1 of 15 C limate Change Adaptation Strategies for W A ter Resources and Human Livelihood S in the C oastal Zones of Small Isl A nd D eveloping Stat E s STAKEHOLDER PANELS Saint Lucia and St Vincent & the Grenadines Dr Michael Sutherland September 25, Saint Lucia September 27, Saint Vincent & the Grenadines

2 of 15 Framework for Vulnerability Assessment: St Lucia and St Vincent & the Grenadines

3 of 15 Structure of Presentation Key objectives Defining water security Water security in SIDS Definition of livelihoods and vulnerability Intrinsic Vulnerability in SIDS Elements of Vulnerability to climate-related Impacts Vulnerability Indices The Sustainable Livelihoods Vulnerability Index

4 of 15 K EY O BJECTIVES To analyze how changes in water supply and water demand will impact on human livelihoods. To assess the impacts of climatic and non-climatic drivers on water resources and human livelihoods in St Lucia and St Vincent & the Grenadines. To formulate a vulnerability index to measure elements of vulnerability in St Lucia and St Vincent & the Grenadines.

5 of 15 D EFINITION OF W ATER S ECURITY The reliable availability of an acceptable quantity and quality of water for health, livelihoods and production, coupled with an acceptable level of water-related risks (Sadoff and Muller, 2009). Water security involves investments in 3 main areas: Infrastructure Institutions Information

6 of 15 W ATER SECURITY IN SIDS Small Island Developing States (SIDS) account for less than 1 % of greenhouse gas emissions (IPCC, 2001). However, they are arguably the most vulnerable to the adverse impacts of climatic changes. SIDS are particularly vulnerable to impacts on the supply of fresh water.

7 of 15 D EFINITION OF L IVELIHOODS A livelihood is a means of making a living. It encompasses people’s capabilities, assets, income and activities required to secure the necessities of life. A livelihood is sustainable when it enables people to cope with and recover from shocks and stresses (such as natural disasters and economic or social upheavals) and enhance their well-being and that of future generations without undermining the natural environment or resource base (IFRC).

8 of 15 D EFINITION OF V ULNERABILITY Blaikie et al (1994): “characteristics of a person or group in terms of their capacity to anticipate, cope with, resist and recover from the impact of a natural hazard” Chamber (1989): “exposure to contingencies and stress, and difficulty coping with them”. The IPCC 2001 defines vulnerability in relation to climate change as “The degree, to which a system is susceptible to, or unable to cope with, adverse effects of climate change, including climate variability and extremes. Vulnerability is a function of the character, magnitude, and rate of climate variation to which a system is exposed, its sensitivity, and its adaptive capacity.”

9 of 15 I NTRINSIC V ULNERABILITIES OF SIDS

10 of 15 E LEMENTS OF V ULNERABILITY T O C LIMATE -R ELATED I MPACTS Vulnerability is a function of exposure to specific social and environmental stresses, sensitivity and adaptive capacities (Polsky et al. 2007). Vulnerability to climate related impacts may be systematically measured and assessed through: o Exposure - the nature and degree to which the societal system is exposed to the climate-related impacts; o Sensitivity - the degree to which the societal system is adversely affected by the impacts; and o Adaptive capacity - the ability of a system to adjust to climate-induced shocks, either in short or medium terms, to moderate potential damages, to take advantage of opportunities, or to cope with the consequences. Some of the principal ‘drivers’ of Vulnerability in St Lucia and St Vincent and the Grenadines are identified in the following figure.

11 of 15 Figure 1: Risk Drivers for St. Lucia and St. Vincent & the Grenadines Climatic Drivers Non-Climatic Drivers Sea Level Rise Extreme Meteorological Events Saline Intrusion into Aquifers Coastal Erosion Precipitation Temperature Rise Social and Human Activities Infrastructure Population Growth Tourism Industrial/Commercial Settlements Agriculture Practices Recreational Activities Population Growth Tourism Industrial/Commercial Settlements Agriculture Practices Recreational Activities Droughts Floods Surface Run-off Droughts Floods Surface Run-off Leakages Deteriorated Equipment Lack of Equipment Unskilled Labour Unenforced Water Laws Leakages Deteriorated Equipment Lack of Equipment Unskilled Labour Unenforced Water Laws Man-Made Environmental Factors Deforestation Air Pollution Water Pollution Water Course Alterations Land Use Change Deforestation Air Pollution Water Pollution Water Course Alterations Land Use Change Institutional Structure Processes Water Authority Management Structure Subsidized Water Supply Political Events Diplomacy Water Authority Management Structure Subsidized Water Supply Political Events Diplomacy CHANGES IN QUALITY AND QUANTITY OF FRESHWATER RESOURCES (ALTERED SUPPLY & DEMAND) CHANGES IN QUALITY AND QUANTITY OF FRESHWATER RESOURCES (ALTERED SUPPLY & DEMAND)

12 of 15 V ULNERABILITY I NDICES “An index is a composite representation of numerical measurements manipulated in some manner to give a single value, often called an index score or rank” (Simpson & Katirai 2006). Vulnerability Indices are used to compare the relative vulnerability of two or more locations at a given point in time as well as to compare the vulnerability of any one location over time. There are several different types of vulnerability indices. In our study, the emphasis is on the vulnerability of human livelihoods to the effects of climate change on water resources. For this reason, we develop a Sustainable Livelihoods Vulnerability Index (Hahn et al. 2009). The index consists of 5 sub-indices, each representing one of five ‘livelihood’ capital pillars: the environmental, the physical, the social, the human and the financial.

13 of 15 ENVIRONMENTAL CAPITAL BIODIVERSITYFRESHWATERAGRICULTUREFORESTRY MARINE RESOURCES NATURAL HAZARDS PHYSICAL CAPITAL TRANSPORTSHELTERSANITATIONENERGYCOMMUNICATIONS SOCIAL CAPITAL GROUPS AND NETWORKS TRUST AND SOLIDARITY COOPERATION EMPOWERMENT AND POLITICAL ACTION SOCIAL COHESION AND INCLUSION WORK CONNECTIONS HUMAN CAPITAL AGEEDUCATIONDEMOGRAPHYHEALTHPOPULATION SIZE CLIMATE EDUCATION FINANCIAL CAPITAL OCCUPATIONEMPLOYMENTINCOMEASSET OWNERSHIPUNEMPLOYMENT Figure 2 : Pillars of Sustainable Livelihoods Vulnerability Index

14 of 15 Sustainable Livelihoods Vulnerability Index Each pillar is an index in its own right. The Sustainable Livelihoods Vulnerability Index (SLVI) is an amalgam of all 5 sub-indices. The index is to be calculated for various communities of St Lucia and St Vincent & the Grenadines. It is to be re-calculated over time. The impact of simulated climate change events may be measured. The impact of simulated adaptation policies may be measured.

15 of 15 Thank you C limate Change Adaptation Strategies for W A ter Resources and Human Livelihood S in the C oastal Zones of Small Isl A nd D eveloping Stat E s