Climate Change

Changes to weather patterns and rises in sea level as a result of human-induced climate change will have a significant effect on livelihoods, natural resources and infrastructure throughout the world. While the effects are global, the impacts will be local. These impacts will be felt most keenly in those societies and communities that are already the most vulnerable and disadvantaged. HTSPE has a long history of working with these communities and, as the effects of climate change become apparent, we will continue to work with these communities to help them adapt to these changes.

It is now widely accepted that human activity is having a profound impact on global climate, with associated changes to precipitation, temperature and sea levels. While there is a reasonable appreciation of how these changes in climate will impact at a global or regional level, there is often little interpretation at national or sub-national level. Analysis of available information is crucial in assisting national governments and the donor community to best target policies, and to make interventions and strategies climate-sensitive. Through the design and implementation of National Adaptation Programmes of Action (NAPA) and Pilot Programs for Country Resilience (PPCR), HTSPE has been working with national governments and policy makers to strengthen their approaches to climate change.

Assisting communities to adapt to climate change is also vitally important. While some strategies can be classed as ‘no-regret’ (sound policies that should be adopted regardless of the magnitude of climate change) there will also be the need for more nuanced approaches. HTSPE has been involved in the design and implementation of Local Adaptation Plans of Action (LAPA), working with communities to generate agreed paths to become more climate-resilient.

We also recognise the benefits of sharing knowledge and experience between communities, at national and regional level, as well as advocating South-South transfer. Furthermore, we recognise that climate change is a cross-cutting issue that will affect how we operate in a range of technical fields, and that adaptation needs to be embedded within all development programmes.

In developing economies there is an opportunity to break the link between economic growth and increased demand for fossil fuels and the unsustainable use of natural resources. Through supporting ‘green’ alternatives to development norms, we can help raise people out of poverty, while limiting further contributions to greenhouse gas emissions. Examples of low carbon growth include:

investment in renewable energy and energy efficiency which can enhance energy security as well as empower local communities and vulnerable groups (particularly women);
low-input agriculture, as opposed to intensive and industrialised systems which rely on fertilisers and other external inputs to maintain soil quality, boosts food security and assists communities to adapt to a changing climate.

Furthermore, sustainable and effective management of existing carbon stores, such as forests, and ensuring that the economic benefits from such management are shared throughout the community, is also crucial to limiting releases of greenhouse gases to the environment as economies grow.

Nepal: National Adaptation Plan of Action for Climate Change (NAPA)

Climate change will severely affect the agricultural sector, which is central to both the economy of Nepal and to the livelihoods of the poorest in the Nepali population. Pre-emptive action is required on climate adaptation to identify and prepare for climate thresholds, so that climate impacts do not reduce food security and lead to poverty tipping points for the agriculture-dependant population.

HTSPE, through the Livelihoods Resource Centre (www.livelihoodsrc.org), undertook the design of the National Adaptation Plan of Action which involved the following activities:

capacity building of the NAPA team and initiation of the expanded NAPA process;
drafting of the donor compact on climate change and development;
advice on NAPA preparation, assessments and priority-setting;
planning and delivery of the Nepal Day of the Regional Climate Change Conference, providing guidance on how to gather, develop and present evidence and information on climate effects and adaptation needs in Nepal;
climate change awareness and the facilitation of cross-Government collaboration on adaptation planning;
building an expert consortium to support the expanded NAPA and follow-up activities; and
assistance to stakeholders in the development of a coherent and analytical approach to climate change – support for developing an analytical basis for both the expanded NAPA and government planning and implementation of resource deployment under the Pilot Programme for Climate Resilience.

See more details in the links below.

Afghanistan: Review of the Socio-Economic Impacts of Climate Change

Climate change in Afghanistan is expected to have a significant impact on economic growth. The capacity of Afghanistan to manage climate variability is weak - not helped by poor climate observation which makes it difficult to model or predict extreme weather events. Even current levels of relatively predictable weather shocks keep many poor people in a cycle of poverty. The main objectives of this assignment were to contribute to national/regional debate on economic and social costs/benefits of actions on mitigation and adaptation and to raise awareness to the urgency of the climate change challenges and its potential socio-economic impact.

There were two components to the assignment:

Scoping - a review of existing literature and models was undertaken to obtain a country-level analysis of climate change, and what planned mitigation and adaptation strategies were in place.
Country Assessment - following a number of trips to the country by the project team a more nuanced assessment of the local impacts of climate change, including an analysis of the mitigation strategies.

This led to a report that covered:

an economic and social assessment of the impacts of climate change for Afghanistan;
cost-benefit analysis of the various adaption and mitigation strategies; and
policy recommendations (including timescales) to support government, donors, the private sector and NGOs to implement policies to mitigate and adapt to climate change in Afghanistan.

ACP: Analytical Support for the Global Climate Change Alliance

Initiated in 2007 by the European Commission, the Global Climate Change Alliance (GCCA) intends to deepen dialogue, cooperation and enhance support on climate change between the European and developing countries in Africa, the Caribbean and the Pacific (ACP).

The specific objective of this work was to provide analytical support to the implementation phase of the GCCA. An initial desk study of 15 countries was carried out, analysing the relevant and accessible information (including National Adaptation Programmes of Action, Country Strategy Papers and Indicative Programmes, PRSPs, and Country Environment Profiles). In the cases where EC Delegations had prepared initial concept notes on GCCA support possibilities, these were carefully assessed in the wider context of more general country assistance documents along with an assessment of the integration of climate issues in the country's development strategy. On this basis solid recommendations for GCCA support could be made.

Following this study, four countries were selected for further in-depth analysis. Two missions were undertaken, each covering two countries (two in Africa and one country in each of the Caribbean and the Pacific).

Global: Pilot Study of Climate Change Screening of the EC's Development Cooperation Portfolio

The development interventions of national governments and their development partners have the potential to both contribute to, and be affected by, the impacts of climate change.

HTSPE undertook a study to establish the areas of the EC's aid portfolio, which are potentially at risk due to climate change, and further developed and tested tools and approaches to respond to the challenges of climate change on development co-operation.

Specifically this included developing and testing a process to screen EC interventions for:

their likely vulnerability to climate change impacts;
their potential direct and indirect consequences on the capacity to adapt to climate change or climate change mitigation potential of a sector/country.

The analysis also provided recommendations to effectively respond to climate change challenges in development co-operation.

Tajikistan : Technical Assistance to the Start-up of the Pilot Programme for Climate Resilience (PPCR)

Tajikistan has accepted an offer to participate in the Pilot Program for Climate Resilience (PPCR) initiative lead by the World Bank. The objectives of the PPCR are: to pilot and demonstrate approaches for integration of climate risk and resilience into development policies and planning; to strengthen capacities at the national levels to integrate climate resilience into development planning; and to scale-up and leverage climate resilient investment, building upon other ongoing initiatives and to enable learning by doing and sharing of lessons at the country, regional and global levels.

HTSPE is providing on-going technical assistance to the Government of Tajikistan in preparing and overseeing a country-owned proposal and funding request for government-executed tasks under the PPCR. Included in this is a governance component, to explore and identify possible institutional structures and mechanisms for oversight and implementation of the PPCR in Tajikistan, to make recommendations on positioning the PPCR and setting up governance structures, and on the requirements for technical assistance based on assessments of capacity.

To view more detail or additional projects please click on the links below:
National Adaptation Plan of Action for Climate Change
Evidence on Demand - Core Services
Clima East: Support to Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation in Russia and ENP East Countries