ADAPTING INFRASTRUCTURE TO CLIMATE CHANGE:

A CASE FOR TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER

UNFCCC Tobago. June 15. 2005

Ian Burton (with Heather Auld and Don MacIver)

Features.

• Creative.

• Visionary.

• Practical.

• UNFCCC = UNFCC Calypso

• C’est a vous de deviner.

OUTLINE

• 1. Increase in disaster losses – adaptation deficit.

• 2. Infrastructure and climate change adaptation requirements.

• 3 Weather extremes and designing against infrastructure damage.

• 4. The Climate Change Adaptation Factor • 5. Structural codes and standards.• 6. Global Adaptation Assistance Program. • 7. A role for insurance.

Features.• Creative.

• Visionary.

• Practical.

• Creative: the UNFCCC or the UNFCC Calypso.

• Il faut deviner.

1. Adaptation Deficit.

2. Infrastructure and adaptation requirements.

• Long lifetime of infrastructure investments• Robustness of present stock variable, often use

incomplete or outdated climate information.• Stock not being replaced or maintained at

sustainable rates. Vulnerability increasing.• Apparent preference for more exposed or

dangerous locations.• Construction industry, building codes and

standards change slowly.• Land use and building materials and designs are

dominated by short-term commercial interests.

3. Designs for weather Extremes -1

3. Design for Weather Extremes-2

Substandard Construction

Standard Construction

High Quality Construction

4. The Climate Change Adaptation Factor

• Pending revision of codes and standards require a Climate Change Adaptation Factor.

• Has climate change been factored in?

• What modifcations were made?

• Describe expert judgement.

• Case by case analysis.

5. Structural Codes and Standards.

• A matter for professional bodies acting under legislation.

• Promoted by international cooperation and agreement, through relevant bodies.

• Sharing of experience and know-how

• Possible financial assistance for capaqcity building.

• Use of external partners e.g. I.S.O.

6. Global Adaptation Assistance Programme?

• Compare to cooperation for mitigation.

• Compare to climate change scenarios, and downscaling.

• Modeled on UK CIP?

• Part of the Convention process and the adaptation regime?

• On going process – multiple partners.

7. A role for insurance.

• Develop insurance products for marketing through the private insurance industry, such as weather derivatives, cat loss bonds, underwriting of national insurance programmes or other.

• Make insurance available at concessionary rates initially.

• Development of adaptation strategies and policies as eligibility criteria.

• Deductibles or lower premiums for demonstrated adaptation measures in place, and enforced (monitored).

Thank you for your attention.Merci de votre attention!