Integration of Adaptation and Mitigation in Climate Change and Forest Policies in Indonesia and Vietnam

Pham Thuy,Bruno Locatelli,Maria Brockhaus,Moira Moeliono,Monica Gregorio,Sofi Mardiah

doi:10.3390/f5082016

Abstract

Forests play a major role in both climate change mitigation and adaptation, but few policies, if any, integrate these two aspects. Using Indonesia and Vietnam as case studies, we identify challenges at the national level but opportunities at the local level. Although both countries demonstrate political commitment to integrating adaptation and mitigation in their development plans, guidelines for policy and planning treat the two approaches separately. The main challenges identified are lack of knowledge, lack of political will, lack of financial incentives, and fragmentation of mandates and tasks of different government agencies. In contrast, at the local level, integration of mitigation and adaptation is facilitated by subnational autonomy, where mitigation projects might have adaptation co-benefits, and vice versa. Our results also show that many actors have a dual mandate that could bridge adaptation and mitigation if appropriate political and financial incentives are put in place. Successful integration of mitigation and adaptation policies would not only remove contradictions between policies, but also encourage governments that are designing domestic policies to exploit the potential for positive spillovers and realize the benefits of both approaches.

Highlights

Forests play a major role in both climate change mitigation and adaptation, and several programs, policies and projects reflect this [1]
The first is the analysis of the major climate change mitigation, REDD+ and adaptation policies in Indonesia and Vietnam; this analysis is used to assess the extent to which these policies take into account or seek to achieve synergies between mitigation and adaptation and to investigate the mandates of the main state institutions responsible for these policies
We have argued in this paper that achieving effective integration of adaptation and mitigation objectives requires policy processes and policy frameworks that facilitate minimization of trade-offs and realization of potential synergies

Summary

Introduction

Forests play a major role in both climate change mitigation and adaptation, and several programs, policies and projects reflect this [1]. Mangroves protect coastal areas against storms and waves, forest products provide local communities with a safety net when climate variations affect agriculture, and forests regulate water flows. Because of their dual contribution, forests can be managed to address adaptation and mitigation simultaneously, with multiple benefits. A mitigation project such as a REDD+ project (based on the REDD+ mechanism, or Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and forest Degradation) can incorporate adaptation measures for communities and forest ecosystems, as this will enhance its sustainability, increase the permanence of carbon storage and avoid the risk of the harmful effects of climate change jeopardizing project outcomes [4]. Donors may favor adaptation projects that have global mitigation benefits

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