Linking Global Environment with Local Development Concerns

Developing countries tend to be more vulnerable to extreme climatic events and adverse impacts of a gradual climate change than industrialised countries, mainly because of their higher reliance on primary production, their important dependence on natural resources that are directly affected by climate change, and their limited human, institutional and financial capacity to cope with the negative impacts. Even though scientific uncertainties on the magnitude, rate and regional patterns of future climate change exist, development strategies and agencies such as SDC can take initial steps to enhance the adaptive capacity of communities in developing countries to cope with climatic variability and change. An increased vulnerability to climate variability and future change may also jeopardize the effectiveness of development interventions and therefore requires integration of climate concerns into the development process.

Adaptation to climate change and climate variability as well as efforts to combat desertification or the loss of biodiversity are “global common goods” dimensions which demand a rather new perspective for the bilateral and multilateral programme of SDC. Under its Global Environment Fund, Switzerland is already sponsoring some climate change related activities but up to now mainly in the field of climate change mitigation, i.e. through projects that contribute to reducing greenhouse gas emissions or enhancing sinks and carbon sequestration. SDC's Environment Programme also acknowledges the importance of strengthening communication between different professional communities and awareness building among stakeholders at different levels.

The importance of adaptation to climate change is also acknowledged by the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) which defines three stages of adaptation:

• Stage 1 refers to “planning, which includes studies of possible impacts of climate change to identify particularly vulnerable countries or regions, and policy options for adaptation and appropriate capacity building”
• Stage 2 refers to “measures, including further capacity building which may be taken to prepare for adaptation…”
• Stage 3 refers to “measures to facilitate adequate adaptation, including insurance and other adaptation measures….”

The acknowledgment of the increasing importance of adaptation to adverse impacts of climate change and variability has, with the Marrakech Accord, led to the establishment of three new funds which shall help developing countries to cope with climate change impacts[1]. Now that Russia has ratified the Kyoto Protocol and that the Kyoto Protocol comes into force in early 2005, the Adaptation Fund, sourced by proceeds from CERs generated under the CDM, also becomes operational soon.

Within this evolving international context the proposed V&A programme of SDC in India has the potential to make an important contribution to adaptation and to highlight the role of bilateral development agencies in that respect. The programme's aim to demonstrate and implement adaptation measures and coping mechanisms at the community level provides an opportunity to gain and share with the international community experiences for “stage 3 adaptation” as defined by UNFCCC (see further above)

This proposed SDC programme on V&A India is unique as it:

1. Tries to demonstrate that the application of best practices and technologies and the improvement of existing service delivery mechanisms in agriculture and water management are valid possible stage 3 adaptation measures (at least at a micro pilot scale).

2. Aims to translate action learning results from the community level to the policy dialogue at national government level and even to the international climate change negotiation level.

3. Intends to seize opportunities and unlock potentials by joining hands with competent partners and thus encourage and promote collaborative actions among them.

4. Is geared to contribute to an enhanced dialogue between development and environment communities at the national level.