Global Environmental Issues

Robert McCutcheonBakhtiyor Mukhammadiev

US Embassy

Roundtable Discussion Uzbekistan Fulbright Alumni Association

11/28/2008Tashkent, Uzbekistan

Presentation outline

Global climate changeDesertification

BiodiversityWater

U.S.-Uzbekistan cooperation on environmental issues

Climate Change

Definitions

Climate change is any long-term significant change in the “average weather” that a given region experiences. Average weather may include average temperature, precipitation and wind patterns. These changes can be caused by dynamic processes on Earth, external forces including variations in sunlight intensity, and more recently by human activities.

Global warming is the increase in the average measured temperature of the Earth's near-surface air and oceans since the mid-20th century, and its projected continuation.

Global Warming

According to the recent IPCC report, the mean global surface temperature has increased by 0.74OC over the last 100 years (1906-2005)

11 of the 12 warmest years have been recorded in the past 12 years

Source: United Nations Environment Program

Causes of Climate Change

Energy supply, 26% Industry, 19%

Forestry, 17% Agriculture, 14%

Transport, 13% Buildings, 8%

Waste, 3%

Human Activities (IPCC, 2004)

Volcanoes Oceans Forest fires

Impacts of Global Climate Change

Rising sea level– Melting Polar Ice– Loss of Mountain

Glaciers and Snow Pack– Expansion of the Oceans

Changing weather patterns– Stronger Hurricanes– More Droughts and Flooding– Effects on Human Health– Effects on Ecosystems

Hurricane Katrina New Orleans The Aral Sea Polar Bears

Impact of global climate change“…Central Asia is another region severely affected by climate change. An increasing shortage of water, which is both a key resource for agriculture and a strategic resource for electricity generation, is already noticeable. The glaciers in Tajikistan lost a third of their area in the second half of the 20th century alone, while Kyrgyzstan has lost over a 1000 glaciers in the last four decades. There is thus considerable additional potential for conflict in a region whose strategic, political and economic developments as well as increasing trans-regional challenges impact directly or indirectly on EU interests…”

Council of European Union Report 7249/08, “Climate change and International security” - ‘Solana Report’ (March 3, 2008)

Examples of U.S. InitiativesDOMESTIC:– GHG Intensity Goal– Climate VISION– Climate Leaders– SmartWay Transport Partnership– ENERGY STAR®– Targeted Incentives for GHG

Sequestration– Fuel Economy Increase for Light Trucks– Tax Incentives to Reduce GHG

Emissions– Climate Change Science Program– Climate Change Technology Program – Clean Energy Initiative– Renewable Energy and Energy

Efficiency Partnership

INTERNATIONAL:– Asia-Pacific Partnership for Clean

Development and Climate– Methane to Markets Partnership– International Partnership for

Hydrogen Economy– Carbon Sequestration Leadership

Forum– Generation IV International Forum– ITER– Bilateral and Regional Partnerships– Group on Earth Observations– Tropical Forest Conservation Act– President’s Initiative Against Illegal

Logging– Global Environmental Facility

U.S. Climate Change Policy Summary

U.S. takes the issue of climate change very seriously and remains committed to the UNFCCC and to the mutual goals of sustainable development and economic growth.

Addressing global climate change will require: sustained effort involving all nations over many generations; an approach that will harness the power of markets, the creativity of entrepreneurs, and draw upon the best scientific research; and development and deployment of new transformational technologies during this century.

U.S. has an ambitious near-term goal to reduce the growth of its GHG emissions, and is taking many actions to help meet that goal.

U.S. is investing billions of dollars to address climate change—both in the near-term and long-term.

U.S. is fully engaged internationally, is leading major bilateral and multilateral climate change science and technology initiatives, and will continue to cooperate with all nations.

Obama-BidenNew Energy for America Plan

Within 10 years save more oil than the U.S. currently imports from the Middle East and Venezuela combined

Invest $150 billion over the next ten years to catalyze private efforts to build a clean energy future

1 million Hybrid cars on the road by 2015

Ensure 10 percent of US electricity comes from renewable sources by 2012, and 25 percent by 2025

Implement an economy-wide cap-and-trade program to reduce greenhouse gas emissions 80 percent by 2050

Desertification

The Causes of Desertification

Overcultivation Overgrazing

Deforestation Poor irrigation practices

Desertification is the degradation of drylands

Consequences of Desertification

Desertification reduces land’s resilience to natural climate variability

Soil becomes less productive

Vegetation becomes damaged

Food production is undermined

Desertification contributes to famine

Enormous social costs Huge drain on

economic resources

Afghanistan (UNEP, 2001)

The U.S. Commitment to Combating Desertification

United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification

In addition to USAID technical assistance to countries affected by desertification, the USG contributes substantially to multilateral funds and international organizations to address the root causes of desertification worldwide:

Biodiversity

Biodiversity: Definition

Biodiversity is the variability among living organisms from all sources

Terrestrial Ecoregions Marine Ecoregions Freshwater Ecoregions

Threats to Biodiversity

Habitat Destruction Invasive Species Pollution

Overpopulation Overharvesting Climate Change

Biodiversity Protection: Examples of U.S. Initiatives and Partnerships

CONGO BASIN FOREST PARTNERSHIP

To end the illegal trade in wildlife and wildlife products through reduction of consumer demand, awareness raising and strengthening of wildlife law enforcement across continents

To assist developing countries to combat illegal logging, the sale and export of illegally harvested timber and corruption in the forest sector through good governance, community-based actions, technology transfer and harnessing market forces

To develop global awareness and international consensus on strategies to reduce the threat to human health, the environment, and economic prosperity posed by invasive alien species.

To reduce the rate of forest degradation and loss of biodiversity through increased local, national, and regional natural resource management capacity, application of sustainable management practices, the institutionalization of natural resources monitoring, and the strengthening of natural resources governance

Water

Lack of Access to Safe Water

Over 1.49 billion of people lack access to safe water

Population With Access to Adequate Sanitation

2.6 billion of people lack access to basic sanitation

N/A 60-80%

0-20% 40-60% 80-100%

20-40%

Water-Related Deaths

“More than 5 million people die each year from diseases caused by unsafe drinking water, lack of sanitation, and insufficient water for hygiene. In fact, over 2 million deaths occur each year from water-related diarrhea alone. At any given time, almost half of the people in developing countries suffer from water-related diseases.”

Johannesburg Summit 2002

“…one child every 8 seconds dies from water-related disease…”World Health Organization, 2005

Children of Kabul, Afghanistan (AP)

“…76 Million Could Perish From Water-Related Disease by 2020…”Pacific Institute, 2002

Transboundary Waters

263 international river basins 50% of world’s land surface 60% of global freshwater flow 40% of world’s population 145 countries, eq.:

Danube River – 17 Basin States Nile River – 10 Basin States Congo, Niger, Rhine and Zambezi – 9 States The Aral Sea Basin: two rivers and 6 basin

states Transboundary aquifers

Afghanistan

Pakistan

IndiaIndus River

The Senator Paul Simon Water for the Poor Act of 2005

World Water Crisis: U.S. Response

U.S. Strategy - Objectives

U.S. Department of StateCreating a more secure, democratic, and prosperous world for the benefit of the American people and the international community.

www.state.gov/g/oes/water

• Increase access to, and effective use of, safe water and sanitation;

• Improve water resources management;

• Increase the productivity of water resources; and

• Improve water security.

U.S.-Uzbekistan environmental cooperation

Examples of US GovernmentTechnical Assistance

USAID Environmental Policy and Technology Project (1994-1998)

USAID Environmental Polices and Institutions for Central Asia (1998-2000)

USAID Natural Resources Management Program for Central Asia (2000-2005)

USAID Water Users Association Support Program (2004-2009) US Embassy Environmental Small Grants Program US Embassy PAS Exchange Programs:

– International Visitor Leadership Program– Volunteer Visitor Program– Fulbright Program– Speaker Program

US Department of State Central Asia ESTH Hub

Based in Astana, Kazakhstan Covers six Central Asian countries: Afghanistan,

Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan

Hub Officer: Bruce Hudspeth

Hub Responsibilities Coordinates U.S. Department of State ESTH activities to the

region Works together with donor agencies to promote

cooperation and coordination Conveys U.S. Government positions to regional and national

ESTH organizations Represents U.S. Government at international meetings on

Central Asian ESTH issues Serves as a bridge between U.S. & Central Asia ESTH

institutions