joint

Joint UNEP/OCHA Environment Unit

OCHA Emergency Services Branch

Geneva, Switzerland

Emilia WahlströmProgramme Officer

A dialogue in practiceIntegrating climate change adaptation into

civil protection

Content

• Joint UNEP/OCHA Environment Unit introduction

• Presentation of relevant findings from reports and studies

• Linking climate change adaptation to civil protection – recommendations and ways forward

Environmental Emergencies

“An environmental emergency is defined as a suddenonset disaster or accident resulting from natural,

technological or human-induced factors, or a combination of these, that cause or threaten to cause

severe environmental damage as well as harm to humanhealth and/or livelihoods.”

UNEP Governing Council, 13 November 2002

Joint UNEP/OCHA Environment Unit

VISION

Our vision is for countries to be better prepared, more resilient and able to effectively respond to environmental emergencies.

MISSION

To mobilise and coordinate a comprehensive response to environmental emergencies to protect lives, livelihoods, ecosystems, and future generations.

Technical expertise

Joint UNEP/OCHA Environment Unit

Prepared Response

Humanitarian coordination

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RESPONSE

Priorities

PREPAREDNESS

ENVIRONMENT IN HUMANITARIAN ACTION

Talvivaara spill, Finland, 2012Baia Mare cyanide spill, Romania, 2000

Preparedness in a changing world

Improving linkages between environmental emergency response, contingency planning and preparedness

The implications of climate change and urbanization forenvironmental emergency preparedness and response

Linking climate change and civil protection

• Widely acknowledged need to closer link climate change adaptation with disaster risk reduction and with civil protection (Rio +20, HFA 2) – at policy as well as practical level

• Study1 conducted in Sweden, Norway and the Netherlands shows that

– CC and CP have different policy cultures (transforming society vs. protecting today’s society from external threats)

– Differences in countries’ institutions should be taken into account(e.g. level of centralization)

Groven, Aall, van den Berg et al. (2012) Integrating climate change adaptation intocivil protection: comparative lessons from Norway, Sweden and the Netherlands.

Role of civil protection in climate change

• Switzerland study on climate change impacts on civil protection

• Extreme weather events probably most relevant for CP, but– Information and models still

lacking (quantification)– Risks and hazard analysis must

lead to actions

• Coordination local-regional crucial (resources, response)

• CP can play a role in EW (heatwaves, fires, drought)

Recommendations…

• Harmonizing overarching policies; ensuring wide consultations

• Widening discussion and creating awareness

• Bringing schools of thought closer:

– Bridging the gap between “reducing vulnerabilities” and “handling the crisis”

– Long-term vs. short-term (monitoring and assessment tools)

– Preparedness and prevention can act as a link

• Acknowledging the role of local authorities, responders and communities

Prepare, build capacity & raise awareness

Tools, guidelines & training

Networks

Environmental Emergencies Centre

www.eecentre.org

Online preparedness tool designed to strengthen the capacity of vulnerable countries to environmental emergencies

Workshops and trainings

EEC eLearning modules

TrainingThe JEU develops introductory and advanced trainings on a variety of

environmental emergency preparedness and response topics

eLearning modules available at www.eecentre.org

joint

www.unocha.org/unep

Rapid deployment of experts

Rapid environmental assessments

Onsite sampling and analysis

ResponseIn the first hours after an environmental emergency, the JEU can mobilise

experts and equipment to the affected area

Recent Activities

Chemical / industrial accident risks and preparedness around city of Toamasina

• Joint JEU / European Commission mission to assess risks and capacities around Ambatovymining site (cobalt, nickel) and Toamasina port

• Based on the scoping mission, a chemical / industrial accidents program was developed

Madagascar 2013

Philippines 2013

Recent ActivitiesTyphoon Bopha passed through the Philippines from Mindanao to Palawan

between 4-7 December 2012

• Environmental expert integrated into UN disaster assessment team

• Desk review and field support of $65 million response and recovery plan

5.4 millionAffected

368,672 Displaced

481,000 Beneficiaries

$65 million Requested

Recent Activities

Fire triggers series of explosions at munitions depot in Brazzaville

> 250 dead > 3,000 injured> 20,000 displaced

• UNDAC team deployed to assess secondary impacts on industrial facilities

• UNDAC team took groundwaterand soil samples

Republic of Congo 2012

Environmental Emergencies Centre (EEC)

Preparedness trainings

PreparednessContingency planning, training, and awareness raising on the impacts of

environmental emergencies

The Gambia 2013

Recent ActivitiesScoping mission to support the Government in assessing industrial /

chemical hazards and developing environmental emergency preparedness

• Three main areas of preparedness:

• Policy and legal framework

• (Industrial) hazard mapping

• Contingency planning for environmental emergencies

• Integrate priority environmental emergency issues into the National Plan of Action for Disaster Risk Reduction (jointly with CADRI)

Turkey 2013

Recent ActivitiesThe training consisted of an eLearning module, a five-day training workshop

and a field visit

• Five-day training

• 27 experts from 11 countries in the Mediterranean region + Balkans

• In partnership with PPRD South (Euromed Programme on Prevention, Preparedness and Response to Natural and Man-made Disasters), UNEP, SDC (Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation)

Environment in Humanitarian ActionIntegration of environmental considerations across the whole humanitarian

programmatic cycle

Country-specific support

Update of guidance and input of key environmental elements

Raise awareness

Establish an Environmental Reference Group