FCCC/CP/2015/7

FCCC/CP/2015/7
range from specific water-saving measures, such as the desalination of 285 million m 3
water for drinking water supply, or the construction of water conservation facilities for
farmlands, to broader considerations, such as mainstreaming climate change adaptation in
the water sector, implementing a national water master plan, building a man-made lake,
constructing reservoirs for glacier melt water harvesting, or building a water-saving society.
A few Parties are putting in place integrated water management systems. Some Parties seek
to develop water-saving irrigation systems, while others referred to their consideration of
climate criteria in their water management efforts. Some Parties outlined more specific
techniques, such as digging wells, rainwater harvesting or the substitution of water
withdrawal from aquifers with surface water.
284. Many Parties referred to actions in the agriculture sector and introduced their
programmes and policies, such as promoting sustainable agriculture and land management,
implementing integrated adaptation programmes for agriculture, developing climate criteria
for agricultural programmes and adopting agricultural calendars. Others described specific
methods that can be applied to combat specific climate-related problems in the agriculture
sector. For example, Parties described methods for pest management, including integrated
pest management, introduction of heat-, drought- and disease-resistant crop and fodder
types and the distribution of medicine. Many referred to the importance of resilient crops
and are planning to build on native maize species or other improved crop varieties. Parties
also referred to agricultural improvements that can reduce erosion, including measures such
as improving livestock production to reduce erosion. Some Parties defined quantitative
parameters, for instance the objective of converting 1 million ha grain to fruit plantations to
protect against erosion.
285. Human health was also commonly cited as a priority sector. A number of Parties are
aiming at an overall integration of climate impacts and/or the identification of priority
actions in the health sector and would like to enhance management systems or contingency
plans for public health to enhance the adaptive capacity of public medical services. In terms
of more specific measures to combat vector-borne diseases, one Party aims to protect
pregnant women and children under five against vector-borne diseases, while another one
referred to suppressing mosquito populations. Other measures include early warning
systems with epidemiological information, as well as health surveillance programmes and
contingency plans for heat waves.
286. Another priority area identified by many Parties is ecosystems, including in the
context of biodiversity conservation. Many defined enhancing the resilience of or
rehabilitating ecosystems as one of their objectives. In terms of biodiversity, Parties
identified some specific objectives and actions, including tracking, monitoring and
assessing impacts on biodiversity, establishing biodiversity corridors, protecting moorlands
and other ecosystems, and increasing the conservation of species and the recovery of forest,
coastal and marine ecosystems. One Party is preparing a biodiversity index and atlas, while
others are striving to protect wildlife species.
287. Disaster risk reduction has been addressed concomitantly to adaptation by several
Parties and they reported on their current and future efforts relating to disaster reduction,
the strengthening of early warning systems and contingency plans. Some mentioned the
development of insurance schemes as one of their measures, in particular to protect the
most vulnerable communities. A few Parties intend to resettle part of their population
highly exposed to climate risk in safer areas. In this context, one Party announced that it is
preparing its people for emigration owing to the country’s high vulnerability to sea level
rise.
288. In line with emerging trends seen in national frameworks and policies as reported by
Parties, some of the actions and measures seek to address transboundary issues. Among
those, most relate to the regional level and are associated with the management of shared
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