02.02.2015 Views

of the Verde Island Passage, Philippines - weADAPT

of the Verde Island Passage, Philippines - weADAPT

of the Verde Island Passage, Philippines - weADAPT

SHOW MORE
SHOW LESS

You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles

YUMPU automatically turns print PDFs into web optimized ePapers that Google loves.

climate change vulnerability assessment <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> verde island passage, philippines<br />

out adaptation and mitigation plans in foreshore areas.<br />

Using <strong>the</strong> rating scheme <strong>of</strong> 1=Low (High), 2=Medium,<br />

3=High (Low) vulnerability (capacity), Table 57 contains<br />

<strong>the</strong> perceived adaptive capacity <strong>of</strong> <strong>Verde</strong> <strong>Island</strong><br />

<strong>Passage</strong> in responding to climate change impacts in<br />

foreshore areas.<br />

Table 57. Adaptive capacity assessment in foreshore areas <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> <strong>Verde</strong><br />

<strong>Island</strong> <strong>Passage</strong>, 2009.<br />

Capacity Municipal Provincial National<br />

requirements level level level<br />

IEC<br />

Policy formulation and implementation<br />

Management bodies<br />

LGU-NGO partnerships<br />

Community involvement<br />

Disaster preparedness<br />

Climate change impacts on <strong>the</strong> people’s<br />

health and safety in <strong>Verde</strong> <strong>Island</strong> <strong>Passage</strong><br />

and <strong>the</strong> sector’s responses<br />

Water- and vector-borne diseases, destruction <strong>of</strong><br />

infrastructure in human settlements, loss <strong>of</strong> incomes,<br />

and even loss <strong>of</strong> lives, because <strong>of</strong> extreme wea<strong>the</strong>r<br />

events (sea surface temperature and storminess),<br />

flooding, and accelerated sea level rise, command large<br />

scale institutional response. Vulnerability assessment to<br />

aid adaptation is indeed expedient now.<br />

3<br />

3<br />

3<br />

3<br />

3<br />

3<br />

3<br />

3<br />

3<br />

3<br />

3<br />

3<br />

3<br />

2<br />

3<br />

3<br />

3<br />

3<br />

USAID’s Guidebook is a very useful reference in<br />

setting <strong>the</strong> scope <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> assessment. The matrix below<br />

provides a summary <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> threats affecting mariculture<br />

and affected freshwater resources as a source <strong>of</strong><br />

income and food, human settlements, health, and<br />

conflict situations.<br />

Following <strong>the</strong> guidebook, absent or incomplete<br />

baselines for <strong>the</strong> vulnerability assessment were<br />

first addressed in <strong>the</strong> project through appropriately<br />

prioritized agency data sources such as physical<br />

framework and development plans, socio-economic<br />

pr<strong>of</strong>iles, health reports, disaster records and<br />

infrastructure plans. These were accessed but re-read<br />

with a climate-sensitive perspective. Reconstructive<br />

data, based on experiences and observations, was<br />

separately done through interviews with technical staff<br />

with coastal residents. Multi-agency workshops for<br />

systematic consolidation and validation followed (Table<br />

58).<br />

Vulnerability assessment <strong>of</strong> health and safety<br />

The climate change impacts from more frequent strong<br />

typhoons and <strong>the</strong> consequent intensified flooding, will<br />

potentially have large effects on livelihood and quality<br />

<strong>of</strong> life in settlements. (Note: vulnerability assessment <strong>of</strong><br />

effects on livelihood is covered in <strong>the</strong> earlier sections.)<br />

Sea level rise is not yet seen by many people as a result<br />

<strong>of</strong> global warming/climate change. Unfortunately, effects<br />

Table 58. Climate change threats to coastal communities.<br />

Sector Climate change impacts Climate change threats<br />

Mariculture<br />

Freshwater<br />

resources<br />

Human settlements<br />

Human health<br />

Conflict<br />

sea surface temperature increases;<br />

environmental changes e.g., salinity, precipitation levels,<br />

seasonality;<br />

changes in wea<strong>the</strong>r patterns and extreme wea<strong>the</strong>r events<br />

encroachment <strong>of</strong> saltwater into <strong>the</strong> water table, estuaries<br />

and coastal rivers;<br />

waves and storm surges reaching fur<strong>the</strong>r inland;<br />

decreased precipitation<br />

increasing coastal inundation;<br />

sea level rise raising water levels during storm surge;<br />

erosion, and extreme wea<strong>the</strong>r events<br />

changing wea<strong>the</strong>r patterns;<br />

extremely hot periods<br />

coastal land loss due to sea level rise<br />

• unpredictable changes in culture productivity;<br />

• increase stress and vulnerability to pathogens and parasites in cultured organisms;<br />

• overall decline in ocean productivity reduces supplies <strong>of</strong> wild fish used for fish meal for<br />

mariculture;<br />

• reduce productivity and disrupted operations (loss <strong>of</strong> infrastructure and stock) due to extreme<br />

wea<strong>the</strong>r events;<br />

• loss <strong>of</strong> income and investments<br />

• saltwater intrusion <strong>of</strong> freshwater sources;<br />

• increased saltwater intrusion, exacerbating water supply problems;<br />

• contamination <strong>of</strong> water supply sources during flooding and coastal inundation;<br />

• lack <strong>of</strong> potable water during extreme wea<strong>the</strong>r events<br />

• more inland relocation;<br />

• houses, buildings and infrastructure damage from increasing coastal storm intensity and flood<br />

exposure;<br />

• reduced clearance under bridges;<br />

• overtopping <strong>of</strong> coastal defense structures;<br />

• degradation <strong>of</strong> natural coastal defense structures<br />

• injuries, illness, and loss <strong>of</strong> lives due to extreme wea<strong>the</strong>r events;<br />

• malnutrition, water and food shortages during extreme events;<br />

• heat stress from extremely hot periods;<br />

• increased spread <strong>of</strong> vector-borne disease (dengue fever and malaria), waterborne diseases<br />

(diarrhea) and toxic algae (ciguatera)<br />

• coastal land and resource scarcity or loss, and human migration;<br />

• resource and water use conflicts due to scarcity;<br />

• population migration to urban areas as ocean productivity and food availability declines and<br />

fishers are displaced;<br />

• disruption <strong>of</strong> peace and order situation<br />

Source: Adapted from <strong>the</strong> USAID Guidebook for Development Planners: Adapting to Coastal Climate Change.<br />

70

Hooray! Your file is uploaded and ready to be published.

Saved successfully!

Ooh no, something went wrong!