WEBINAR ALLIANCE FOR CLIMATE SMART AGRICULTURE PRESENTATION NOVEMBER 25, NOVEMBER 25, 2014 DANIEL LEWIS Chief Agricultural Officer
GRENADA AT THE FOREFRONT IN CLIMATE CHANGE INITIATIVES • Grenada has demonstrated unwavering commitment and leadership over the last few years among its SIDs Partners and in the International Community in general on matters related to the environment • Grenada chaired the Alliance For SIDS during key negotiations of Climate Change Meetings and provided epic leadership of Climate Change Meetings and provided epic leadership during that period which resulted in tangible benefits for the SIDs grouping and other third world countries in general • Grenada continues to participate actively in CC/Environment related forums at the highest level as evidenced by the PM leading a delegation to The Hague earlier this year to the Global Oceans Action Summit and the island’s Participation in the launch of the ACSA in The Hague in July 2014.
GRENADA AT THE FOREFRONT IN CLIMATE CHANGE INITIATIVES • GRENADA LEADS CLIMATE CHANGE DISCUSSIONS AT WORLD BANK MEETINGS ST. GEORGE'S, GRENADA, October 13, 2014 - GIS: Given the leadership of Grenada’s Prime Minister, • Dr. the Right Honourable Keith Mitchell, on the issue of Climate Change, World Bank Vice President for Climate Change, Ms. Rachel Kyte invited Prime Minister Mitchell to speak at the two major fora held on Climate Change at the World Bank on October 10 and 11th. At the Resilience Dialogue hosted by CNN’s veteran reporter on Hurricane Katrina, Prime Minister At the Resilience Dialogue hosted by CNN’s veteran reporter on Hurricane Katrina, Prime Minister • • Mitchell cited Grenada’s experience with climate change and welcomed the World Bank’s Small Island States Resilience Initiative. Prime Minister Mitchell welcomed the World Bank’s announcement and added that • islands like Grenada needed to urgently access concessional funding. Prime Minister Mitchell referred to the frequency of hurricanes in the Caribbean which was linked to the indebtedness of some of the Caribbean islands. He lamented that middle-income countries, such as Grenada, were highly vulnerable, did not have access to sufficient concessional funding and therefore were reliant on expensive capital from the international private sector. This he said, added to the cycle of indebtedness.
GRENADA AT THE FOREFRONT IN CLIMATE CHANGE INITIATIVES • A number of CC/Environmental related programmes are now being implemented in Grenada 1. Programme on Integrated Climate Change Adaptation Strategies Three components of that Programme Three components of that Programme 1) Strengthened capacity of Government of Grenada to mainstream climate change adaptation considerations into national development planning 2) Improved planning, management and efficient use of the water and coastal Zone resources through the establishment of integrated water resources management approaches 3) Increased adaptive capacity of communities through the implementation of concrete community –based adaptation activities and incentives (UNDP component)
GRENADA AT THE FOREFRONT IN CLIMATE CHANGE INITIATIVES 2. Implementation of a very robust Marine Protected Areas Programme 3. Implementation of the Caribbean Aqua Terresterial Solutions Programme Solutions Programme 4. Accession to many MEAS, the most recent being RAMSAR
THE ALLIANCE FOR CLIMATE SMART AGRICULTURE • Grenada’s very strong support for the CSA is predicated by the fact that: a. The agri-food sector is a high priority of Government ( FNS, Employment, Rural stability, Government ( FNS, Employment, Rural stability, foreign exchange earning etc.) b. The recent challenges faced by climate change impacts: 1. The devastating hurricanes of Ivan and Emily (2004 and 2005)
THE ALLIANCE FOR CLIMATE SMART AGRICULTURE • Recent Challenges Faced By Climate Change Impacts (contd.) 2. Frequent Flash floods 3. More frequent drought conditions experienced 3. More frequent drought conditions experienced 4. Incidence of Invasive Species profoundly affecting crops 5. Higher than normal temperatures impacting negatively on crop production/fish harvesting 6. The need for a more resilient climate change adaptive approach in the development of the agri-food sector
THE ALLIANCE FOR CLIMATE SMART AGRICULTURE • GRENADA’S EXPECTATIONS FOR CLIAMTE SMART AGRICULTURE 1. The development of a more climate change resilient agri-food sector 2. Universal adoption of climate smart agriculture principles and systems 3. 3. Development of enabling environments that encourage people to adopt climate Development of enabling environments that encourage people to adopt climate smart agriculture approaches through accessing lessons learnt from best practices from pilot studies etc. 4. Work collaboratively with the Alliance for Climate Smart Agriculture to mobilize resources and expertise from the more developed partners in the Alliance 5. Integration of climate smart agriculture approaches into ongoing rural development programmes, aiming at improved integration and coordination 6. Capacity building of the island’s human resources (all stakeholders including small farmers) in climate smart agriculture knowledge and practices
THE ALLIANCE FOR CLIMATE SMART AGRICULTURE • GRENADA’S EXPECTATIONS FOR CLIMATE SMART AGRICULTURE (CONTD.) 6. Integrate climate smart agriculture principles into national policies and strategies 7. 7. Work with sub -regional and regional partners (OECS & CARICOM) in Work with sub -regional and regional partners (OECS & CARICOM) in endeavouring to strengthening and enhancing public policy frameworks such as linking sustainable agriculture intensification with climate adaptation, resilience and disaster risk reduction efforts. 8. Develop a strong and robust Caribbean Regional Chapter of the Alliance for Climate Smart Agriculture 9. Work closely with regional organizations such as IICA, FAO, CARDI, CDB, CARICOM, OECS in seeking to achieve (8).
Pm Mitchell with Members of his delegation at a meeting of the Global Oceans Action Summit For Food Security & Blue Growth in The Hague, Holland in April 2014. THANK YOU LADIES & GENTLEMEN FOR YOUR VERY KIND ATTENTION
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