A108186ACTRAV/ITC-ILO COURSE

Decent Work, Green Jobs and Sustainable Development

Turin Centre, 24 August to 04 September 2015

African PerspectiveClimate Change and Environment

Presentation Outline

Introduction

Climate Change Vulnerability in Africa:Consequences of Climate Change in AfricaEconomic costs of Climate Change Impact on AfricaShrinking of Lake Chad

AU-NEPAD Environment Action Plan AU’s Agenda 2063: Climate Action and Decent Work Adaptation and Mitigation:

Mitigation Measures in AfricaAdaptation Measures in Africa

Potential Benefits of Greening Economy Sectors with Potential for Green Jobs Creation Conclusion

Introduction Environmental Sustainability and Decent Work for All are two of the

defining challenges of the 21st century.

By 2050 there will be 9.6 billion human beings in the world and on current trends of PRODUCTION & CONSUMPTION, we would require the natural resources of three planet EARTHS to sustain us. The overuse of natural resources is increasingly exceeding planetary

boundaries

The challenge of Inclusive Social Development and Environmental Sustainability are indeed enormous and urgent:

With over 201 million people unemployed [incl.74 million youth], persistent working poverty and social exclusion affecting more than a billion people globally coupled with

rising inequality, declining social cohesion and stability, Job Creation is a social imperative

Developing countries can seize a unique opportunity to address SOCIAL INCLUSION, POVERTY ERADICATION and reinforce SOCIAL COHESION and STABILITY by shifting to a GREENER GROWTH path that will help preserve our Common Home [Planet EARTH]

Climate Change Vulnerability in Africa

Source: Delphine Digout, revised by Hugo Ahlenius, UNEP/GRID-Arendal, Environment and Poverty Times #4: MDG issue, Vital Climate Change Graphics Update, 2002, updated 2004, 2005, available at: http://maps.grida.no/go/graphic/climate_change_vulnerability_in_africa Data sources: Anna Ballance, UNEP/GRID-Arendal, 2002.

Consequences of Climate Change in Africa

Reduced Water availability

Reduced fisheries resources (aggravated by over fishing)

Reduced areas suitable for agriculture

75 to 250 million people affected by 2020

Reduced yields for rain-fed agriculture

Source: IPCC (2007)

Economic Costs of Climate Change Impact on AfricaCoastlines and sea level rise.

up to 20 million people / year in 2100 flooded

Costs of several $billion/year by 2030Up to $50 billion/year by 2100

(AdaptCost)

Energy demand.Rising temperatures and demand for cooling rise of 30% by 2030.

Water resources People with high water stress, 75-250 million by the 2020s and 350-600 million by the 2050s

Increasing extremes Costs of flood and drought years already 5 – 8% of GDP. Extreme events could intensify

Loss of ecosystem servicesEffects on forests, corals, wildlife parks, and on tourism and services

Heath burdenRising incidence of health burdens (malaria, other vector borne), heat extremes

Agriculture yield reductions up to 50% by 2020 and net crop revenues up to 90% by 2100

Source: Watkiss et al SEI WeAdapt Google Earth Platform/ DFID Economics of Climate Change in East Africa / UNEP AdaptCost / EC ClimateCost

Shrinking of Lake Chad

AU-NEPAD Environment Action Plan

Environment is one of 8 components of NEPAD

Designed to tackle Africa’s environmental challenges – 1st Africa Framework on Environment

Adopted in 2003 by 2nd AU Summit following a wider participatory and consultative process

Key Objectives of the EAP

Contribute to NEPAD

implementation through the environment

initiative

Promote sustainable use of Africa’s

natural resources and strengthen

public and political support to

environmental initiatives

Promote environmental

issues into poverty reduction strategy

Program Areas of the EAPCombating land degradation, drought and desertificationConserving Africa’s wetlandPrevention, control and management of invasive alien

speciesConservation and sustainable use of marine, coastal and

freshwater resources Combating climate change in AfricaTransboundary conservation or management of natural

resourcesCross-cutting issues:

Health and environmentAssessment of an early warming on natural disastersThe environment directory of NEPAD

AU’s Agenda 2063: Climate Action & Decent Work

Agenda 2063 “The Africa

We Want”

Inclusive growth, climate resilient economies and

sustainable development

Participation in global efforts to

tackle climate change through mitigation

and adaptation measures

• Building Africa’s capacity to implement regional and international environmental agreements

• Addressing Africa’s environmental challenges

• Adopting green economy strategy

• Encouraging green private investment and ensuring that markets are open for green and clean products

• Seizing Africa’s energy & climate opportunities by: • Adopting clean technology • Redirecting subsidies spent on fossil fuel to

renewable energy• Pricing carbon out of the market through taxation• Energy labelling• Increasing the capacity of carbon sinks e.g. through

reforestation• Combating desertification• Monitoring the environment• Promoting ratification of climate change treaties • Awareness-raising campaigns

• Exploiting the potential in biodiversity-based industries

• Promoting Decent Work as a key component of national development strategies

• Promoting adaptation and mitigation strategies to preserve the environment and attain sustainability

Mitigation and AdaptationMitigation refers to an anthropogenic intervention to reduce the

sources or enhance the sinks GHGs (IPCC) Mitigation tackles the causes of climate change

Adaptation refers to adjustment in natural or human systems in response to actual or expected climate change stimuli or their effects, which moderate harm or exploits beneficial opportunities Adaptation tackles the effects of climate change

Africa suffers the most from adverse impacts of climate change due to:Low adaptive capacityLow resilienceHigh levels of poverty

The poor suffers the most of the impacts of climate change

Mitigation Measures in Africa

Knowledge analysis and sharing in green economy

Adoption of Green Economy legislation, policies and programs

Awareness raising on Global Warming and Just Transition

Capacity building: human, organizational and institutional

Use of cooking gas and efficient cooking stoves instead of wood fuel [East Africa, West Africa and Central Africa]

Reduction of Emission, Deforestation and Degradation (REDD) [Niger, Burkina Faso, Kenya, Sierra Leone, etc.]

Shift from the use of chemical fertilizers to organic manure or compost [Madagascar]

Shift to “Clean Energy Technologies” as an alternative to Fossil Fuel e.g. solar, hydro, geothermal, wind, biofuel and biomass energies [East Africa, West Africa, Southern Africa and North Africa]

Alliances and partnerships

Production factors that favour a rise or a decrease in CO2 emissions

Low Carbon GrowthEast AfricaExamples

Methane recovery and fuel switching, Rwanda

Lake Kivu. 100 MW methane emissions from the lake has been used to

Displace existing high cost diesel generation and CO2 emissions

( $0.07/kWh compared to diesel generation at $0.26/kWh)

Crop- residue fired brick Making TanzaniaLow carbon and poverty reduction project. Also provides adaptation through increased climate

resilience to extreme weather compared to traditional mud brick houses

Biomass / Biogas in RwandaBiomass energy strategy, includes

efficient cooking stoves with additional benefits of reducing air pollution. Large- scale biogas plants already in

prisons plus wider opportunities

Renewables: hydro, solar, geothermal in Rwanda

e.g. Solar Power Plant (Jali Hill) isAfrica largest solar power plant

(250kW) has reduced dependency on diesel- generated electricity. Large potential for micro-hydro

Geothermal in the Rift Valley (Olkaria)Extension of geothermal, with additional 276

GWh /yr, which will displace electricity produced by fossil-fuel- powered plants equivalent to 150,000 tCO2 e per year, and develop local community

benefits. CDCF will purchase emission reductions

Wind Development in Northern KenyaLargest wind development in Africa, 300 MW,

near Lake Turkana , potentially meeting 30% of Kenya's current electricity needs, at low marginal cost. Part financed by carbon credits.

Micro hydro . Community micro-hydro project in Kenyan village of

Mbuiru , north of Nairobi

BiofuelsJatropha plantation provides fuel to replace diesel in off- grid generator replacement and also provides fuel for local lamps

Efficient cooking stoves, UgandaInvestment in high efficiency cooking stoves, funded by voluntary credits (offsets). 300,000 tonnes of CO2 offset

and reduction in kitchen smoke and improved health

Adaptation Measures in Africa

Historical and real time climate observations and forecasts[Improved disaster preparedness, management and response]

Development of more resilient crop varieties [heat, drought, and salt resistant]

Investment in efficient technologies for water conservation and irrigation; waste management (e.g. through recycling)

Adoption of new methods to combat land degradation e.g. construction of dykes and storm surge barriers to protect sandy coastsPrevent further development on flood plains and beaches

Planned adaptation – policy coherence across sectors

Building bridges between science and policy

Potential Benefits of Greening Economy

Transition to a greener economy could help reach many social goals over the next 20 to 30 years, including:Creating about 15 to 60 million additional decent

jobsUpgrading jobs and raising incomes, especially in

sectors such as agriculture, construction, recycling, and tourism

Contributing significantly to poverty eradication, social inclusions and bridging inequalities

Realizing environmental sustainability

Sectors with Potentials for Green Jobs Creation

Sustainable Agriculture, Forestry

and Fisheries

Renewable Energy: Wind, Solar, Biomass,

Hydro

Material Management (Recycling, Waste

Management and Reuse)

Transportation, Tourism, etc.

Manufacturing, Construction and

Environmental Services

ConclusionsThe world of work is a source of solutions and is an

indispensable driver to bring about profound transformation of production and consumption

Proactive policies to protect the climate and preserve the environment can actually create substantially more jobs than ‘business as usual’ growth

We must put Green Economy Agenda at the heart of DWCP, National Development Framework and Growth Strategy

A Just Transition for all towards an environmentally sustainable economy is imperative

We must all collaborate to care for OUR COMMON HOME!