Issues Paper for the Development of a Climate Change Policy, Strategy
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Climate Change Issues Paper Towards the development of a Climate Change Policy, Strategy and Implementation Plan for Saint Vincent and the Grenadines November 2018 Climate Change Issues Paper: Towards the Development of a Climate Change Policy, Strategy and Implementation Plan for Saint Vincent and the Grenadines under the Organisation for Eastern Caribbean States Regional Disaster Vulnerability Reduction Project Contract No: 1732/2018 November 26, 2018 Submitted to: Ministry of Finance, Economic Planning, Sustainable Development & Information Technology Government of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Kingstown, Saint Vincent Prepared by: Caribbean Natural Resources Institute (CANARI) Organisation Address: 105 Twelfth Street, Barataria, Trinidad and Tobago Telephone number: +1 (868) 638-6062 Fax number: +1 (868) 638-1788 CANARI Team Leader: Dr. Natalie Boodram Email: [email protected] Issues Paper for the Development of Climate Change Policy, Strategy and Implementation Plan for Saint Vincent and the 2 Grenadines Table of Contents 1 1 Table of Contents 3 Acronyms 4 1. Executive Summary 5 2. Introduction 6 3. Purpose and Scope of the Issues Paper 6 4. Methodology 7 5. Country Overview: Saint Vincent & the Grenadines 8 6. Policy and Institutional Context 10 7. Key Issues and Challenges 19 8. Recommendations 41 9. References 44 10. Appendix – List of Participants for Targeted Interviews 48 Issues Paper for the Development of Climate Change Policy, Strategy and Implementation Plan for Saint Vincent and the 3 Grenadines Acronyms CANARI Caribbean Natural Resources Institute CARICOM Caribbean Community Cartagena Convention Convention for the Protection and Development of the Marine Environment of the Wider Caribbean Region CBD United Nations Convention on Biodiversity CCA Climate Change Adaptation CCCCC Caribbean Community Climate Change Centre CCI Caribbean Challenge Initiative CCORAL Caribbean Climate Online Risk and Adaptation Tool CCRF Code of Conduct for Responsible Fisheries CDEMA Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency CEP Caribbean Environment Programme under the United Nations Environment Programme CPACC Caribbean Planning for Adaptation to Climate Change Project CWSA Central Water and Sewage Agency ECROP Eastern Caribbean Regional Ocean Policy EIA Environmental Impact Assessment EPSDD Economic Planning and Sustainable Development Division DRR Disaster Risk Reduction GCF Green Climate Fund GDP Global Domestic Product GHG Greenhouse Gas GoSVG Government of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines IICA InterAmerican Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture IPCC Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change INDCs Intended Nationally Determined Contributions (to the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions under the UNFCCC Paris Agreement) INC Initial National Communication on Climate Change MARPOL International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships MEA Multilateral Environmental Agreements NAP National Adaptation Plan NDA National Designated Authority NBSAP National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan NEAP National Energy Action Plan NES National Environmental Summary NESDP National Economic and Social Development Plan NPDP National Physical Development Plan OECS Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States RDVRP Regional Disaster Vulnerability Reduction Project SAMOA Pathway Small Island Developing States Accelerated Modalities of Action Pathway SDGs Sustainable Development Goals SFDRR Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction SIDS Small Island Developing State SLR Sea Level Rise SNC Second National Communication on Climate Change SPACC Special Programme on Adaptation to Climate Change Project SST Sea Surface Temperature SVG Saint Vincent and the Grenadines SWMU Solid Waste Management Unit UNCCD United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification UNCLOS United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea UNDP United Nations Development Programme UNEP United Nations Environment Programme UNFCCC United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change UNISDR United Nations International Strategy for Disaster Reduction VINLEC St. Vincent Electricity Company WSP Water Safety Plan Issues Paper for the Development of Climate Change Policy, Strategy and Implementation Plan for Saint Vincent and the 4 Grenadines 1. Executive Summary The Caribbean Natural Resources Institute (CANARI) has been contracted to provide technical assistance to the Government of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Ministry of Finance, Economic Planning, Sustainable Development and Information Technology for the ‘Development of a Climate Change Policy, Strategy and Implementation Plan’ from July 2018 to May 2019. This technical assistance project is one component of the Organisation for Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) Regional Disaster Vulnerability Reduction Project funded by the World Bank and the Climate Investment Fund’s Pilot Program for Climate Resilience. To inform the policy development process, this Issues Paper presents a synthesis of major concerns relevant in addressing climate change in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines (SVG) to serve as basis for discussions at stakeholder consultations. It outlines the policy context for climate change, including existing national and sectoral policies and plans, legislation and multilateral environmental agreements to which SVG is signatory. It also identifies key gaps, needs, opportunities and challenges related to climate change adaptation, mitigation and loss and damage. Key concerns identified for the development of a Climate Change Policy, Strategy and Implementation Plan for SVG include: • Strengthening of institutional frameworks is needed, especially via updating existing legislation, policies and plans to include climate change considerations. • There are limited mechanisms for intersectoral coordination and enabling wide stakeholder participation. • Technical and organisational capacity building to support climate change mainstreaming in sectors is critical. • A comprehensive system of research, monitoring and knowledge management is needed, including databases and decision support tools to help provide reliable data for decision-making. • Limited funding is available through the Government to support the added responsibilities and measures needed to address climate change, and additional financing will need to be identified and mobilised to enable climate change adaptation and mitigation. The process for development of the Climate Change Policy, Strategy and Implementation Plan for SVG therefore must focus on addressing these key cross-cutting issues and other specific sectoral issues. Synergies between the policy development process and other key climate change initiatives, including the development of a National Adaptation Plan (NAP) and the Green Climate Fund (GCF) readiness process intended to strengthen the National Designated Authority in SVG, also need to be leveraged to ensure that each build on findings and lessons learned from the other processes and ensure policy coherence. Issues Paper for the Development of Climate Change Policy, Strategy and Implementation Plan for Saint Vincent and the 5 Grenadines 2. Introduction The Government of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines has identified the need to strengthen institutional frameworks to encourage climate change adaptation (CCA), mitigation and disaster risk reduction (DRR). Currently, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines (SVG) lacks a comprehensive policy and the institutional arrangements to guide national climate change and DRR efforts and has yet to identify clear priorities and appropriate measures to address the impacts of climate change and related disasters. A suitable climate change policy, strategy and implementation plan are needed to provide this enabling institutional environment for action on climate change and enhance sustainable development. The Caribbean Natural Resources Institute (CANARI) has been contracted to provide technical assistance to the Government of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Ministry of Finance, Economic Planning, Sustainable Development and Information Technology for the ‘Development of a Climate Change Policy, Strategy and Implementation Plan’, in support of mainstreaming climate change resilience into development planning in SVG. This technical assistance project is one component of the OECS Regional Disaster Vulnerability Reduction Project funded by the World Bank and the Climate Investment Fund’s Pilot Program for Climate Resilience. The key deliverables under this project include: • Issues paper, which outlines the policy context, gaps and needs, opportunities and challenges in addressing climate change in SVG, to serve as basis for discussion at stakeholder consultations. • Climate Change Policy to provide overarching guidance on national priorities, measures for climate change adaptation and mitigation and the institutional framework for climate change planning, implementation and financing • Climate Change Strategy and Implementation Plan, which will operationalise the policy and include a Monitoring and Evaluation Plan to enable identification of key lessons, outcomes, opportunities and barriers in implementation. The approach to this technical assistance project includes a comprehensive desk review, targeted interviews and a series of in-country consultations for stakeholder inputs into the policy development process. This will be coupled with provision of technical support to the Ministry of Finance, Economic Planning, Sustainable Development and Information Technology to facilitate the Cabinet’s