PACC - lessons learnt from a Swiss - Peruvian Climate Change Adaptation Program. Nadine Salzmann, Christian Huggel & the PACC team

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Emmeline Higgins
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1 PACC - lessons learnt from a Swiss - Peruvian Climate Change Adaptation Program Nadine Salzmann, Christian Huggel & the PACC team

2 Tropical glacier retreat and related impacts Over the next decades Andean inter-tropical glaciers are very likely to disappear, affecting water availability and hydropower generation (high confidence; IPCC, 2007) The distinctive seasonality in the tropics, makes these regions particularly vulnerable to a reduction of melt water from glaciers

3 Climate related disasters flood and debris flow disasters in January 2010 (Cusco)

4 PACC: Climate Change Adaptation Program in Peru Duration: funded by the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) OVERALL GOALS: Reducing people s vulnerability to climate change impacts Improving local and regional adaptive capacities Focus on two regions in Peru (Apurimac, Cusco) Cooperation between Peruvian and Swiss Government Salzmann et al OBJECTIVES: Providing scientific baseline data (local level) as a basis to develop and implement appropriate adaptation measures water resources (glaciology, hydrology, climatology) food security (agriculture, climatology) disaster risk reduction (glaciology, climatology) including human dimension (local perception) -> local & regional studies, publications, policy dialogue capacity building and development of an academic curriculum PACC Swiss Scientific Consortium:

5 PACC - project structure Leading committee (Government, NGO consortium, scientific consortium ) Scientific Committee Coordination Unit National Coordination Peruvian and Swiss Scientific Institutions: -> provide scientific support for studies conducted by national and local inst. -> conduct own research studies -> disseminate result to international level -> capacity building (academic exchange, academic curriculum) Regional Government Apurímac Unidad Operativa Apurímac Program Assistents Comunication Administration Regional Government Cusco Unidad Operativa Cusco 5

6 PACC A regional/local focus (Apurimac & Cusco Regions) Apurimac Area: km inh. 20 hab/km2 Poverty rate: 69.5% Cusco Area: km² inh hab/km2 Poverty rate: 75.3% Elevation: m.a.s.l. Risks from: drought, cold spells/snow, landslides, floods Elevation: m.a.s.l. Risks from: drought, cold spells/snow, hail

7 Examples from the scientific part Baseline and knowledge gain (climate, glacier) Education and academic curriculum Scientific exchange

8 Baseline: Climate stations (SENAMHI) in the PACC region

9 Baseline: Climate stations (SENAMHI) in the PACC region Data gaps are very common Many stations run only for a few years (6 records since 1965) Inhomogeneities because of station relocations But: No change in measurement methods and instruments No reference series available

10 Baseline: the PACC data portal (Schwarb et al. 2011)

11 Baseline: the PACC data portal dataportal allows for rapid visualization of daily dataseries and interpolated maps transparent and centrally managed update of the data on-the-fly monthly or yearly aggregation and outlier correction with tentative limits. possibility of exporting daily or aggregated dataseries and maps in several data formats The data portal contains currently more than 100 current and historical stations for the PACC area, and also satellite, climate model and Reanalysis data (Schwarb et al. 2011)

12 Baseline: data portal - a tool for homogenization support Plot of record ensemble Trends caused by factors others than climate 12

13 Baseline: Climatic trends for the Cusco-Apurimac region (Salzmann et al. 2013) Since 1965: slight positive trend for max air temperature very slight (n.s) trend for min air temperature slight negative (n.s) trend for precipitation -> consistent with findings from other studies in this area (Vuille et al. 2003, Francou et al. 2003, and others)

14 Baseline: Glacier data (Cordillera Vilcanota) WGMS (2008) Cordillera Vilcanota Power production Cordillera Vilcanota recent Fresh water series, > 31 obs Second largest glacierised cordillera recent series, < 32 obs in Peru (after C. Blanca), incl. Quelccaya ice capx discontinued series Encompasses about 460 glaciers Vital water resource for the Cusco region Data scarce area Irrigation

15 Baseline studies linked with capacity building initiation of a new glacier monitoring in the Cordillera Vilcanota in combination with a glaciology course 3-day theory course followed by a 3-day course in the filed (Cordillera Vilcanota)

16 A new glacier monitoring program at Cordillera Vilcanota Survey of glaciers Suyuparina & Quisuquipina Ablation 11 stakes installed Accumulation poles and a snow pits Evaporation Climate station

17 Academic curriculum: Diplomado in Climate Change Initiated in 2010 Coordinated and hosted by Universidad Nacional de San Antonio del Cusco UNSAAC (Peru) students per year increasing number of international lectures will be continued by UNSAAC after PACC

18 Scientific visits in Switzerland Visiting a high-elevation climate station in Switzerland with colleagues from Peru Visiting the early warning system at Illgraben (Valais, Switzerland)

19 Transfer science adaptation implementation

20 Some lessons learnt The set-up with a large number of institutions across science, practice and policy, and across local, regional, national and international levels was complex but at the same time also rewarding The integrating of the results towards mainstreamed adaptation policy and the transfer from science to adaptation practice requires such a broad setting Confidence between the partners is key and often a door opener (face-to-face vs. CO2) -> Calculate enough time for the process of finding a common sense of work, a common language and related confidence! Adaptation measures must be developed in a region/local context (social scientist as important partners) and local baselines are needed! Concepts for sustainability are fundamental (adaptation is a process not a 3-yr project) education (long-term glacier monitoring) academic curriculum Establishing solid networks at all levels of different institutions (robustness against sudden (political) change Involve the Peruvian partners; joint conferences, publications etc. (language) With endurance, confidence and arguments, one can move and achieve a lot in countries like Peru

21 Second phase (PACC2) will start in May 2013 Implementing adaptation measures based on the results from PACC 1 Mainstreaming the adaptation measures Establishing a culture of scientific research at the universities

22 Second phase (PACC2) will start in May 2013 Implementing adaptation measures based on the results from PACC 1 Mainstreaming the adaptation measures Establishing a culture of scientific research at the universities Many thanks for your attention

Climate Change in the Andes

Mountain Day Highlighting the Critical Role of Mountain Ecosystems for Climate Adaptation and Sustainable Development Durban, South Africa 4 December 2011 Climate Change in the Andes Overview and Evidence