Piloting Climate Change Adaptation to Protect Human Health

Implementing Agency and Partnering Organizations:
UNDP, World Health Organization, and Ministries of Health in the pilot countries
Summary:

Description

To increase adaptive capacity of national health system institutions, including field practitioners, to respond to climate change-sensitive health risks.

Summary

Project Components:
  1. Climate change and health early warning and planning systems
  2. Institutional and technical capacity to manage climate change health risks
  3. Demonstration Measures to reduce vulnerability
  4. Regional Cooperation to address climate change health risks
Expected Outputs:
  • Outcome 1: Early warning systems will be adjusted to include climate change induced health risks.
  • Outcome 2: Capacity of health sector institutions to respond to climate-sensitive health risks will be improved.
  • Outcome 3: Prevention measures piloted in emerging and epidemic risk area.
  • Outcome 4: Cooperation among participating countries promotes innovation in adaptation to climate change including variability.
Project Status:
CEO Endorsed (November 30, 2009)
Funding Source:
GEF-SCCF
Financing Amount:
USD 4,500,000
Cofinancing Total:
USD 15,963,559
Total Amounts:
USD 20,933,244
Contacts:
  • Contact: Pradeep Kurukulasuriya,
  • (212) 906-6843
  • Email: pradeep.kurukulasuriya@undp.org
Image(s):

Piloting climate change adaptation to protect human health in Barbados

  • Project details

  • Implementing Agency and Partnering Organizations:
    UNDP, World Health Organization, Ministry of Health
    Summary:

    Barbados Project Objective

    To strengthen national adaptive capacity to address health issues related to climate change attributable water scarcity.

    Key Health Concerns and Vulnerability to Climate Change

    Project Components:
    1. Climate change and health early warning and planning  systems
    2. Institutional and technical capacity to manage  climate change health risks
    3. Demonstration Measures to reduce vulnerability
    4. Regional Cooperation to address climate change health risks
    Expected Outputs:

    Outcome 1: Policies and Programs are implemented to ensure health risks do not increase as a result of using treated wastewater to recharge aquifers and for irrigation.

    1. Develop Procedures and guidelines for the effective recharge of aquifers using wastewater.
    2. Develop Strategies, policies and procedures for the use of wastewater for irrigation, ensuring that the quality and safety of agriculture crops is assured.
    3. Develop guidelines and standards for the safe use of wastewater.
    4. Develop monitoring systems for using wastewater in agriculture and aquifer recharge.

    Outcome 2: Public acceptance of the use of treated wastewater for non potable use.

    1. Social Acceptance of the use of treated wastewater.

    Outcome 3: Public safely stores water to prevent the breeding of Aedes aegypti mosquitoes.

    1. Enhance current rainwater storage facilities for the prevention of the breeding of Aedes aegypti mosquito.
    Contacts:

    Pradeep Kurukulasuriya
    (212) 906-6843
    pradeep.kurukulasuriya@undp.org

    Country contact

    Honourable Donville O. Inniss
    Minister of Health
    Ministry of Health, Jemmotts Lane, St.Michael

    Winfred Greaves
    Project Manager
    E-mail: wagreaves@qnetlinks.net

    WHO contact

    Dr Berzabe C. Butron Riveros
    PAHO WHO Representative a.i.
    E-mail: butronbe@ecc.paho.org

    Sally Edwards
    E-mail: edwardss@ecc.paho.org

    Project Details
    Funding Source:
    GEF-SCCF
    Cofinancing Total:
    Not specified
    Total Amounts:
    550,000 USD

Piloting climate change adaptation to protect human health in Barbados

Summary:

Barbados Project Objective

To strengthen national adaptive capacity to address health issues related to climate change attributable water scarcity.

Key Health Concerns and Vulnerability to Climate Change

Barbados is already classified as a water scarce country.  A further reduction in the availability of water, due to changes in precipitation patterns could lead to serious health impacts.  Climate change is expected to affect the quantity and quality of available water.  Previous projects concluded that sea level rise causing saline intrusion and changing weather patterns will adversely affect the water supply.  With a limited water supply in the future there will be competition between various sectors with regards to the use of water.

Water scarcity can cause a variety of health problems by reducing the amount of water available to practice basic hygiene and by increasing the risk of chemical and microbial contamination; these can lead to gastrointestinal diseases and other health risks.  Treated wastewater will be needed for non-potable purposes in the future; this will require effective management of the resultant health risks. 

Barbados has the highest rate of dengue fever in the Americas.  Studies in the Caribbean show an association between climate variability and increasing incidence of dengue fever. Rainwater storage is being promoted as an adaptation option to increase availability of freshwater, however, environmental health officers report an increase in the Aedes aegypti index due to mosquito breeding in domestic rainwater storage tanks.  To reduce the negative impacts on public health, there are requirements to improve storage facilities to eliminate vector breeding, provide technical guidelines with regards to the construction and maintenance of water tanks, and to increase public awareness with regards to effective and safe water storage. 
 

Adaptation Experience:

Expected Benefits

The most substantial benefit expected to arise from this project is the reduced incidence of dengue fever while increasing water safety and
availability.
Other significant benefits include:

Results and Learning:

This project will include two areas of action. The first will use treated wastewater to recharge an aquifer, while minimizing  health impacts. 
The second will focus on using wastewater for irrigation, while ensuring no increase in adverse health outcomes.  Results from the
pilot projects will be used to develop water quality standards for the use of treated wastewater, policies and procedures to ensure
adequate aquifer recharge and safe and effective use of wastewater for irrigation, and increase the proportion of the community who are
aware of the need for the use of treated wastewater.  These results will be achieved through addressing the following adaptive capacity
issues:

 

  • Resources - There is a lack of sufficient national capacity in terms of human and financial resources for incorporating climate change risks into health sector activities.
  • Governance - There are a lack of guidelines and legislation for water storage. This means that any new storage facility that is developed does not take into consideration climate change and the related health impacts.
  • Waste water capacity - There is also a lack of capacity with regards to wastewater reuse issues. Barbados has little experience with regards to utilizing wastewater for non-potable purposes or for aquifer recharge. Human and technological capacity can be improved in this area.
  • Communication and Information - There is a significant lack of information and therefore communication on climate change and it impacts in Barbados. This includes those in the health sector as well as the general public.  Linked to this, there is a shortage of communication to the general public on climate change issues and how certain diseases, particularly dengue are related to climate.

 

Barbados Project Outcomes and Outputs
Outcome 1: Policies and Programs are implemented to ensure health risks do not increase as a result of using treated wastewater to recharge aquifers and for irrigation. Outcome 2: Public acceptance of the use of treated wastewater for non potable use. Outcome 3: Public safely stores water to prevent the breeding of Aedes aegypti mosquitoes.
1.1: Develop Procedures and guidelines for the effective recharge of aquifers using wastewater. 2.1: Social Acceptance of the use of treated wastewater.

3.1: Enhance current rainwater storage facilities for the prevention of the breeding of Aedes aegypti mosquito.

1.2: Develop Strategies, policies and procedures for the use of wastewater for irrigation, ensuring that the quality and safety of agriculture crops is assured.    
1.3: Develop guidelines and standards for the safe use of wastewater.    
1.4: Develop monitoring systems for using wastewater in agriculture and aquifer recharge.    

 

Sustainability:

Not Yet Applicable

Replication:

Not Yet Applicable

Image(s):
Funding Source:
GEF-SCCF

Piloting Climate Change Adaptation to Protect Human Health

  • Project details

  • Implementing Agency and Partnering Organizations:
    UNDP, World Health Organization and Ministries of Health in the pilot countries
    Summary:

    Description

    To increase adaptive capacity of national health system institutions, including field practitioners, to respond to climate change-sensitive health risks.

    Summary

    Project Components:
    1. Climate change and health early warning and planning  systems
    2. Institutional and technical capacity to manage  climate change health risks
    3. Demonstration Measures to reduce vulnerability
    4. Regional Cooperation to address climate change health risks
    Expected Outputs:
    • Outcome 1: Early warning systems will be adjusted to include climate change induced health risks.
    • Outcome 2: Capacity of health sector institutions to respond to climate-sensitive health risks will be improved.
    • Outcome 3: Prevention measures piloted in emerging and epidemic risk area.
    • Outcome 4: Cooperation among participating countries promotes innovation in adaptation to climate change including variability.
    Contacts:

    Contact: Pradeep Kurukulasuriya (UNDP)

    (212) 906-6843

    Email: pradeep.kurukulasuriya@undp.org

     

    Contact: Joy Guillemot (WHO)

    Email: guillemotj@who.int 

    Project Status:
    CEO Endorsed (November 30, 2009).
    Project Details
    Funding Source:
    GEF-SCCF
    Cofinancing Total:
    USD 15,963,559
    Total Amounts:
    USD 20,933,244

Mainstreaming Adaptation to Climate Change Project: Carribean Community

  • Project details

  • Implementing Agency and Partnering Organizations:
    Caribbean Community Climate Change Center (CCCCC), Caribbean Community (CARICOM), World Bank, Government of Canada, Global Environment Facility, Government of United States
    Summary:

    ###### Background

    The objective of the Mainstreaming Adaptation to Climate Change Project (MACC), is to facilitate an enabling environment for climate change adaptation in the Caribbean Community small islands, and coastal developing states participating in this effort.

    Project Components:

    * Component 1) Build Capacity to Assess Vulnerability and Risk Associated with Climate Change; build regional capacity to collect and analyze data, and expand the overall knowledge base on climate change impacts and associated physical, social and economic vulnerabilities.

    * Component 2) Build Capacity to Reduce Vulnerability to Climate Change; build in-country capacity to formulate and analyze adaptation policy options, and finalize sectoral adaptation strategies whcih will be prepared for all participating countries.

    * Component 3) Build Capacity to Effectively Access and Utilize resources to Reduce Vulnerability to Climate Change.

    * Component 4) Public Education and Outreach; support a public education and outreach program geared towards improving decision-making, encouraging policy changes where required, strengthening information access and data resources for key stakeholders, disseminating project-generating data and information, and fostering public awareness about the potential impacts climate change.

    * Component 5) Project Management; provide support to CARICOM and timely execution of the project, including project administration as well as planning, monitoring, and evaluating project activities over the duration of the project.

    Expected Outputs:

    Build capacity to Assess Vulnerability and Risks Associated with Climate Change, Build Capacity to Reduce Vulnerability to climate Change, Build Capacity to Effectively Access and Utilize Resources to Reduce Vulnerability to Climate Change, Public Education and Outcome, Project Management.

    Contacts:

    Contact Person: Chris Neal
    Telephone: 202-473-7729
    Fax: 522-3698
    Email: cneal1@worldbank.org

    Project Status:
    closed
    Primary Beneficiaries:
    n/a
    Project Details
    Funding Source:
    GEF Trust Fund
    Financing Amount:
    5,000,000
    Cofinancing Total:
    10,950,000
    Total Amounts:
    10,950,000