Global Environmental Conventions

Synergies and Coordination in German Technical Cooperation

Suhel al-Janabi,

German Technical Co-Operation, GTZ

Helsinki, Finland,

July 2003

The Rio Conventions �in German Development Cooperation

• Intervention priorities in the Program are inter alia food security and agricultural reforms as well as environmental protection and safeguarding access to resources.

• Since 1998 Sustainable Development is the overall concept in German development cooperation.

• The „Program of Action 2015“ is the contribution of the German government to the goal of halving the proportion of people living in extreme poverty by 2015 (MDG`s).

Environmental Conventions

Rotterdam Convention (1998) and Stockholm Convention (2001) on �toxic chemicals

“Pilot Project

Chemical Safety”

Convention on

Biological Diversity

1992

UN Framework

Convention on

Climate Change

(UNFCCC) 1992

Kyoto Protocol

1997

Montreal Protocol 1987

Phase out of Ozon Depleting Substances

UN Convention to

Combat Desertification

(UNCCD) 1994

“Implementing the

Biodiversity Convention”

“Climate Protection Programme”

“PROKLIMA”

Protecting the

Ozone Layer

“Combating Desertification”

Public and Private Partners and Networks in Developing, Transitional and Industrialised countries

“Implementing the

Biodiversity Convention”

“Climate Protection Programme”

“Combating Desertification”

Convention projects in� German Technical Cooperation

Advising the Implementation of International Conventions

Institution Building, Capacity Building, Training, Networking

​

“PROKLIMA”

Protecting the

Ozone Layer

​

Combating

Desertification

​

​

Climate Protection�Programme

(CaPP)

​

Implementing the

Biodiversity Convention

​

Chemical Safety

​

Regional Alliances for information and expertise pooling

​

Phase out of toxic Methyl Bromide�in agriculture

​

Conversion of industrial production lines and consumption patterns

Implementation of National Action Programmes to combat desertification

Sustainable manage- ment of transboundary natural resources

Pilot projects for community based resource management

Reduction of greenhouse gas emissions in energy, transport, industry and waste management

”Clean development mechanism” (CDM)

​

Adaptation to climate change in most vulnerable countries

Information manage-ment for Biodiversity �and Biosafety

Access to genetic resources / benefit-sharing

Traditional knowlege and use, IPR

Implementing the ecosystem approach

Risk reduction for hazardous chemicals �

Poison control centres �

Disposal of obsolete chemicals

�Dioxin emission reduction

Structure of the GTZ�

synergies

Regional �departments

Sector and convention projects

�Regional and country projects

Sector �departments

synergies

synergies

Project A

Project B

Project C

Project 1

Project 2

Project 3

Rio-Synergies: �Projects and Initiatives

Mauritania

• Ongoing project
• Synergies between CBD and CCD

- Pilot project in progress

- Mainly government advice

- In preparation: protection of fishing grounds and avoidance of degradation in the coastal area

China

• Project idea in pipeline (SEPA)

- Source area of the Yellow river

• Damaged ecosystems and endangered biodiversity
• Land erosion, reduction in water regulation ability
• Causes due to global climate changes (?) and increased human activities
• Cooperation with CaPP and BIODIV under consideration

Tunisia

• Common FCCC / CCD-project in pipeline
• Governmental advice in the following sectors:
• Adaptation to climate change
• Implementing the CDM
• Combating desertification
• Linking departments and issues through GTZ

Common Action of �Convention Projects (1)

=> Revitalisation of environmental issues by integration into other DC fields and vice versa => poverty alleviation, PRSP’s

• General aim

• Larger attention to conventions through synergies.

• Working with a holistic approach.

• Assistance in institutional strengthening.

• Due to reduced interest in environmental issues:�New approaches, co-operations and partnerships to regain attention are required!

Common Action of �Convention Projects (2)

• Concrete actions

• Regular internal convention meetings.

• Exhibits at environmental fairs

• Presentation to public e.g. at EXPO 2000.

• Common presentation and discussions at �GTZ internal expert meetings (EFTA).

• Publications on all conventions projects.

• Common concept paper and basic studies.

• Concerted and harmonised PR-work.

Publications

Example:�One formula fitting two conventions?

Vulnerability of natural systems

Endangerment + = Risk

Vulnerability of human systems

To be managed

Interfaces between �FCCC and CCD – Priority Areas

• Coordination of strategies for risk management

• Identification of indicators for vulnerability of human and natural systems concerning desertification.

• Identification of regional potentials of endangerment with regard to desertification.

• Early warning systems (Monitoring).

• Economic risk assessment with regard to the loss of sustainable development processes and economic loss adjustment.

• Identification of priorities for adaptation measures.

Options for Actions �in Arid Environments (1)

• Sustainable resource management (community-based).

• Cooperation of civil society and government

• “Advanced“ early warning systems.

• Provision of climate relevant information� for the population.

• Risk management by indicators for vulnerability.

Options for Actions� in Arid Environments (2)

• Compilation of Best-Practices of �“adaptation strategies to climate variabilities“.

• Enhancement of soil fertility.

• Soil and water conservating activities.

Links between� FCCC und CBD (1)

Example sinks:

• Rules for sinks in the CDM are still under discussion; effects on biodiversity and natural ecosystems are not yet discussed in an comprehensive manner.

• Information exchange between FCCC and CBD convention projects regarding sinks in the framework development cooperation.

Links between� FCCC und CBD (2)

Recommendations of a study from the Federal Environmental Agency:

• Impacts of FCCC-activities depend on the selection of practices; management options; biological and physical / socio-economic conditions.

• Ecosystem approach (CBD) can provide useful guidance to FCCC.

• List with sites of high interest for biodiversity from CBD.

• Identification, Monitoring and Reporting should be adjusted.

• Information exchange as well as tools and instruments should be strengthened.

• Improved cooperation on impacts of adpatation measures. (negatives Bsp.)

• GEF should link thematic areas, governments, int. organizations and NGO`s.

Links for a cooperation� between FCCC, CBD and CCD

• Strengthening of “adaptive capacity“ and “reducing vulnerability“ via sustainable management of natural resources and biodiversity, capacity building and institution building- development of common instruments

• Learning from NAP`s and NBSAP`s for NAPA`s.

• Coping Strategies.

• Concerted Mainstreaming.

• Identification of common partners (SADC; India, China).

• Identification of common development cooperations �(regarding crisis, poverty, decentralisation, etc.)

Implementation on the local level

Poverty alleviation

Economic and social development

Environmental degradation

Education and health

Outlook

• Screening of German development cooperation projects:

• Technology and know-how transfer regarding the conventions => development of common methodologies and instruments.

• Next steps: synthesis of the results and analysis regarding common concerns. => joint activities, strategies

• BIODIV: complete screening of German technical and financial cooperation.

• DESERT: overview of ongoing projects, establishment of a network.

• CaPP: focus on adaptation measures, screening has just started.

Thank you�for your attention