ALM UNDP

Summary of results: The project started in the three departments of Montevideo, San Jose and Canelones, in the second semester of 2009. The TACC project in Uruguay is well advanced in the fourth step of the establishment of a sub-national LECDRS. Inter-institutional arrangements and local working groups have been created. GHG emissions inventory, impact maps and downscaled climate modeling have been developed. Participatory identification and prioritization of adaptation and mitigation options is finished. Cost-benefit analysis is underway. Two adaptation and local development projects have been designed: one currently under implementation (EU funds, EUR 330.000) and another project proposal for early actions to access additional sources of funding has been pre-selected (EU funds, EUR 275.000). The establishment of the LECDRS is expected to be completed by 2012 subject to the availability of funds.

Main activities to date:

Step 1: Develop a multi-stakeholders planning process

The project started with the signature of a Memorandum of Understanding signed by the three sub-national level Governments and four Ministries, which provide an inter-institutional framework from its outset. The establishment and consolidation of the multi-stakeholders working groups for each local government took place during the first two years of the project. In particular, the Coordination Climate Change Committee for Montevideo was formalized by a resolution from the government in September 2010. Representative from 6 key directorates were officially assigned by the Governor to participate and lead this committee to support the establishment of the local LECDRS. At the local level, key representatives from private sector and civil society were also engaged in the the multi-stakeholders planning process, such as rural associations, transport and energy companies, environmental and social NGOs, and research institutions focused on climate, energy and agriculture. Almost 30 workshops have been successfully completed during 2010 for diagnosis, capacity-building, identification and prioritization of actions, involving the participation of 700 experts and representatives. The working groups have identified strategic lines, specific actions and projects to be included in the work plans.

Step 2: Prepare Climate Change Profiles and Vulnerability Scenarios.

The development of the metropolitan GHG Emission Inventory was successfully completed at the beginning of the Project, with ICLEI support. The results show that the main source of GHG emissions is the burning of fossil fuel in Montevideo, which significantly differs from the main source at the national level, which comes from agriculture. The Project also benefited by the downscaling of Global Climate Models (the two extremes: BAU and global cooperation towards sustainable development) to high temporal (3 hours) and spatial (5km) resolutions based on historical data, precipitation and temperature for three periods of time, provided by CLIMSAT, and by the analysis of these data performed by climatologists from the University of the Republic. Impact maps for the assessment of the present and future vulnerability were built with a participatory methodology as an indirect mechanism to identify vulnerable areas to climate change in the territory. These maps have been classified according to coastal, rural and urban zones.

Step 3: Identify Strategic Options Leading to Low Emissions Climate –Resilient Development Trajectories.

Measures to be included in the metropolitan and departmental action plans have been participatory identified in the local working groups, with orientation given by renowned national and foreign experts. These groups have identified more than 500 measures which differ significantly in terms of sectors, timing and resources needed. This group of actions has been systematized according to strategic lines, programmes and projects of short, medium and long term. Based on this systematization, and the economic and legal prefeasibility studies currently underway, the working groups are completing the final phase of prioritization.

Step 4: Identify Policies and Financing options to implement priority Climate Change Actions.

The Integrated Territorial Climate Plan will serve as a framework to access different sources of financing, such as national and departmental budgets, bilateral and multilateral funds, and/or funding from the private sector. Departmental Governments are already assigning, even before the plan is finalized, resources to implement a group of early actions identified during the process, such as strengthening water supply for small rural producers facing drought forecasts. Additionally, two adaptation and local development projects have been submitted for international financing. The first relates to sustainable family dairy production; the second to native species nurseries managed by rural women and young population. The former is currently under implementation; the latter has been pre-selected and is awaiting final approval.

Step 5: Prepare Low Emission Climate Resilient Development Roadmap.

The design and consultation phase for the development of the LECDRS is expected to be completed by 2012. In the final year, the focus will shift to implementation of additional early actions activities and drafting of project profiles and documents to access other sources of financing.

The overall objective of the project, namely supporting low-carbon and climate change-resilient local development in Uganda, will be achieved by supporting local decision-makers and planners to design integrated climate change (adaptation and mitigation) policies, strategies and formulate concrete actions and investment plans that promote long-term sustainability and poverty reduction in the context of local / regional development.

• Output 1. Partnership, coordination and participation platforms for climate change planning and programming established
• Output 2. Capacity to integrate climate change issues into regional development plans and actions built
• Output 3. Integrated Territorial Climate Plan (ITCP) formulated
• Output 4. Climate change policy and investment package developed
• Output 5. Lessons learned and best practices disseminated

Main activities to date

Step 1: Develop a multi-stakeholders planning process

Partnership engagement and coordination structure: Project Coordination Unit established and 11 public institutions engaged in the project Steering Committee. 6 technical working groups have been set, relying on the project’s capacity development goal. These groups are: i) Analysis of regional dynamics; ii) Climate change scenarios and analysis of climate variability; iii) GHG inventory; iv) Vulnerability Assessment; v) Territorial planning; vi) Education strategy and knowledge management. About 130 professionals from partner institutions are engaged in these different groups. In this first phase of the process, it was considered crucial to strengthen inter-institutional relations. An advisory committee comprised of multi-stakeholders will be established in March 2012.

Step 2: Prepare Climate Change Profiles and Vulnerability Scenarios.

Climate scenarios downscaled at a sub-national level are being developed, with the assistance of Columbia University/NASA, using the Change Factor Method. Periods: 2030, 2040, 2070, 2100 and gas emissions scenarios: A2, A1B, B1. For February 2012, a climate variability analysis and short-term projections (ENSO phenomenon) will also be available. A particular territorial vulnerability assessment model has been developed and implementation is underway, climate related disaster records are included in the analysis. For the GHG emissions inventory, information on 5 main emitting sectors is being collected, according to the IPCC guidelines (1996, 2006).

Step 3: Identify Strategic Options Leading to Low Emissions Climate –Resilient Development Trajectories.

The construction of the regional climate change education strategy has started. The strategy aims to raise awareness among the public and decision makers about development approaches needed to ensure territorial security on the face of climate change. Key values were identified: identity, responsibility, equity and solidarity. Regarding the integration of climate related risk management in territorial planning instruments, a set of guidelines will be identified and put into practice through a case study at a municipal level.

Step 4: Identify Policies and Financing options to implement priority Climate Change Actions.

A regional dynamics analysis will help better understand the opportunities and challenges to implement strategic mitigation and adaptation options. Efforts have also been focused in positioning the project at a regional and national level, seeking to link the project results and lessons learned with national methodologies and guidelines that are being developed by the authorities. The project is currently collaborating with DNP and MAVDT in the formulation of the National Climate Change Adaptation Plan.

Step 5: Prepare Low Emission Climate Resilient Development Roadmap.