Adaption to Climate Change in The Gambia

Zachary Bailey Political/Economic Officer U.S. Embassy Banjul, The Gambia

February 25, 2011

The Big Picture Climate Change in Sub-Saharan Africa Africa is home to 45 percent of the worlds biodiversity and the survival of its forests is a critical factor in tempering global climate change. Development pressures are driving degradation of Africas soil, water, and biodiversity resources, resulting in a significant threat to the economic well-being of future generations of Africans.

By 2020, between 75 and 250 million people are projected to be exposed to increased water stress due to climate change in Africa.

How is the Climate Changing Over the 20th century, mean temperature on the African continent has increased by 0.8 C, rainfall has diminished, and seasonal/interannual rainfall variability has increased. By the end of this century, temperatures are projected to rise 34 C Northern and Southern Africa are projected to become drier, East Africa wetter, while the direction of precipitation in West Africa remains uncertain Seasonal/interannual climate variability is also expected to increase in this century resulting in more frequent and more catastrophic droughts and floods, and greater rainfall intensity.

Possible Results of Climate Change Increased food insecurity due to high dependence on rain fed agriculture Decreased water availability as a result of elevated surface temperatures, and increased seasonal/interannual rainfall variability, and aridity Heightened disease burden due to an increase in the range of mosquitoes, results of floods and droughts, and higher rates of malnutrition Detrimental coastal effects such as sea level rise, more frequent storms and stronger storm surges, erosion, and saltwater intrusion

The Smiling Coast of The Gambia In Gambia people are attracted to the coast because it is a focal point for economic growthaccounting for infrastructure, transportation, trade, tourism, recreation and a myriad of ecological goods and services.

They provide habitat and nurseries for the majority of commercially important marine fish and shellfish species, and provide food security and livelihoods. They offer storm surge protection, erosion control, flood mitigation, help retain nutrients, and filter pollutants.

Erosion impacts both public and private investments which are often built too close to the shore or do not consider appropriate building techniques for dynamic shorelines

The Way Forward - Adaptation Adaptation: Adjustment in natural or human systems in response to actual or expected climatic changes or their impacts, so as to reduce harm or exploit beneficial opportunities.

Ecosystem-based adaptation strategies can help communities protect natural systems such as coastal forests, sand dunes, and coral reefsand, in turn, protect the benefits they provide, such as shoreline protection, erosion control, recreation opportunities, food, jobs and income.
Effective climate change adaptation costs much less than the no action alternative.

The 5 Step Adaptation Roadmap 1. Assess Vulnerability 2. Select Coarse Action 3. Mainstream Coastal Adaptation 4. Implement Adaptation

5. Evaluate for Adaptive Management

1. Assess the Vulnerability Assess climate change projections Assess exposure to climate change Assess sensitivity to climate change Assess health of coastal habitats Assess adaptive capacity

2. Select Coarse of Action Identify priorities Define adaptation goals and objectives Assess adaptation measures Select measure or bundle of measures

Examples of Adaptation Goals for Coastal Climate Change Functioning and healthy coastal ecosystems The built environment is less exposed and less vulnerable to damages from natural hazards Livelihood opportunities are maintained or strengthened in the face of climate change impacts

3. Mainstream Coastal Adaptation Integrating climate concerns and adaptation responses into relevant policies, plans, programs, and projects at the national, sub-national, and local scales. The long-term goal is to have climate change adaptation integrated into public policy across many sectors, woven into organizational missions, and routinely considered in decisions about development Climate change policies cannot be the frosting on the
cake of development; they must be baked into the recipe of growth and social development. -Robert Zoellick, President, the World Bank Group

Building capacity and providing opportunities for exchange among practitioners will be key to successful mainstreaming

Entry Points & National Strategy

Entry Point I: National / regional settings National Adaptation Programme of Action National coastal management programs Hazard mitigation or disaster preparedness Poverty reduction strategies

Entry Point II: Sectoral investments and projects Tourism development in specific sites Fisheries Freshwater supply
Entry Point III: Coastal places Municipalities, districts, provinces Ecosystems (estuaries, rivers) Coastal watersheds Marine protected areas

4. Implement Adaptation
Ensure adequate governance capacity Strengthen legal frameworks Strengthen personnel capabilities Highlight costs of doing nothing Develop sustainable funding Plan for externalities

Maintain scientific basis for policy

Maintain an inclusive and participatory process Select technically appropriate and effective measures

Financing
1. The Least Developed Country Fund In November 2001, Parties to the UNFCCC decided that least developed countries should be assisted in preparing National Adaptation Programs of Action to identify urgent needs related to adaptation to the adverse effects of climate change. Countries can use LDC funds to prepare NAPAs or to implement actions identified in the NAPAs. 2. The Special Climate Change Fund (SCCF) The SCCF under the Convention was established in 2001 to support projects and programs in development sectors most sensitive to climate change, including coastal zone management, disaster risk reduction, agriculture, and water resources management. 3. Forest Carbon Partnership Facility, a partnership to support developing countries REDD+ efforts and reduce deforestation. 4. Global Environment Fund (GEF), which helps developing countries and emerging economies mitigate greenhouse gas emissions through projects in energy efficiency, renewable energy, sustainable urban transport and sustainable management of land use, land-use change, and forestry.

5. Evaluate for Adaptive Management Specify the evaluation questions Establish roles and responsibilities for evaluation Select evaluation tools and develop timeline Conduct evaluation Communicate evaluation results Adapt policies, adaptation measures and strategies on the basis of evaluation results

Local Case Study: The Gambia

The Gambia - Restoring Historic James Island and Preventing Coastal Erosion: The Peace Corps, with the support of U.S. Embassy Banjuls Ambassadors Cultural Preservation Fund and the National Center for Arts and Culture in The Gambia, has planted mangroves on historic James Island to help protect the island and the CFAO Building, both UNESCO World Heritage Sites, from further deterioration due to heavy waves, erosion and weathering. Local village members assisted in moving rocks and wood to create a 100-meter barricade for the island and the CFAO building. After constructing the barricade, red mangroves, Rhizophora sp, were also planted. Restoration and protection of the fort and island, a key historical site of the West African Slave Trade in The Gambia, will allow for further historical research on the island and for continued promotion of the site as an educational facility for Gambian students and visitors.

Additional U.S. Assistance

USAIDs $8.5 million regional climate change program works across sub-Saharan Africa:

ClimDev Africa, an 11-year joint initiative of USAID, the African Union, the African Development Bank, and the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa, that will focus on climate observations, climate services, climate risk management, and climate policy needs in Africa.
Helping African communities adapt to climate change by developing methodologies for vulnerability assessments; identifying research areas that will target critical issues, such as prevention of waterborne disease; and integrating climate change into projects in the natural resource management, agriculture, infrastructure, and health sectors. The United States is now partnering with other contributor nations, based on the Copenhagen Accords to provide what is known as fast start funding for climate-related activities approaching $30 billion during 20102012.