity building: “Priority consideration to Eb. A” (para 32) • Risk reduction management and sharing (Eb. A not mentioned!!) • Institutional arrangements ditto • Monitoring and review ditto • Eba is not consistently dealt with – opportunities missed

Eb. A and UNFCCC • Part of the discussions only since Co. P 14, Poznan. • Discussion within AWG LCA, along with other elements of adaptation. • Included in the negotiating text under Objective and Scope and under Means of Implementation of Adaptation • Support from a broad range of parties • Eb. A-type activities already a key part of many NAPAs and other national adaptation strategies. • No work current or planned on EBA in NWP apart from action pledges

Eb. A and synergies with other agreements and conventions • A focus of recent CBD AHTEG on biodiversity and climate change • In line with the multiple objectives and commitments of both UNFCCC and CBD • Supportive of aims of UNCCD, and Ramsar conventions, as well as numerous regional agreements and fora related to biodiversity. • Reduced vulnerability, and co-benefits support achievement of MDGs. • Eb. A a key part of G 8 Syracuse Charter

Next steps for Eb. A? • Given expressions of interest and need for elaboration of the concept, guidance and support for implementation at national level could include: – Consideration by the Nairobi Work Programme – Strong NGO, IGO and UN basis for provision of guidance – Strengthen links to disaster risk reduction community and Hyogo framework (ISDR Global Platform, Geneva 15 -19 th June) – Best practice and case studies of success