The Government of Peru has shared its experience with the Glaciers+ Project —which combats glacial retreat in Ancash and Cusco regions as well as strengthens early warning systems ahead of droughts, floods, avalanches, and glacial hazards— during the
2019 UN Climate Change Conference (COP25).
This Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation's (Cosude) initiative —executed by the
University of Zurich and
CARE Peru consortium— has contributed to improving adaptive capacity and reducing disaster risks among the population, their livelihoods and infrastructure ahead of possible effects of floods and overflows, due to detachment of ice blocks in the Andes.
For her part, the Director of Adaptation to Climate Change and Desertification of Minam, Cristina Rodriguez, warned that nearly 50% of glaciers in Peru have disappeared over the last 30 years due to climate change.
According to Rodriguez, it is estimated that new lagoons will be formed in 287 places, thus increasing the risks for the population, their livelihoods and infrastructure, due to potential impacts of floods and overflows caused by detachment of ice blocks.
Multipurpose investment projects
In that context, Rodriguez noted that the Glaciers+ initiative has led to propose multi-purpose investment projects linked to multisectoral water management and its agricultural, population and energy use, in order to increase access to this resource.
Such actions, she said, coincide with the goals on climate change adaptation that Peru has prioritized to comply with the
Paris Agreement.
(END) NDP/JOT/RMB/MVB
Published: 12/4/2019