Climate Change and Agriculture

Adaptations and Mitigations

By
 
Ibtisam Abu Alhaija
Ministry of Agriculture
Climate Change and Drought Monitoring Department
Palestine
 AGRICULTURAL STATUS

Agriculture sector in Palestine – contribution to food security and

creation of job opportunities (8.7 % of total employment)
• 6.023 million dunums: 20% used for agriculture (90% West
Bank, 10% Gaza Strip)
• 63% of the Palestinian territories in the West Bank still under
full Israeli control (Area C)
• Despite the Israeli withdrawal from the Gaza Strip, Palestinian
farmers have restricted access to land in buffer or border areas
(40% of Gaza agricultural land)

Inception Workshop – Sida Project – 17-19 July, 2017, Cairo, Egypt

 AGRICULTURAL STATUS
• Rainfed agriculture dominant (81% ), irrigated areas (19%) mainly
located in the Gaza Strip and the Jordan Valley
Area of Fruit Trees
(dunums) Area of Field Crops Area of Vegetables
West Bank, 2013-14 (dunums) (dunums)
West Bank, 2013-14 West Bank, 2013-14
700000
400000
600000 200000
350000
180000
500000 300000 160000
140000
400000 250000
120000
200000
300000 100000
150000 80000
200000 60000
100000
40000
100000 50000
20000
0
0 0
Rainfed Area Irrigated Area
Rainfed Area Irrigated Area Rainfed Area Irrigated Area
Inception Workshop – Sida Project – 17-19 July, 2017, Cairo, Egypt 3
 AGRICULTURAL STATUS

• The total number of agricultural holdings in Palestine reaches

111,310 holdings, of which 90,908 are in the West Bank, (81.7%),
and the remaining 20.402 holdings are in the Gaza Strip (18.3%).
• most agricultural holdings are considered as smallholdings, as
83,785 holdings covered less than 10 dunum of area, amounting
to 75.3% of total agricultural holdings.
• The estimated total water used for agriculture does not exceed
150 million cubic meters annually in the West Bank (60 million
cubic meters) and 90 million cubic meters in the Gaza Strip. This
amount represents 45% of the total water consumption

Inception Workshop – Sida Project – 17-19 July, 2017, Cairo, Egypt

 Climate Change Analysis of the Eastern
Mediterranean
According to the IPCC Fourth Assessment Report (2007), the Mediterranean
region is forecast to receive a mean warming over this century of 2.2oC-5.1oC
(Scenario A1B).

Precipitation is forecast to decrease by 10% by 2020 and 20% by 2030, with

an increase in drought periods. A Japanese/Tel Aviv University climate change
analysis forecasts a 82-98% decrease in the Jordan River flow by 2100.

In its draft Climate Change Adaptation Programme (2008) the Israeli Ministry
of the Environment predicts the sea level in the Mediterranean to increase
by 0.5 metres in 2050 and 1 metre by 2100
 PA Achievements since accession
17 March 2016 Accession to UNFCCC

22 April 2016 Signed and ratified Paris Agreement

12 Nov 2016 Submission of Initial National Communication Report (INCR) to
UNFCCC

12 Nov 2016 Submission of National Adaptation Plan (NAP) to UNFCCC

August 2017 Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC)
August 2017 Initial NDC Implementation Roadmap, incl draft MRV system
In progress Capacity Development Program
In progress Economic Impact of Climate Change
In progress Communication with: GEF, GCF, CTCN, NAMA,….

The State of Palestine has been active in developing and implementing climate
change strategies for many years prior to accession the work on the INCR
and NAP was undertaken over Nov 2014 - July 2016.
 NDC - overview
• NDC is currently finalised, engaging with Ministries and Authorities across
government.

• NDC builds on INCR and NAP.

• NDC links to National Development Plan and recently developed sectoral

strategies (2017-2022).

• NDC notes how the Israeli occupation exacerbates the difficulties of

tackling adaptation and mitigation effectively, compounding climate
vulnerabilities.

• Adaptation focused.

• 2030 for adaptation, 2040 for mitigation.

 Adaptation component of NDC
• The adaptation component of the draft NDC is based on the NAP,
with adaptation actions aiming to reduce climate sensitivity or
increase adaptive capacity. (enhance resilience)
• The NDC presents around 80 adaptation actions across the 12 highly
vulnerable sectors: agriculture, coastal and marine, energy, food,
gender, health, industry, terrestrial ecosystems, tourism, urban and
infrastructure, waste, water.
• Adaptation actions are presented for both West Bank including East
Jerusalem and Gaza Strip.
• The State of Palestine’s particular circumstances mean that the NAP is
focussed on the implementation of immediate, near-future adaptation
options that address highly vulnerable sectors.
• However, the NAP also gives limited consideration to medium- and
long-term adaptation options that could be undertaken.
Highly vulnerable issue

The sectors ranked as ‘Highly vulnerable’

Gaza Strip
 National Adoption Plan- GS
Rank Adaptation option Highly vulnerable Score

Climate-smart agriculture:
Management of crop production
systems including soil and water Citrus, Olive production,
1   resources for better Vegetable production, 80
environmental sustainability Employment
along with improved economic
profitability for farmers
Improve water use efficiency and
2   using alternatives water Irrigation water 71
resources
Establishment of farmers'
3   support (subsidies, awareness Cost of agricultural production 62
training programs)
Agricultural disaster risk
4   reduction and management Cost of agricultural production 61
(DRR/M)
Improve livestock-production
5   pens Livestock production 60
Inception Workshop – Sida Project – 17-19 July, 2017, Cairo, Egypt
 National Adoption Plan- WB
Rank Adaptation option Highly vulnerable Score
Enhance sustainable community-level irrigation
1   Irrigated vegetables 76
schemes and infrastructure
Production of olives,
2   Climate-smart agriculture grapes, stone fruits, rain- 71
fed vegetables and field
crops
Improve water-use efficiency and using
3   alternatives water resources Irrigation water 66

Land-use planning and management - greening, Grazing area and soil

=   66
afforestation, and rangeland development erosion

Production of olives,
5   Agricultural disaster risk reduction and grapes, stone fruits, rain- 61
management (DRR/M) fed vegetables, field crops
and livestock
Increase the availability of animal feed
6   (including plant and organic residues) at an Livestock production 60
affordable price
=   Improve livestock-production
Inception Workshop pens Livestock
– Sida Project – 17-19 July, production
2017, Cairo, Egypt 60
 NDC Mitigation contribution
The State of Palestine intends to reduce CO2eq emissions by
implementing the following, conditional on international support
in the form of finance, technology transfer, and capacity building:
 Independence: 24.4% reduction by 2040 relative to BAU
 Status quo: 12.8% reduction by 2040 relative to BAU

• As the political future of the State of Palestinian is

uncertain, two scenarios are provided for the NDC:
– Independence - consistent with the Palestinian Government’s aim to end Israel’s
occupation, achieve independence and exercise full control over its resources.
– Status quo - reflecting a continuation of the present state of affairs, in which Palestine
remains under occupation and does not achieve independence.

• In addition, the NDC sets out a number of unconditional

mitigation actions which the State of Palestine is currently
undertaking in the energy and agriculture sectors.
Mitigation actions to be implemented unconditionally
Mitigation actions to be implemented, conditional on receiving international
support
Mitigation actions to be implemented, conditional on receiving
international support