All countries need to significantly cut fossil fuel emissions and transition to a low-carbon economy, if we are to have any chance of achieving our goal of reducing global temperatures. 1.5 degrees above pre-industrial levels.
This continues to be the message of the UN, but with so many countries suffering the consequences of more frequent extreme weather events that threaten food security and global stability, the More urgent needs to be done to help nations adapt to an increasingly hostile planet.
Here are five tried and tested ways that countries can become more resilient in the face of climate change.
1 Early warning system
Research shows that a 24-hour warning of an upcoming heatwave or storm can reduce damage afterwards by 30%. An early warning system that provides climate forecasting is one of the most cost-effective adaptation measures, providing a total benefit of about $9 for every dollar invested.
With timely warnings, people can act soon by blocking doors with sandbags as a precaution against flooding, hoarding resources or, in extreme cases, evacuating their homes.
In Bangladesh, for example, even as climate change becomes increasingly severe, the number of deaths from cyclones has decreased 100-fold over the past 40 years, mainly due to improved early warnings.
But today, one third of the global population is still not fully covered by early warning systems. And while efforts have largely focused on hurricanes, floods and droughts, other hazards like heatwaves and wildfires will need to be better integrated as they become more common and intense.
Earlier this year, the United Nations Secretary-General tasked the World Meteorological Organization with leadership develop an action plan to ensure everyone in the world is on early warning within the next five years. The plan will be presented at the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP 27) next month.
2 Ecosystem Restoration
UN Decade of Ecosystem Restoration launched by the United Nations Environment Programme.UNEP) and partners in 2021 sparked a global movement to restore the world’s ecosystems. This global recovery effort will not only absorb carbon but also enhance ‘ecosystem services’ to protect the world from its most devastating impacts.
In cities, restoring urban forests cools the air and reduces heat waves. On a normal sunny day, a one tree gives the same cooling effect as two domestic air conditioners running for 24 hours.
On the coasts, mangroves provide the sea’s natural defenses from storm surge by reducing the height and strength of waves. Furthermore, protecting mangroves per kilometer is 1,000 times less expensive than building breakwaters.
At high altitudes, re-greening of mountain slopes protects communities from climate-induced landslides and avalanches. On the island of Anjouan in the Comoros, for example, deforestation dries up the land and turns forests into deserts. With support from UNEP, a project set out to plant 1.4 million trees over four years to combat erosion and retain water and nutrients in the soil.
3 Climate Responsive Infrastructure
Climate-resilient infrastructure refers to assets and systems such as roads, bridges, and power lines that can withstand shocks from extreme climate impacts. Infrastructure is responsible for 88% of the forecast costs for climate change adaptation.
A World Bank report shows that investments in climate-resilient infrastructure in low- and middle-income countries could generate a total benefit of around $4.2 trillion. , about $4 for every dollar invested. The reason is very simple. More resilient infrastructure assets will pay for themselves as their lifecycles are extended and their services are more reliable.
Tools to encourage investment in climate-resilient infrastructure include regulatory standards such as building codes, spatial planning frameworks such as vulnerability maps, and strong communication dynamics to ensure the private sector is aware of climate risks, forecasts and uncertainties.
4 Water supply and security
In many ways, the story of climate change is the story of water, whether it’s floods, droughts, rising sea levels, or even wildfires. By 2030, one in two people will face severe water shortages.
Investment in more efficient irrigation systems will be crucial, as agriculture accounts for 70% of all global freshwater withdrawals. In urban centers, around 100-120 billion cubic meters of water could be saved globally by 2030 by reducing leakage. Governments are being encouraged to develop holistic water management plans, known as Integrated Water Resources Management, that take into account the entire water cycle: from source to distribution, treatment, reuse use and return to the environment.
Research shows that investments in rainwater harvesting systems need to be sustained to make them more widely available. In the town of Bagamoyo, Tanzania, for example, rising sea levels and drought caused by reduced rainfall have caused wells to dry up and become saline. Left with no other option, children from the local Kingani School had to drink salt water, which resulted in headaches, sores and less attendance at school.
With UNEP support, the government has begun construction of a rainwater collection system that includes roof gutters and a series of large tanks to store water. The illness soon began to subside, and the children returned to school.
5 Long-term planning
Climate adaptation solutions will be more effective if integrated into long-term strategies and policies. National Adaptation Plans are an important governance mechanism for countries to plan for the future and strategically prioritize adaptation needs.
An important part of these plans is to consider climate scenarios for decades into the future and combine these scenarios with vulnerability assessments for different sectors. These can assist in planning and guiding government decisions about investments, changing regulatory and fiscal frameworks, and raising public awareness.
About 70 developed countries National Adaptation Plan, but this number is growing rapidly. UNEP is currently assisting 20 Member States in developing their plans, which can also be used to improve adaptation elements in the Country-Identified Contributions – a central part of the UNEP. Paris Agreement.
