As we know, 21st Conference of the Parties (COP21) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) in Paris making a progress on crucial climate change issue. Let’s take a glance on Lima-Paris Action Agenda
What’s the prime motive of LPAA?
- The Lima-Paris Action Agenda (LPAA) is a joint undertaking of the Peruvian and French COP presidencies, the Office of the Secretary-General of United Nations and the UNFCCC Secretariat.
- It aims to strengthen climate action throughout 2015, in Paris in December and well beyond through mobilizing robust global action towards low carbon and resilient societies.
What are the LPAA initiatives – addressing Water and Ocean Resilience?
- Paris Pact on Water and Adaptation
- MegaCities Coalition on water
- Business Alliance for Water and Climate Change
- Adaptation of the West African coastal areas
- Maritime Regions in Action against Climate Change.
What’s the Paris Pact on Water and Climate Change Adaptation?
- A broad coalition of nations, river basin organizations, business and civil society announced the creation of the international Paris Pact on Water and Climate Change Adaptation.
- This is to make water systems, the very foundation of sustainable human development, more resilient to climate impacts.
- Water Resilience Focus event highlighted key partnerships and coalitions to make river basins, lakes, aquifers and deltas more resilient to climate change and reduce human interference with oceans.
- Almost 290 water basin organisations are engaged under pact.
What’s the scope of Paris pact on Water?
These major collaborative projects combined represent over US$20 million in technical assistance and potentially over US$ 1 billion in financing.
They include –
- A financial commitment by India to build climate resilience through improved groundwater management.
- In the Niger Basin (9 African countries involved), the launch of a 10-year investment plan to strengthen resilience to climate change.
- In Jordan, Lebanon, Monaco, Morocco, Spain and Tunisia, a 7-year commitment under Mediterranean Water Platform to assess the state and trends of water resources, supported by the European commission.
- In China, a 3-year commitment to improve management of the Hai river basin, supported by France.
What about Cities? Are they committing to strengthen the resilient water systems?
- Indeed, the Mega Cities Coalition, involving 10 megacities with 85 million people, is establishing a knowledge exchange platform.
- The World Bank Group’s financial commitment of USD 200 million to enhance Water Security and Climate Resilience in Kenya’s Coastal Region.
- A financing program, including 50 million euros from AFD and 15 million euros from Senegal, to protect 300 000 people from flooding Pikine, a suburb of Dakar.
How many countries planning to join a coalition to enhance resilience of deltas?
- The Delta Coalition includes 12 countries (Colombia, Egypt, Indonesia, Japan, South-Korea, Mozambique, Myanmar, Netherlands, Philippines, Vietnam, France and Bangladesh).
- To bring deltas to the forefront of global policy discussions, build partnerships and focus on action, aiming to increase resilience for almost 250 million people in deltas in these 12 countries.
How does it enhance the action on conservation and resilience of oceans to climate change?
- Commercial shipping: The maritime transport sector is taking action to reduce greenhouse gases emissions 20 % by 2020 in tonnes-km, and 50 % by 2050.
- Adaptation and marine ecosystem conservation: More marine protected areas, World Heritage recognition, children’s education, innovative funding support such as debt-for-nature swaps.
- Coastal risk management and adaptation: Solutions to rising sea levels, coastal erosion, flooding and extreme climate.
Do you really think that, Lima-Paris Action Agenda would pave the way for sustainable development and climate change? Why or why not?
Published with inputs from Arun
