PIF 6 - Sustainable Management of Chemical and Carbon Releases within the Tourism Sector

The following GEF-PAS proposal, namely Sustainable Management of Chemical and Carbon Releases within the Tourism Sector, attempts to encourage Samoa's tourism sector to sustainably manage its tourism assets by focussing on chemical and carbon emissions (especially jet emissions) by addressing the following issues:

(i) ISSUE: This proposed FSP follows the completion of the enabling activity project that developed the Government of Samoa's (GOS) National Implementation Plan (NIP) for Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs). This FSP proposes to build on the work commenced by the enabling POPs Project which has seen tangible results in creating a more enabling environment to support the NIP, this time with an emphasis on mainstreaming EIA into tourism development together with increased sequestration of carbon from tourism sector via tree-planting, forest conservation, etc. Past native forest conservation efforts have, therefore, been constrained by poor capacity of communities and the GOS to jointly plan, establish and help manage forests on a long-term sustainable footing. Samoa's recent appraisal of the impacts of carbon emissions (primarily from the tourism transport sector) and related climate change issues has shown, therefore, that in order to achieve the long-term sustainability of these upland forests, it will require additional design and implementation of new governance strategies to address the immediate sustainable livelihood issues of resource owners. However, if there can be an over-arching benefit for all villages from this POPs FSP, then all villagers may be able to benefit from a study of POPs, PTSs and carbon in their environment, especially as they pertain to known toxicity and climate-related health risks. In essence, this Project will target the strengthening of the existing clearing house mechanisms for information management that allow for widespread dissemination of chemical data among lead agencies, and also produce numerous measureable responses from all stakeholders in terms of the following activities and outcomes: (i) to improve coordination and responses to POPs and PTS reduction and/or elimination across all sectors in order to attain the sustainable management of POPs and PTSs, (ii) to identify obselete chemicals for remedial action, and to secure the safety of chemical stockpiles and dumpsites in order to improve public safety from POPs and PTSs, (iii) to help the development of alternate technologies to mitigate the impacts of dioxins and furans on ecosystems (e.g. efficient woodburning stoves, solar cookers, etc.), (iv) to promote cross-sectoral capacity building with trainings and ongoing public awareness campaigns of the health risks associated with 8 of the 12 known POPs recorded in Samoa, as well as to identify diseases in Samoa attributed to POPs and PTSs that are posing serious health risks, (v) to link international chemical conventions with Samoa's POPs NIP, but, again, taking a cross-sectoral approach to include POPs and PTSs produced in Samoa, and (vi) to further review and develop (and implement) a National Chemical Management Stategy in Samoa over the next 10 years (2007-2017). This Project entails the required actions that need to be undertaken to assist the GOS in fulfilling its NIP activities and global climate change impact obligations, especially by building systemic and individual capacity of lead agencies to improve service delivery in chemical management (including carbon) in association with UNDP's ongoing advisory and technical commitment to implementing the POPs NIP. The NIP, in association with the National Greenhouse Gas Abatement Strategy (2007-2017), provide the framework to guide the implementation of this Project which clearly builds on the incremental benefits to protect human health and the environment caused by the negative impacts of POPs, PTSs and carbon emissions. Additional efforts need to be made to not only reduce and/or eliminate toxic releases from surplus stockpiles, but also to identify new sources of POPs. The population in Samoa is relatively unaware of the health risks associated with their consumption. However, the insidious nature of numerous man-made toxic substances now circulating in our global environment remain as one of the main challenges confronted in this proposal. Our global biodiversity is, therefore, also at risk from chemical intoxication from POPs and PTSs as well as from the impacts of excessive carbon emissions. (ii) HOW THE PROJECT SEEKS TO ADDRESS THE ISSUE: The proposed Project will, therefore, help to put in place the enabling governance conditions required at the national level for taking a holistic approach to POPs and PTS elimination and reduction by having its main Project objective focusing on capacity building to help build public and political awareness at all levels. Also, developing local testing capacity is vital for the sustainability of this Project, and Samoa's Research and Development Institute of Samoa (RDIS) will act as a key lead agency for the implementation of the NIP. The Project will also allow Samoa to meet its obligations under the Stockholm Convention and to: (i) prepare the groundwork for the implementation of the Stockholm Convention in Samoa, (ii) strengthen national capacity to manage POPs and strengthen chemical management capacity in general, (iii) develop and implement national policy on chemical management, including POPs, PTSs and carbon, (iv) facilitate capacity building programmes nationally and conduct public awareness programmes on the sustainable management of POPs, PTSs and carbon, (v) strengthen national regulatory framework to reduce the release of dioxins, furans and carbon, (vi) reduce the burning of firewood for cooking, with the development and introduction of fuel-efficient stoves, etc., (vii) strengthen vehicle testing to ensure improved engine performance with reduced emissions, and create this awareness and capacity building within MWTI, (viii) install proper air pollution control systems for all major incinerators and industries, (ix) assess and monitor the levels of dioxin and furan production from all known sources, (x) build capacity to clean-up and manage chemical stockpiles and contaminated sites and food stuffs, (xi) clean-up surplus stockpiles and contaminated sites, and ban imports known to contain POPs and PTSs, (xii) develop a database to support the sustainable management of chemicals, (xiii) assess the impacts of POPs and PTS bio-accumulation in local plant and animal tissues, (xiv) strengthen the functions and roles of the MNRE, MOH and other members of the POPs National Task Team (NTT) for the sustainable management of POPs, PTSs and carbon, (xv) develop national border control with Customs, Quarantine and Public Health and (xvi) include the management of POPs and PTSs at Samoa's waste disposal sites with appropriate updating of the relevant national legal policies and strategies. Overall, the Project provides catalytic support to the implementation of Samoa's NIP, reviews any potential oversights, and explores novel consultations with key stakeholders to help create a more enabling development environment. Without ongoing long-term monitoring of all the POPs and PTS criteria as indicators, again the implementability and sustainability of this Project is to be seriously questioned. To meet the highest expectations, this proposed Project will comply with all GEF Best Practices in order to maximize the potential outcomes from the Project in terms of delivery and transparency. The GOS is committed to a long-term investment relationship with GEF, building the capacity of relevant stakeholders in order to attain national sustainable livelihoods. (iii) GLOBAL BENEFITS: Substantial global environmental benefits are expected to be generated in the longer-term with regards to reduced health risks from POPs, PTSs and carbon (with improved disposal of known sources and stockpiles of POPs and PTSs in Samoa), reduced production of dioxins and furans, reduced production of unintended POPs and PTSs, reduced carbon emissions from the tourism sector, increased use of forests and reefs as carbon sinks, and greater protection of Samoa's terrestrial biodiversity.