Second National Communication

1. Second National Communication Anne Rasmussen National Climate Change Summit 2009

2. SNC Project is funded by the Global Environment Facility, UNDP as the Implementing Agency MNRE Executing Agency Samoa ratified the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change in 1994 Completed the First National Communication 1999 SNC Project aims to fulfil Samoa’s obligations under the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change 2006- 2008/09 Also to update on the current and future CC issues

3. SNC report covers: • National Circumstances • GHG Inventory • Climate Change Vulnerability and Adaptation Assessment • Mitigation Actions taken by Samoa • Other relevant information

4. Significant Results

5. Climate Risk Profile • Provides an analysis of local climate data and global climate models • Summarizes the climate risk for Samoa (current and future) • Local, scientific evidence of climate change

6. Maximum temperatures, by year, for Apia ( 2007) Local Climate Change Trend, plus increased variability

7. Samoa’s Climate is Already Changing Return Periods (yrs) – Daily Rainfall, Apia Return Period: The average number of years between a given extreme event

8. Adaptation • Provided advanced vulnerability and adaptation training to key sectors • Each sector prepared V&A report • Water • Health • Agriculture • Infrastructure • Biodiversity • Fisheries

9. Methodology – V&A • The assessment followed IPCC, UNFCCC and Pacific community based V&A methodologies adapted for Samoa, • which built on the considerable body of existing information (e.g. NAPA,INC and climate risk profile). • Samoa’s climate risk profile (CRP) was the core scientific tool from which the V&A was based. • The assessment used a risk based approach grounded on up-to-date, factual and often quantitative information.

10. CASE STUDY: FISHERIES Exposure to Climate Change:

11. GHG Inventory • Detailed, locally relevant methodologies for estimating emissions prepared based on the IPCCC guideline 2006 • Inventory complete for Samoa 2000 – 2007

12. Top 6 sources of GHG emissions Table B: Top six sources of GHG emissions in Samoa (2007).

13. Key Recommendations • Investigate options for improving the detail of activity data used for the GHG inventory. This will allow for more accurate estimates to be made and reduce the uncertainty associated with the inventory • Update land cover data for Samoa to allow more accurate estimates of CO2 emissions and removals from forests and other land use categories.

14. Mitigation • Samoa is committed to reducing GHG emissions as a way of mitigating the threat of climate change. When deciding on where to focus mitigation efforts, the following three questions should be asked: • What are the biggest sources of GHG emissions in Samoa? • Which sectors have the most potential for GHG reductions? • How can mitigation efforts contribute to national development?

15. If the anecdotal evidence is correct and improved satellite imagery shows a net downward trend in Samoa’s forest cover, there may be opportunities for Samoa to participate in international initiatives aimed at reducing emissions from deforestation and degradation (REDD). However, at the time of writing, the exact rules for REDD have yet to be developed.

16. Other Information • TNA • Awareness Key Recommendation: • Due to the cross-sectoral nature of climate change and recognizing the constraints on technical, institutional and community capacity to deal with the issue, collaboration and partnership between all the stakeholders in support of national efforts is critical.

17. Thank you to the hard work by all the task team & NCCCT - guidance from CEO, ACEOs (MNRE) - V&A working Group, GHG working group - Mitigation working group,TNA working group - NUS, USP,UNDP, SPREP,FAO, Met office GOD BLESS & FAAFETAI