THINK GLOBAL, REGIONAL, ACT LOCAL, INCREASE CLIMATE FINANCING POSITION PAPER AT PEOPLE’S SUMMIT, 15TH TO 16TH AUGUST “CLIMATE CHANGE” Climate change refers to “a change of climate attributed directly or indirectly to human activities that alter the composition of the global atmosphere and which is in addition to natural climate variability observed over comparable time periods.” This phenomenon is in part the result of increased levels of CO2 in the atmosphere, exacerbated by human industrial development over the past two centuries.[1] There is no doubt that climate change is happening and that it poses serious global challenges. This is because climate change is an environmental, social, economic, energy, food, political, ethical and moral challenge. It is a crisis perpetuated and fuelled by the endless pursuit of growth and prosperity. Ultimately, the world faces not just a climate crisis, but also a crisis of sustainability. The key contributor to global warming is human-induced climate change because of unsustainable economic growth, consumption and production patterns that are exploitative, especially by the global North and the elites in developing countries. While climate change affects everyone, it does not affect everyone equally. The poor and vulnerable in Africa and other developing countries that have the least responsibility for climate change suffer the most as they experience violence, exclusion and loss of sovereignty over natural resources. Women make up 70%1 of the worlds poor and this places them on the frontline of coping with climate impacts. This policy brief concerns climate change in a global and regional context especially as it pertains to the Southern African Development Community (SADC) and Development and the campaign for a financing and Climate Change. In line with the dictum “think global, act local,” the brief also targets the local authorities that SADC and Local Government. Quick facts 70 % of the world's poor are women; climate change affects these women disproportionately. 85% of the people who die in climate induced natural disasters are women. 75 % of environmental refugees are women. Women's voices and interests need to be amplified in the policy-making around climate not least because they are the most vulnerable to climate change due to their different social role and status. Women are also more likely to be the unseen victims of resource wars and violence as a result of climate change. Women are the majority of victims in floods and tsunamis because they lack mobility as they stay to protect children. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) working group predicts that Africa's warming trend will be 1.5 times more than the global trend and that Southern Africa will be about 3-4 degrees warmer by the close of the century. The IPCC reported in 2007 that by 2020, between 75 and 250 million Africans will likely be experiencing Climate Change and Disaster Statistics of Floods Heavy seasonal rainfall starting in December 2014 has caused flooding in Southern Africa. As of 16 Jan 2015, 135,000 people had been affected in Malawi, Mozambique, Madagascar and Zimbabwe. (OCHA, 16 Jan 2015) The Southern Region of Malawi received 400% higher rains than usual (compared to the Long Term Mean) causing the Shire River to reach its highest level in 30 years. Heavy rains experienced in the first quarter of 2015 caused flooding in 15 of the 28 districts in Malawi, most of which are located in the southern part of the country. The President declared a state of disaster on 13 January 2015. (IFRC, 17 July 2015) On 21 Jan, a Preliminary Response Plan was presented to the Office of the Vice President, seeking $81 million to address the immediate needs of up to 638,000 people affected by floods. An outbreak of cholera was confirmed with the first cases crossing the border from Mozambique in February 2015. As of 23 June 2015 there had been 693 reported cases and 11 deaths. In the 2014-2015 rain season, Mozambique was hard-hit by heavy rains and floods particularly in the second half of the season - January to March 2015 in the Central and North of the country. Due to the significant reduction on rainfall occurrence in the country and region as well as all the river basins standing currently below alert level, the CTGC has downgraded on 10 April 2015 the institutional Orange alert to Green alert, marking the end of emergency response actions and focusing more on recovery and prevention actions, UN RC, 24 Apr 2015. The floods also exacerbated a Cholera outbreak. Zimbabwe experienced widespread flooding across the country, with the worst affected provinces including Manicaland, Mashonaland Central, Mashonaland East, Mashonaland West and Midlands. According to preliminary assessments, approximately 6,000 people (1,200 households) have been affected, of which 2,500 people (500 households) are in urgent need of assistance. The flood-affected population has moved to higher ground, with some seeking refuge in schools. (IFRC, 13 Jan 2015) In Madagascar, weeks of heavy rainfall had already caused high river levels and soil saturation when Tropical Storm Chedza crossed the island on 16 Jan. Continuing rainfall not only exacerbated the impact of Chedza, but also caused flood conditions over the north of the country. (OCHA, 21 Jan 2015) Following the breakdown of the Sisaony dam, the flooding in the greater Antananarivo worsened, and on 27 February 2015, a Red Alert (danger) was declared. By 9 March 2015, it was reported that 93,000 people were affected, and 40 000 displaced (BNGRC). Around 13,100 hectares of rice fields flooded, and many schools were closed while being used as temporary accommodation centres. (IFRC, 23 Mar 2015) Some emerging issues: Namibia is concerned with increased water stress and extreme weather events. “Food security, health and other development goals could be turned upside down. The projected rise in sea levels due to global warming could submerge coastal islands and affect the entire marine industry and the coastal economy.”3 Zambia is experiencing increasing droughts and floods, and other knock-on effects: “social, economic and environmental problems, such as increased poverty and deforestation due to charcoal burning.”[2] Mozambique is already one of the Southern African countries most affected by natural disasters, and this is likely to be increased by climate change: In the event of poor global mitigation results - the “too little, too late” scenario - temperatures in Mozambique could rise by as much as 2°C to 2.5°C by 2050. Rainfall variability would increase, the start of the rainy season would likely shift, flood risk would be higher, and the centre of the country would suffer more intense cyclones and droughts.”[3] The semi-arid areas of Tanzania have seen declining crop yields, poor livestock production, and increasing domestic animal diseases. Many communities have abandoned the production of traditional crops. But farmers in areas of high rainfall are also in difficulty. Climate impacts on South Africa remain poorly understood, but climate zones are already shifting. Broadly speaking, western South Africa is drying; eastern South Africa is becoming wetter. Droughts, floods and heat waves are increasing, average temperatures are up by 0.5 °C since 1960 (1 -2°C in Western Cape, where rainfall is declining, threatening agriculture and tourism); 50% of the Cape fynbos floral kingdom may be destroyed in the next few decades, threatening tourism and biodiversity. Maize production in Southern Africa may decline by up to 30% in the next 20 years; wheat production by up to 20%.[4][5] Recommendations Adapting to and mitigating climate change is critical to women's and men's enjoyment of socio-economic rights. Civil society organisations should take advantage of the recently established Transitional Committee of the Green Climate Fund to lobby for policies that promote sustainable development and are grounded in gender equity. Women's effective participation must be assured at all levels of the climate policy and climate change financing architecture. Lobbying for increase climate financing to the SADC governments that takes into account the gendered aspects of climate change and provides clear targets to tackle the problems associated with them. Set clear short and long term targets for carbon emission reductions that keep average global temperature increases well below 1.5 degrees centigrade, and support a shared vision that enables gender equality and avoids potentially adverse impacts to vulnerable groups, especially women. [1] UNFCC 2009 cited in Heinroch Boll Stuftung. [2] Zambia 'hard hit' by climate change”, 21 May 2007, www.inthenews.co.uk/news/uk/zambia-hard-hit-by-climate-change-$1087447.htm. [3] Report on the INGC Climate Change Report by Mozambique's National Disaster Management Institute (INGC). IRIN, “Mozambique: Climate change adaptation can't wait”, 28 May 2009, www.irinnews.org/Report.aspx?ReportId =84604. [4] Copenhagen Synthesis Report: Global Risks, Challenges & Decisions”, outcome of conference in Copenhagen, 10-12 March 2009, p. 23. www.climatecongress.ku.dk/pdf/synthesisreport. [5] Neumayer and Pluemper, 2007.