Incorporating Climate-related Risks into Development Planning: the U.S Approach

1. Incorporating Climate-related Risks into Development Planning: the U.S Approach Ms. Ko Barrett Director, Global Climate Change Program US Agency for International Development SBSTA Adaptation Workshop June 18, 2004

2. U.S. Adaptation Efforts • Domestic Initiatives: • Research, Assessment, etc. • International Activities: • Cooperative Research, Observations, etc. • Development Assistance SBSTA Adaptation Workshop June 18, 2004

3. Where Should We Focus Efforts? • Education and outreach • On-the-ground activities SBSTA Adaptation Workshop June 18, 2004

4. Education and Outreach for Project Managers and Partners • Why? • Raise awareness of vulnerabilities and adaptation options in project planning • Critical to long-term sustainability and resilience of development assistance efforts • How? • Provide ‘carrots’ rather than ‘sticks’ • What? • General climate change information • Project-specific decision tree and tools SBSTA Adaptation Workshop June 18, 2004

5. The Guidance Document • Provides introduction to climate vulnerability and adaptation for the uninitiated • Focused on info needed to assess project options • Prescriptive on approaches that can be taken • Provides links to information, tools and methods • Designed to be broadly applicable SBSTA Adaptation Workshop June 18, 2004

6. Outline for Guidance Document 1. Introduction 2.Framework 3. Primer on climate change and impacts 4. Addressing climate variability 5. Developing scenarios for climate change SBSTA Adaptation Workshop June 18, 2004

7. Outline for Guidance Document 6. Coastal resources 7. Agriculture 8. Water resources 9. Socioeconomic Scenarios 10. Evaluating Adaptation Options 11. Conclusions SBSTA Adaptation Workshop June 18, 2004

8. What is best way to approach adaptation actions? • Sectoral assessment, priority setting, project design • Changing the way planned projects are implemented SBSTA Adaptation Workshop June 18, 2004

9. Changing the way planned projects are implemented • Immediate and opportunistic action • Allows for broader reach and mainstreaming of adaptation actions in DA portfolio • Builds on established SD goals • Project focus provides for more concrete advice (easy entry) • Starting with pilots in agriculture, coastal mgmt and water SBSTA Adaptation Workshop June 18, 2004

10. Framework • Identify project vulnerabilities • Identify available project options* • Analyze performance of options under current climate and future change scenarios • Re-examine socio-economic scenarios, if needed • Identify preferred option SBSTA Adaptation Workshop June 18, 2004

11. Still in testing phase…Your comments are welcome! SBSTA Adaptation Workshop June 18, 2004

12. Key Contacts • Joel Smith Stratus Consulting T: +1 (303) 381-8218 E-mail: Jsmith@stratusconsulting.com • Ko Barrett, Director, Climate Change Program, Bureau for Economic Growth, Agriculture and Trade, USAID T: +1 (202) 712-1672 E-mail: Kbarrett@usaid.gov SBSTA Adaptation Workshop June 18, 2004