Climate change in the UKOTs an overview of the ... - JNCC - Defra

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simple as replacing light bulbs, powering down equipment that can be turned off when not in use or making modifications to production line processes. The cost of investing in alternative sources of energy, such as solar or wind technologies, may initially be high but will translate into savings in the medium to long-term. � Use clean technology and sustainable product sources. As with shifting to alternative energy, the initial outlay for newer, cleaner technologies can be high, but they too generally translate into savings in the medium to long-term. 74 4.4.5 Advocating for implementation of national adaptation plans and sustainable development policies Citizens play an important role. UKOT citizens and citizen organisations can call for national climate change adaptation plans to be developed and implemented. They can promote the implementation of sustainable development policies. Examples of such policies include the designation and proper management of protected areas, the implementation of coastal zone plans and compliance with development planning regulations. Chapter summary Choosing not to address climate change and its impacts would be a false economy for UKOTs. Although it is hard to say what the full impact of climate change on the territories will be, it is already apparent that they will be adversely affected. Addressing climate is, however, an opportunity for UKOTs to scale up existing measures for dealing with natural hazards and to improve natural resource management and physical planning processes. The inherent vulnerability that comes from their small size makes them even more sensitive to climate change impacts. It is, therefore, very important for UKOTs to take measures to shore up their structures to withstand climate change (adaptation). Even if they did not have to contend with climate change, adaptive measures would make UKOTs better able to deal with the natural hazards that are part of the normal climate variability, as well as the growing human-induced stresses on the environment. Although they are not major producers of greenhouse gases, UKOTs can play a role in helping to reduce the human impact on the climate system (mitigation). Addressing climate change is everybody’s business. Governments have an important role to play in setting the national agenda and putting in place the policies, programmes and structures that make it possible for others to play their part in adaptation and mitigation. It is important to have incentives in place that encourage early appropriate action rather than promote remedial responses. No contribution to the national effort to address climate change is too small. Businesses, households and even individuals can take steps to make their property more resilient to extreme weather, reduce their energy use and play their part in maintaining a healthy environment.
Why climate change matters for UKOTs 5 Unpacking climate change The Way Forward The global trend in average surface temperature is upwards and the pace at which it is moving is fast. While there are still uncertainties surrounding future projections and possible impacts, the evidence points to unprecedented change, with potentially dire consequences. Because of their inherent vulnerabilities, there is a lot at stake for UKOTs . There is no quick fix to the climate change problem and no single policy will set us on the right path. No single country or group of countries acting alone can solve the Coral reef monitoring in the British Virgin Islands (BVI). Credit: BVI National Trust Climate change in the UKOTs: present and future impacts What can UKOTs do about climate change? The way forward problem. This global issue requires an agreement between nations of all sizes and at all stages of development. It requires a commitment to joint and individual action by governments, the private sector, communities, civil society, households and individuals. It requires social, economic, environmental, and cultural policies and actions. It requires vision and creativity. 5.1 What does this mean for UKOTs? • Action. No country has the luxury of waiting to see how the climate change challenge will play out, least of all the UKOTs, where many ecosystems are among those that have already been identified as most vulnerable to climate change and have begun to experience adverse effects of an unstable climate. • Management and protection of ecosystems. Looking after biodiversity and critical ecosystems helps ensure that they carry out their ecological functions and services as well as increase resistance to climate change. • Climate-proofing national policies and development. Climate change has to become a long-term strategic issue for UKOTs that is factored into decision and policymaking in all spheres, from water resource management to physical planning to agriculture 75
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Climate Change in the UK Overseas T
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Acknowledgements: This booklet is p
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UKOTs, and outlines options for ada
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Abbreviations and Acronyms ACC Anta
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Glossary cont’d El Niño/El Niño
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Executive Summary What do droughts
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varying degrees on tourism. The env
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Why climate change matters for UKOT
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pledged $182m to international fund
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“ Addressing climate change is an
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Box 2. The UK Overseas Territories
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22 Atlantic, lying 912 km east of t
Page 26 and 27: 24 Climate: Tropical climate. Topog
Page 28 and 29: 26 Main economic activities: Gibral
Page 30 and 31: 28 Biodiversity: St. Helena's isola
Page 32 and 33: Why climate change matters for UKOT
Page 34 and 35: Number of reef provinces with moder
Page 36 and 37: Sunlight passes through the greenho
Page 38 and 39: The carbon dioxide imbalance It is
Page 40 and 41: Observed trends Some of the IPCC co
Page 42 and 43: Sea level and temperature: Global a
Page 44 and 45: 42 Box 6. Three temperature increas
Page 46 and 47: Changing growing seasons, drought a
Page 48 and 49: eds, higher seas surface temperatur
Page 50 and 51: Observed change Data and informatio
Page 52 and 53: designated wetland of international
Page 54 and 55: Higher temperatures and variability
Page 56 and 57: 54 Corals killed by sea warming in
Page 58 and 59: Ascension Island St. Helena Falklan
Page 60 and 61: 3.2.7 South Pacific There is one UK
Page 62 and 63: Why climate change matters for UKOT
Page 64 and 65: 4.1 Mainstreaming adaptation The co
Page 66 and 67: and capacity rather than rely on a
Page 68 and 69: Box 12 cont’d uprooted or snapped
Page 70 and 71: Some territories have taken steps t
Page 72 and 73: 70 Table 5. Policies that affect th
Page 74 and 75: In regions prone to drought or peri
Page 78 and 79: 76 and industrial development. This
Page 80 and 81: Government of Bermuda. 2007. Statem
Page 82: Sheppard, C. and M. Spalding. 2003.
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