Adaptation to Climate Change Actions in Mongolia

1
Adaptation to Climate Change Actions in Mongolia

• Adaptation Workshop
• IFAD, Rome
• 18-19 May 2007

2
Overall framework

• 1993 Ratification of the UNFCCC (signed in
  1992)
• 2000 - National Action Programme on Climate
  Change
• Priorities and integration of CC concerns into
  other national and sectoral development plans
• Measures, actions and strategies for GHG
  mitigation and CC adaptation
• 2001 - Initial National Communication (INC) under
  the UNFCCC
• It includes national GHG inventories, policies
  and strategies on adaptation to climate change
  and reduction of greenhouse gases
• It reflects some country-specific circumstances
  and climate change concerns.
• 2006 - Potential Impacts of Climate Change
  Evaluation of Adaptation Measures for Livestock
  Sector
• Main aim to stretch out the potential impacts of
  climate change upon the natural environment and
  upon the livestock sector, which is the major
  economic activity of Mongolia.
• The results of this project will be direct input
  to the preparation on the Second National
  Communication

3
National GHG Inventory(Initial National
Communication -2001)

• The Mongolian GHG inventories follow the IPCC
  1996 Guidelines. Emissions included are CO2,
  CH4, N20, NOx, CO.
• Identification of GHG emission trend
• Indication of emission by sources

CH4
CO2
4
Characterization of Climate Change in Mongolia
(2006)

• Temperature in Mongolia has increased by 1.80C
  since 1940.
• The occurrence of natural disasters like extreme
  hot and cold weather, drought, dzud, flood and
  sand storms in Mongolia has increased.
• Melting of high mountain glaciers has increased.
• Permafrost is degrading intensively.
• Ground water table is decreasing in arid regions,
  and degradation and desertification of the land
  due to shortage of water and precipitation have
  been intensifying.

Heat wave duration
5
Achievements to date

• Data collection and management has improved
• National information exchange network established
• A multi-disciplinary team of scientists has been
  created
• Permanent climate-animal observation site
  established

6
CC Impact Assessment

• Source Potential Impacts of Climate Change
  Evaluation of Adaptation Measures for Livestock
  Sector (2006)
• Natural environmental impacts CC impact on
  natural zone, water resources, snow cover and
  permafrost
• Ecological and economic impacts pasture,
  livestock
• See full documentation for more details

7
Vulnerability to CC

• Focus on climate extremes of drought and dzud

8
Recently proposed adaptation measures for
livestock sector(Potential Impacts of Climate
Change Evaluationof Adaptation Measures for
Livestock Sector - 2006)

• Focus on
• Conserving the natural resources
• Strengthening animal productivity
• Enhancing capacities and livelihood opportunities
  of rural communities
• Increasing food security and supply
• Improving understanding of climate extremes and
  forecasting
• Main actions to be taken to address
• (a) gradual long-term changes (degradation of
  quantity and quality of pasture)
• (b) changes in the frequency and intensity of
  extreme events (drought and dzud).
• However there are problems that may impede the
  implementation of these measures

9
Need for further action (2006)

• To implement the proposed adaptation measures
  it is necessary to address the following
  problems
• Institutional no coordination of sectoral
  actions and no clear definition of
  responsibilities
• Financial lack of financial resources for
  initial investments would limit the
  implementation of the measures.
• Technical lack of appropriate technologies and
  know-how
• Legislative the legal, regulatory and
  standardization framework for pasture use is
  inadequate to effectively implement some of the
  adaptation measures.
• Other problems
• Organizational constraints.
• Introduction of the market economy in Mongolia.

10
Conclusion

• The development of an adaptation strategy goes
  through the following steps
• Assessment of past and present climate change
• Identification of more vulnerable areas and
  sectors
• Assessment of potential impacts
• Identification of possible adaptation options
• Identification of the constraints
• And now on the basis of this analysis we should
  be able to
• Formulate alternative strategies
• Develop implementation strategies