Coastal adaptation technology

August 1999

Government of Japan

Some developing countries are now experiencing adverse effects of sea level rises, e.g. (1) destruction of coastal forests, (2) salt infiltration into potential carbon stocks such as inland vegetation and farmland.

Besides, in highly fragile regions, mangroves, which could serve as a coastal buffer zone, are being destroyed, corals are decaying, cyclone damages are worsening and coastlines are being eroded. Global warming also changes the behavioral patterns of typhoons, cyclones, hurricanes in frequency, routes, and magnitude. It is also changing precipitation patterns and the sea water temperature.

Recognizing the importance of adaptive measures to cope with such adverse effects of climate change, the Government of Japan hereby submits, in accordance with the conclusion of SBSTA 10, its views on the options on the development and transfer of coastal adaptation technology and shares its experiences in this regard.

1. Types of Adaptation Measures and Japan's Basic Stance

　Adaptation measures include information measures (e.g. monitoring, impact assessment, information provision), policy measures (e.g. coastal management, disaster prevention, environmental management, land-use regulations) and technical measures (including both hardware technology such as seawall construction and software technology such as beach nourishment and coastal afforestation). Coastal adaptive technology to be developed and transferred must cover information and policy measures as well, because technical factors in those measures are as significant as in technical measures.

　Adaptability enhancement in both technical and sociological aspects, is not only useful in dealing with today's difficulties facing vulnerable countries, but will better prepare them for even more serious impacts of global warming in the future. It is particularly useful to strengthen their capabilities at an early stage as global warming is causing not only sea level rises but also changes in the behavioral pattern of typhoons, cyclones, and hurricanes.

2. Japan's International Cooperation

　On the basis of the above recognition, Japan is studying adaptive measures to global warming, inter alia, measures related to sea level rises and agricultural production. For instance, Japan has provided technical cooperation in tree planting for tide water control and mangrove management using its grant aid and technical cooperation schemes. As Japan possesses relevant ocean observation technologies, e.g. those for tide-level variations and wave height, the country is ready to share them with vulnerable states as the need arises.

　Furthermore, Japan engages in efforts to develop impact assessment methods, and is conducting a survey for several Asia-Pacific countries to help them assess global warming impacts on them.

　With a view to promoting cooperation in research on global changes in the Asia-Pacific region, Japan has initiated the "Asia-Pacific Network for Global Change Research", in cooperation with some other countries in this region. Climate change is designated as a priority area in the research, and workshops for climate change vulnerability and adaptation assessment in Pacific Island Countries are being supported in Fiscal 1999.

　Since 1991, Japan has held nine successive "Asia-Pacific Seminars on Climate Change", to enhance regional awareness of the issue, share experiences with one another, help the region to tackle the issue more vigorously, and help it create a network of technical information exchange. We consider this as another manifestation of our contribution to coastal adaptation measures.

3. UNFCCC process

　Consultations on technology transfer is going on under the auspices of UNFCCC. A regional workshops will soon be held by SBSTA in this context. In view of the vulnerability of coastal regions, Japan hopes that the workshop will fully consider ways to promote the development and transfer of coastal adaptation technology. We appreciate the technical paper (FCCC/TP/1999/1) prepared by the Secretariat as an important initiative because it broadly and systematically tackles coastal adaptation issues, and can serve as a basis for such consideration.