Second National Communication to the United Nations Framework
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FEDERATED STATES OF MICRONESIA Second National Communication to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change Front Cover Photograph: © David Kirkland, Image courtesy of the South Pacific Tourism Organisation. Foreward Climate change is, without question, the gravest threat to my people’s welfare, livelihoods, and general security. It is the survival issue of our time. Our sustainable development is threatened by the harmful effects of excessive greenhouse gas emissions in the atmosphere, effects which poison our root crops, destroy our reef systems, and drive many of our people from their ancestral homes. All of us, developed and developing countries, have a stake in finding ways that minimize manmade damage to Mother Earth. Climate change is a global issue that must be addressed by the international community and thus the need for us to communicate to our sister States around the world in this report (Second National Communication) as a plea for our generation to work together and do what we must for the survival of our planet. Since the last communication, FSM has made humble progress to do our part even though we do realize that success can only come with tangible reduction in greenhouse gases (GHG) by our big polluters. We will not stop advocating at national, regional and international level for emissions reductions in any way, shape or form to ensure our survival. At the local level, we have developed a climate change policy and are mainstreaming it into some of our key sectors and we will continue to do this. Despite negligible GHG emissions, FSM continues to strive to meet our targets for renewable sources of energy, ambitious though they may be to some. This Second National Communication is not only an exercise to fulfill our reporting obligations under the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). More importantly, this report has confirmed with strong evidence that what our people have been facing is real and we will continue to face this should we continue neglecting our duty as stewards of our Mother Earth. It is without doubt that FSM emissions of greenhouse gases are negligible but that our people and our islands are most vulnerable to the multi-faceted impacts of climate change. I hereby re-commit FSM Government to our national efforts to meet our goals in country and at the international level. I take this opportunity to thank the Global Environment Facility for financial and technical support to undertake the GHG inventory and assessments. I commend the efforts of the numerous staff and experts at national and state level. And finally I wish to express gratitude to all the people of FSM and communities that welcomed us into your lands and shared your thoughts with us so as to successfully produce this important report. H.E. Manny Mori President Federated States of Micronesia FEDERATED STATES OF MICRONESIA Second National Communication to the i United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change JOSEPH ‘Joe’ KONNO November 4, 1954 – May 24, 2010 This publication is dedicated to the fond memory of Joseph (Joe) Konno in recognition of his life-long devotion to environmental protection and climate change in particular. He was well known not only in the Pacific region but globally, as a passionate advocate of issues on negative impacts of climate change. Joe’s passion on climate change issues might be because of his being an island boy, born on the low-lying atoll island of Polowat in Chuuk State. Although having lived in and visited many countries, his heart remained in the islands, bringing him back to his beloved State of Chuuk and serving in the Government for more than 10 years as Director and Advisor of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Although secure in his position as long-serving public servant, Joe was never hesitant to be part of new and emerging issues in environmental protection and conservation. He was always up for new challenges and never compromising his push for seeing the most effective way to address issues. Such an attitude and contagious energy enabled him to jump into things and push and pulled people towards success. In 1991 when some of us were only just starting to see clips of climate change on TV, Joe was already taking the extra steps to learn the issues attending trainings and getting entrenched in the numerous workshops and conferences on the issue. Groundbreaking initiatives such as the Climate Change Adaptation Project (CLIMAP) saw Joe in the midst of it all and advocating for recognition of island vulnerabilities. You can always count on Joe to do what needs to be done and especially to say what needs to be said and of course this sometimes gets him into trouble with the powers that may be but his reliability was unwavering. If he put his mind to it, he would make it work. Such commitment and enthusiasm is certainly missed as small islands continue to face up to the challenges of climate change. As FSM is poised to launch its most comprehensive national communication, it is befitting that we take a moment to honor Joe and his legacy in this very important issue for the FSM. ii Second National Communication to the FEDERATED STATES OF MICRONESIA United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change Executive Summary The Federated States of Micronesia (FSM) submitted its Initial National Communication in October, 1999. This Second National Communication uses it as the baseline to document the increases in FSM’s vulnerability to climate change, and changes in its greenhouse gas emissions, since the Initial National Communication was prepared. This National Communication also reports on the efforts FSM is making to reduce its emissions and to identify and implement adaptation options that reduce climate risks. Continuing and new information and research needs are also described, as are the ongoing efforts to strengthen FSM’s capacity to manage climate risks by increasing awareness, enhancing knowledge and skills, strengthening institutions and preparing and implementing policies and plans designed to reduce climate risks. FSM’s environment and natural resources are considered to be the nation’s living wealth. Maintaining the habitats and ecosystems that nurture these is vital for improving the quality of life of its people and sustaining the country’s rich traditions. However, except for the offshore fisheries, there are limited financially exploitable resources in the FSM. As a result, a significant portion of FSM’s revenue comes from Compact funding. Other sources of revenue include taxes, foreign aid and grants, and fishing fees. Agricultural production is relatively small, but is still the primary resource traded domestically. There is a small export market, mainly to the neighboring island groups, of the locally valued products of sakau (kava), betelnut and citrus. Climate change remains an important policy priority for the FSM. In the past 10 years or so FSM has made considerable progress in documenting the climate-related risks faced by the nation. Substantial advances have also been made in developing relevant policies and plans, and in establishing and strengthening National and State institutions with mandates for managing climate and related risks, including disaster risk management. The Nationwide Climate Change Policy, the National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan, the National Energy Policy and State Action Plans, and the National Action Plan to Combat Land Degradation are but a few of the National and State-level plans and policies that the FSM is implementing in order to address major threats to the sustainability and economic and social viability of the country. FSM is presently preparing a Joint National Action Plan for climate change adaptation (CCA) and disaster risk management (DRM). FSM already has a Multi-State Hazard Mitigation Plan. Considerable effort has been put into undertaking vulnerability and adaptation assessments, at a variety of spatial scales and for various sectors, with a focus on food security as a priority theme. However, there is still not a comprehensive understanding of vulnerability to climate change at National, State, island or community levels, assessments are not being informed by the results of systematic analyses of current let alone future risks, and identification of appropriate adaptation measures remains at a very generic level. FSM has yet to develop the full range of sector level policies and strategies that will ensure climate change considerations are reflected in a meaningful way in all its development and social economic plans and activities. Successfully achieving climate change adaptation within the FSM may be facilitated by three initiatives: (i) establishing FSM as a National Implementing Entity in order to improve access to international funding, thereby increasing the flow of financial resources to the FSM and its States; (ii) forming international partnerships to aid adaptation efforts; and (iii) continuing the development of internal policies and legislation focused on building resilient and sustainable communities, including ensuring that development efforts do not make FSM more at risk to climate change and making a developer liable for actions that reduce the resilience of a community and/or island. FEDERATED STATES OF MICRONESIA Second National Communication to the iii United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change The second greenhouse emissions inventory for FSM used data from a 2000 survey, with 1994 data used as the baseline. The total amount of CO2 emitted