WORLD MET DAY 2012 ''Climate Change: We have to change''

1. CCA & DRR Some Myths, Assumptions, Realities&ChallengesLaunch of GOJ/EU/UNEP Climate Change Adaptation and Disaster Risk Reduction Project & Communication and Public Education CampaignRemarks FJMcDonald, Visiting Scholar, YorkU WORLD MET DAY 2012 ''Climate Change: We have to change''

2. "Climate change is expected to cause more severe and more frequent natural hazards. As our cities and coasts grow more vulnerable, these hazards can lead to disasters that are far worse than those we have seen to date. We have a moral, social and economic obligation to build resilience by 2015. Implementing the Hyogo Framework for Action will also help us reach the Millennium Development Goals." Ban Ki-moon, Secretary-General of the United Nations, 2007

4. Overview. DRR and CCA There is significant convergence and synergy between current initiatives to address disaster related capacity including risk reduction, the sustainability challenges and climate change adaptation. Managing risk, coping with disasters and shifting to sustainable (low carbon or carbon neutral) paths to development are significant societal, economic and cultural challenges by themselves, Climate change risks complicate the planning & implementation of risk, crisis focussed and sustainability agendas and active awareness building and facilitation at all levels is required.

5. “Natural Hazard / Risk Reduction” networks exist predating the emergence of CC as a global threat. DRR / ISDR stakeholders have sought to expand the knowledge base into human behaviour / societal responses to risk and to both coping and adaptation mechanisms. Research, innovative knowledge networks, capacity building is required at all levels Human coping with risks go beyond the range of climate change! Jamaica is exposed to a range of significant threats from NON HYDROMET (incl seismic) hazards!! The CCA/DRR actors and stakeholders therefore need to recognize that focusing only on Hydromet events is RISKY.

6. CCA and DRR overlap on Hydrometeorological Events?

7. Jan 2010 Quake Regional Setting + UN Capacity Challenge

8. Natural hazards in the CaribbeanFrom: Munich Re, 2002.

9. Myth No 1Risk Reduction is an area of total SUCCESS? Systems and Capacities for addressing UNCERTAINTY and RISK are not yet fully or adequately developed. INDIAN OCEAN TSUNAMI 2004 Hurricane KATRINA 2006 Financial System 2008 Iceland Volcanic Episode / Civil Aviation 2010 Great Tohoku Earthquake, Tsunami, & Nuclear Crisis 2011 Hurricane IVAN 2004 / Haiti Quake 2010

10. Myth No 2 DRR/HFA Targets will be attained by 2015 The UNISDR HFA Framework / Process has seen the strengthening of many ongoing initiatives, and much new work. National and Regional Platforms which have the potential to create Resilience across exposed communities + vulnerable sectors remain low priorities in many jurisdictions. The Caribbean National and Regional Platforms

11. Myth No 3 Climate Change may not be a fact or as serious a threat as forecast The Global Scientific Community / IPCC has continued to accrete evidence to support the CC projections and today's proceedings will elaborate on their implications for Jamaica, the Caribbean and human society?

12. Managing the risks: Sea Level Rise (SLR) in tropical Small Island Developing States Risk Management/ Adaptation • Early warning systems (Met) • Maintenance of Drainage (Parishes / Works) • Protection of assets / lifelines Insurance + Regional risk pooling) • Retreat /relocation Risk Factors • Wetland and Ecosystem change, shoreline erosion • Coastal Inundation • Salt water Intrusion • Coastal Populations • Tourism Economies

13. Myth No 4 CC, Mitigation, Adaptation , and DRR can be left to the scientists or public sector or the next generation? • Resilience and capacity building related to these challenges require complex, joined up actions, innovative approaches, based on SOUND SCIENCE, and foresighting to change human, corporate and societal behavior. • Just as war is said to be too important to be left to generals it has been suggested that CCA is far too important to be left to scientists & DRR is too important to be left to Emergency + Civil Defence entities and Humanitarian organisations ?

14. Prof Ian Davis.. A Societal “Safety” Chain could include ..

16. The strategies that can help manage disaster risk now and also help improve people’s livelihoods and well-being are outside of the traditional remit of Emergency offices? • The most effective strategies offer development benefits in the relatively near • term and reduce vulnerability over the longer term

17. Enable Supportive Policy, Legal & Institutional Frameworks Society Improve Structures, Mechanisms & Procedures Organization Complexity Increase Skills & Knowledge Individual Time “Capacity Development”

18. The traditional Disaster/Emergency management agenda is influenced by a “response / relief” focus and is regarded by many as too REACTIVE Risk reduction / climate change adaptation and resilience building require a PROACTIVE culture , the ability to engage the planning / development community; effective narrow and broadcasting of sensitively designed and packaged information. Bridging / uniting these cultures requires sensitive joined up action and structured plans. The partners in this activity cluster, UNEP, the EU the GOJ agencies will have taken a challenge and deserve all the support possible from citizens, civil society and the private sector! The services of ‘’translators’’, champions, cultural icons, trusted / honest brokers from the media and other professional backgrounds will also facilitate the change implied in the Theme for World Met Day

19. Thank you Gracias Merci franklin.jmcd@gmail.com 5/20/2011