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Contact Us:
Gov. Joey Sarte Salceda
Green Economist
Manuel Nong C. Rangasa
Executive Director-CIRCA
Mobile: +63.906.333.9400
Telefax: +63.52.480.3649
Email: info@albaycirca.org
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| ASIA PACIFIC CONFERENCE ON CLIMATE CHANGE ADAPTATION
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"Local Governments Take the Lead"
I. Rationale and Focus
It is now widely recognized that climate change is real. It is a major threat to social and economic development and to the attainment of the Millennium Development Goals and will make it more difficult to alleviate poverty in the developing world.
The latest Inter-governmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) Working Group I report concludes that there is “very high confidence that the globally averaged net effect of human activities since 1750 has been one of warming” (IPCC WG1, 2007). In fact, evidence exists showing that anthropogenic warming has had a discernible influence on many physical and biological systems (IPCC WG2, 2007). While mitigation activities will be beneficial, the IPCC concludes that adaptation will be necessary to address impacts resulting from the warming which is already unavoidable due to past emissions (IPCC WG2, 2007). A global study in many developing countries also concluded that there is a need to adapt now to climate change (Leary et al., 2006). The UNFCCC also recognizes the need for climate change adaptation. This is reflected in the setting up of various adaptation funds to help developing countries cope with climate change.
The Asia Pacific region suffers the most from extreme weather events and will likely be aggravated by climate change. In Asia, the melting of the glaciers in Himalayas will results to more flooding and rock avalanches, affecting water resources within the next two to three decades. River flows will decrease as the glaciers recede and there will be less freshwater in large basins. Coastal areas, especially heavily-populated mega-deltas will be at greatest risk due to increased flooding due to sea level rise and flooding from the rivers. Endemic morbidity and mortality from diarrheas diseases associated with prolonged flooding and droughts are expected to rise in East, South and Southeast Asia due to projected changes in hydrological cycle. Increase in coastal water temperature would exacerbate the abundance and/ or toxicity of cholera in South Asia region.
The Philippines being an archipelagic developing country composed of more than 7,000 small islands is highly vulnerable to climate-related hazards which will ultimately affect the marginalized and the poor. Farmers have to cope with an average of 20 tropical cyclones a year as well as the recurring ENSO events. Especially vulnerable are upland farmers who rely on rainfall for water supply. The country is also characterized by several mountains/ hilly lands/ steep slopes and is dominated by soil erosion related problems due to water surface run-off especially during heavy rains, hence affecting farmer’s productivity.
Recognizing these threats to sustainable development, initiatives at the local level have been mounted in the country. The first National Conference on Climate Change Adaptation (NCCCA) held last October 2007 in Albay paved the monumental consensus of an Albay Declaration on Climate Change Adaptation. The Declaration is the embodiment of a convergence of interdisciplinary and multidisciplinary efforts to arrest the imminent threats and dangers posed by radical ecological shifts caused by climate change. Both Congressional and Senate houses have recognized the Albay Declaration as the national framework for the mainstreaming of global warming initiatives leading to climate change adaptation. This Declaration shall also reinforce the need to link local efforts with the global strategy for adaptation and for climate-proofing the Millennium Development Goals.
Building on from the momentum of the Albay initiative, there is strategic relevance of forging amongst local government units in the Asia Pacific Region for cooperative work to push forward the agenda for climate change adaptation. The proposed “Asia Pacific Conference on Climate Change Adaptation: Local Governments Takes the Lead”, shall provide the venue for a regional network and cooperation framework on climate change adaptation for local governments.
As we face our vulnerabilities and our fears on these climatic aberrations, we realize the urgency of understanding our weaknesses and the need to identify the most affected populace (e.g., farming, fishing, and urban communities). We can only be ready and resilient to reduce and adapt to these potential inevitable damages. We are fortunate to have partners who know the science, the global networks, the best practices in climate change adaptation, and who are willing to share both time and expertise with us. As we face this extreme challenge called climate change, your abiding support raises our level of confidence that the people of Albay will prevail and from where the rest of the word will learn.
II. General Objective
Forge an Asia Pacific Network and Cooperation Framework on Climate Change Adaptation for Local Governments
III. Specific Objectives
1. Provide a venue for knowledge sharing (nature of vulnerabilities, quantitative and qualitative socio-economic impacts, current initiatives, common methods and tools, mainstreaming into development planning) on climate change adaptation and disaster risk management;
2. Identification of climate change adaptation needs (policy and implementation aspects) amongst Asia Pacific countries; and
3. Thematic Platform for regional cooperation towards a common agenda in pushing forward climate change adaptation and disaster risk reduction (DRR) initiatives (to identify and set the countries main priorities, using a two fold approach; territorial (fragile ecosystems, sub-regional , sub-national, low lying coastal areas) and sectoral (water , agriculture, energy and tourism).
IV. Target Outputs
1. Inventory of CCA best practices and science based information (hydro and geo research centers, climate change scenarios availability);
2. Asia Pacific Cooperation Framework on CCA for Local Government Units;
3. Asia Pacific Network of Local Government Units for CCA; and
4. Asia Pacific Thematic Platform CCA Action Agenda on technology transfer, new additional financial assistance, capacity building and research and development.
V. Target Date
November 4-7, 2008
VI. Venue
Manila, Philippines
VII. Guiding Principles/Framework
1. Consistent with the international commitment for sustainable development;
2. Supports the attainment of the MDG; and
3. Consistent with the Climate Change Adaptation framework in the UNFCCC and the implementation of the Hyogo Framework of Action (HFA)
VIII. Indicative Conference Program
Pre-Conference (one week before the conference proper)
Duration: One week
Activity: TWG workshops to prepare the draft
1. Asia Pacific Cooperation Framework Statement
2. Thematic Platform on CCA Action Agenda
Conference Proper
Day 1 Activity:
1. Opening Preliminaries
2. Plenary discussion on climate change
a. IPCC Report 4
b. Asia Pacific Report on CC
Incharge: Host country / IPCC/ Experts
Day 2 Activity:
Break-out sessions: Best practices/initiatives on
a. CCA
b. DRM
c. Energy/RE
Incharge: DILG/CSO/Business, Private
OCD/UN/ISDR
DOE-PTFCC
Day 3 Activity:
1. Leaders/ Policy Makers Forum
2. High Level Ministerial Meeting to adopt the cooperation framework and the action agenda
Incharge: DFA/DENR/NEDA/UNESCAP/
UNISDR/UNEP
Day 4 (optional) Site Visits
IX. Target Partners
- Provincial Government of Albay-Governor Joey Sarte Salceda
- House of Representatives-Congressman Datu Macapagal-Arroyo
- Senate of the Philippines-Senator Loren Legarda)
- Department of Foreign Affairs
- Department of Interior and Local Government
- National Economic Development Authority
- Department of Environment and Natural Resources
- Department of Energy
- Department of Tourism
- Department Transportation and Communication
- Department of Education
- Department of Science and Technology
- Commission on Higher Education
- Centre for Initiatives and Research on Climate Adaptation
- World Agroforestry Centre (ICRAF)
- ASEAN Center for Biodiversity (ACB)
- University of the Philippines Los Banos
- IFI’s, Academe and Civil Society
Contact persons and address:
BERNADITAS C. MULLER
Advisor, CIRCA
Email: muller@southcentre.org or ditasdec@yahoo.com
GOVERNOR JOEY SARTE SALCEDA
National Convenor
MANUEL “NONG” C. RANGASA
Executive Director
Centre for Initiatives and Research on Climate Adaptation
Albay Capitol Annex 2, Province of Albay
Legazpi City, 4500 Philippines
Telefax: +6352 4803649; Mobile: +63906 3339400
Email: nongrangasa@yahoo.com or info@albaycirca.org
Website: www.albaycirca.org |
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