Interfacing Climate Change and Disaster Risk Reduction GIDMC 11 July 2018 DR. PARIVELAN K.M. ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR TATA INSTITUTE OF SOCIAL SCIENCES MUMBAI
TISS TISS- working with disasters since post independence period Vital contributions in Bhopal gas tragedy, Latur earthquake, Odisa Super cyclone, Bhuj earthquake, Indian ocean tsunami, Mumbai floods, Kashmir earthquake, Kashmir floods, Uttrakhand earthquake, Nepal earthquake, etc. It looks at the social aspects of disasters, laws, policies and practices. 2
Outline of presentation Disasters, development and climate has close relationships Sendai declaration and Paris CC agreement Interface between government, industries, civil society, communities are essential for effective resilience building Gaps and connecting the dots- SDG, development, infrastructure, awareness, better integrated DDR and CC policies, peoples participation, et al. Community centric DRR 3
Climate Change? 4 Article 1 paragraph 2 of the 1992 United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) states that: Climate change means a change of climate which is attributed directly or indirectly to human activity that alters the composition of the global atmosphere and which is in addition to natural climate variability observed over comparable time periods.
Global warming has effected a change in quantum and patterns of precipitation. The changes in temperature and precipitation patterns increased the frequency, duration and intensity of extreme weather events like floods, droughts, heat waves and cyclones. Other effects of global warming include higher or lower agricultural yields, further glacial retreat, reduced summer stream flows, species extinctions and disease outbreaks. 5
(i) mitigation, i.e. the task of mitigating the degree of climate change, in particular by reducing greenhouse gas emissions- Post Kyoto agreement to cut carbon emissions- Paris Agreement (ii) adaption, i.e. the challenge of how best to adapt to the threats caused by the effects of climate change- ECHR Judgment on Early warning and action, HFA, Sendai agreement (iii) protection, i.e. the obligation to secure the rights and addressing the humanitarian needs of people affected by negative effects of climate change UNGP on IDPs, Operational Guidelines on Human Rights and Natural Disasters, has been adopted by the Inter- Agency Standing Committee in 2006 and revised in 2010 Nations face three types of challenges 6
Five Scenarios of CC and Displacement 7 Sudden-onset hydro-meteorological disasters Slow onset environmental disasters The case of sinking Small Island States caused by rising sea levels Disasters will increase the need for governments to designate areas as high-risk zones too dangerous for human habitation A decrease in essential resources such as water or fertile land due to climate change may trigger unrest seriously disturbing public order, violence and armed conflict
Cancun 14 (f) 8 Cancun FCCC article 14 : Invites all Parties to enhance action on adaptation under the Cancun Adaptation Framework, taking into account their common but differentiated responsibilities and respective capabilities, and specific national and regional development priorities, objectives and circumstances, by undertaking, inter alia, the following: (f) Measures to enhance understanding, coordination and cooperation with regard to climate change induced displacement, migration and planned relocation, where appropriate, at the national, regional and international levels; TNTRC
Disasters Globally and nationally disasters are on the increase In 2017, EM-DAT data indicates that 318 natural disasters occurred, affecting 122 countries. The impact of which resulted in 9,503 deaths, 96 million people affected, and US$314 billion in economic damages. According to CRED, in 2012-16, average 300 natural triggered disasters were registered Economic damages from natural disasters did show an increase to above average levels with estimates placing the figure at US$ 157 billion 9
The human impact of natural disasters in 2017 was much lower than the last 10 year average, where events with extremely high mortality occurred, such as the 2010 earthquake in Haiti (225,570 deaths) and the 2008 Nargis Cyclone in Myanmar (138,400 deaths). 10 In 2017, there was no single major event responsible for increased mortality. This is unlike more recent years where the earthquake in Nepal (2015) killed 8,831 people and Typhoon Haiyan in the Philippines (2013) killed 7,354. Still both these years had a mortality below the 10 year average.
The year with the highest economic losses was 2011, at US$400 billion, mainly due to the earthquake/tsunami in Japan However, 2017 is the second most costly year, reflected in the impact of three hurricanes - Harvey (US$95 billion), Irma (US$66 billion) and Maria (US$69 billion), affecting the United States and the Caribbean 11 (Source: Cred Crunch 49)
Weather-related disasters were responsible for the majority of both human and economic losses in 2017 Almost 90% of deaths in 2017 were due to climatological, hydrological or meteorological disasters Nearly 60% of people affected by disasters in 2017 were affected by floods, while 85% of economic damages were due to storms 12
Cyclone Ockhi 13 Cyclone Ockhi s origins are traced back to low pressure area that formed on the Gulf of Thailand on November 21, 2017. It turned into a deep depression in the Bay of Bengal on November 29, 2017. The deep depression intensified into a cyclone storm on November 30, 2017. The Indian states severely affected by Cyclone Ockhi are Tamil Nadu, Kerala and the Union Territory of Lakshadweep. over 500 fishermen were missing and more than 100 fishermen had died in Kanyakumari district alone
Ockhi Cyclone 14
People s Inquest on Cyclone Ockhi and Its Impact in Kanyakumari District in Tamil Nadu during on December 28-29, 2017 The People s Inquest focused on the issue of missing fishermen, loss to lives and livelihoods, damage to housing and agriculture etc. Early warning failed? How to communicate to deep sea fishers who as far as 600 nautical miles (Deigo gracia) 15
Field visit 16 The inquest looked at the response of the central and state governments, role of local administration, measures undertaken from cyclone warning till this date and the rescue and rehabilitation processes and actions. The Inquest Team visited Neerody, Marthandanthurai, Vallavillai, Eraviputhenthurai, Thoothoor, Thengapattinam, Coalchel, Muttom, Chinnathurai, Kuravillai, Kalpadi, Unnankulam and Pambanvilaivillages and met the families of missing fishermen, fishermen who managed to sail back, affected farmers, Puravillai village Kani tribes, district and state officials. Primarily it was case of early warning communication failure
Chennai floods Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) terms 2015 Chennai floods a man-made disaster, holds Tamil Nadu govt. responsible for the catastrophe Auditor s report says indiscriminate discharge of water from Chembarambakkam lake burdened the Adyar river 17 Reports suggest that in Tamil Nadu alone, over 300 people lost their lives, nearly two million people were displaced, and preliminary flood damages were estimated at Rs 8,400 crores The floods were even discussed at the climate change negotiations in Paris in December, leading to another plaintive request for concrete and urgent action against climate disruption.
Chennai floods 18
In the case of Chennai, stories of tragedy and hardship were shared in real time, as were the rescue efforts of the government, the Chennai Corporation, police, and the armed forces. But in the age of social media, another unique account emerged: that of the interventions of a number of community-based organisations and the private sector 19
Orissa Super Cyclone 1999 20
BHUJ Earthquake 2001 21
Indian Ocean Tsunami 2004 22
Tsunami of 2004 23
Uttarakhand Floods 2013 24
Uttrakhand Disaster 25
Types of Hazards 26 Water and climate related Geological Chemical, Industrial and Nuclear related Accident related and Biological origin
World Distribution of Disasters triggered by Natural Hazards (1995-2004) 27 Volcanic eruptions Earthquakes & 1% tsunamis 8% Wave surge 0% Landslides 4% Avalanches 1% Epidemic 15% Insect Infestation 1% Drought and rel. 19% Wind storm 21% Floods 30%
Natural Disasters 28
Sendai Declaration The 3rd World Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction was held from 14 to 18 March 2015 in Sendai City, Miyagi Prefecture, Japan. Several thousand participated at this World Conference under the umbrella of building the resilience of nations and communities to disasters Post-2015 HFA, hopefully new framework will emerge to tackle disasters and climate change holistically 29
Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015-2030 1. Understanding Disaster Risk 2. Strengthening Disaster Risk Governance to manage disaster risk 3. Investing in Disaster Risk Reduction for resilience 30 4. Enhancing disaster preparedness for effective response, and to Build Back Better in Recovery, Rehabilitation and Reconstruction
Sendai 31 Sendia Preamble no 7. mentions that there has to be a broader and a more people-centred preventive approach to disaster risk. Disaster risk reduction practices need to be multi-hazard and multi-sectoral, inclusive and accessible in order to be efficient and effective.there is a need for the public and private sectors and civil society organizations, as well as academia and scientific and research institutions, to work more closely together and to create opportunities for collaboration, and for businesses to integrate disaster risk into their management practices
GOI Legal and Institutional Mechanisms 32 In India, the institutional and policy mechanisms for carrying out response, relief and rehabilitation have been well-established since Independence. Over the past few years, there has been a paradigm shift in the approach to disaster management, from a relief and response -oriented approach to mitigation and risk reduction. The High Power Committee (HPC) on Disaster Management and the Eleventh Finance Commission made significant contributions to this process. It led to introduction of DM Act in December 2005
Key Features of DM Act 33 To promote institutional mechanisms for drawing up and monitoring the implementation of Disaster Management plans } To ensure measures by various wings of government for preventing and mitigating the effects of disaster } Various ministries or departments to draw up plans in accordance with National Disaster Management Plan } The DM Act empowers NDMA under the Chairpersonship of Prime Minister. } Similar structures in State level-sdma and District level- DDMA up to PRI level.
International Disaster Law IDL can be categorised as follows: International Disaster Response Law (IDRL) Law and Disaster Risk Reduction Addressing Regulatory Barriers to Emergency and Transitional Shelter 34
We need to review the DM act 2005 And contextualise with climate change Promote DRR at State and district levels Need for multi-sectoral, disciplinary, agencies to address DRR, CC and SDG effectively 35
36 Sendai Priority 3: Investing in Disaster Risk Reduction for Resilience, no. 29, mentions Public and private investment in disaster risk prevention and reduction through structural and nonstructural measures are essential to enhance the economic, social, health and cultural resilience of persons, communities, countries and their assets, as well as the environment.
Social dimension: 37 Further, the role of stakeholders in stated in no.36. When determining specific roles and responsibilities for stakeholders, and at the same time building on existing relevant international instruments, States should encourage the following actions on the part of all public and private stakeholders.focussing on women, children, elderly and people with disabilities.
SDG 11 38 Goal 11: Make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable 1.5 By 2030, significantly reduce the number of deaths and the number of people affected and decrease by [x] per cent the economic losses relative to gross domestic product caused by disasters, including water-related disasters, with a focus on protecting the poor and people in vulnerable situations
SDG 12 SDG 12: Ensure sustainable consumption and production Patterns 39 12.4 By 2020, achieve the environmentally sound management of chemicals and all wastes throughout their life cycle, in accordance with agreed international frameworks, and significantly reduce their release to air, water and soil in order to minimize their adverse impacts on human health and the environment
SDG 13 40 Take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts 13.1 Strengthen resilience and adaptive capacity to climate-related hazards and natural disasters in all countries 3.2 Integrate climate change measures into national policies, strategies and planning
Thank you 41