Focus Events

Lead Organization/Focal Point

Bruce Ravesloot,
CARE International

Speakers:

• Dr.  Saleemul Huq, International Institute for Environment and Development (IIED), UK
• Mr. Kenya Konno, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO)
• Mr. Bruce Ravesloot, CARE International

Venue Conference Room 4, First Floor, UNCC

Description

Building on the high level of interest following the 3rd Adaptation Knowledge Platform Learning Seminar on ‘Effectiveness of Community-Based Adaptation to Climate Change’ (Bangkok, 6 August 2010), the International Institute for Environment and Development (IIED), the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and CARE International will facilitate a at the Asia-Pacific Climate Change Adaptation Forum 2010 on tools and resources for community-based adaptation.

The presenters will guide session participants through the various tools and resources currently available, will provide brief introductions on key materials, and will elaborate on how they complement each other and can be used in synergy, depending on the different needs of the users. As part of this, FAO will introduce its e-learning tool ‘Community-based Adaptation for Climate Change’. CARE International will present preliminary results of its ‘Climate Vulnerability and Capacity Analysis’ (CVCA) tool, and will explore the combined application of the CVCA and the Climate Risk Screening Tool – Adaptation and Livelihoods (CRiSTAL). CARE will also take the opportunity of this Focus Event for the Asia launch of its ‘Community-based Adaptation Toolkit’ and ‘Integration Toolkit’. IIED will elaborate on how these tools, resources and collaborative initiatives feed into the work of the Global Initiative on Community-Based Adaptation (GICBA).

Participants in this Focus Event will receive an orientation on the many tools and resources available on community-based adaptation; and will receive practical guidance on how to combine these various tools towards more effective CBA design, planning, implementation, monitoring and evaluation.

Lead Organization/Focal Point

Kai Kim Chiang, CSR Asia Center at AIT

Venue Room H, First Floor, UNCC

Description

It is increasingly widely recognized that business has an important role to play in contributing to sustainable development. However, that role is often not well understood, and the role in addressing climate change adaptation issues, even less so. This session seeks to provide a better understanding on the role for business in sustainable development and climate change adaptation, by presenting an overview of and examples of corporate responsibility initiatives on both issues, presenting an example of an NGO and business collaboration, and facilitating a dialogue between businesses and other Forum attendees to explore the opportunities for partnerships within the context of the role for business to contribute to climate resilient sustainable development.
This session will:

• Outline the basic principles and fundamental elements of Corporate Responsibility;
• Provide an overview of current private sector initiatives in climate change adaptation;
• Relate these to business efforts to contribute to sustainable development;
• Provide insights on opportunities for positive change driven by innovative NGO-Business partnerships;
• Introduce case studies for learning;
• Discuss barriers for engagement and possible approaches to overcome these; and
• Explore opportunities for more proactive private sector engagement.

The objectives of this focus event are to:

• Highlight opportunities for public- private partnerships on climate change adaptation;
• Encourage a multi-stakeholder dialogue and contribute to a better alignment between the private sector, policy development processes, and multi-lateral initiatives concerned with sustainable development in the context of climate change;
• Encourage strategic partnerships between businesses, development practitioners, communities, and public agencies to collaborate on building resilience to a changing climate; and
• Engage the private sector in an ongoing dialogue and activities of the Adaptation Knowledge Platform and the Asia Pacific Adaptation Network.

Proposed format:
Presentations followed by a panel discussion and a question and answer session. Facilitated by CSR Asia Chairman Richard Welford, the focus event seeks  to contribute and add value to the Adaptation Knowledge Platform and the Asia Pacific Adaptation Network by engaging the private sector through participation at the Adaptation Forum 2010 and by utilizing this platform to encourage a dialogue to help increase understanding of the value of multi-stakeholder partnership models in development planning, and in tackling the effects of climate change on vulnerable communities throughout business supply chains and realms of influence in particular.

This topic will be further explored under the Adaptation Platform Sharing and Learning Seminars in early 2011. The results of both these events will feed into an ongoing study that seeks to understand the barriers, identify opportunities and develop strategies to harness the innovative capacity of private sector to help ensure that the effects of climate change do not jeopardize global efforts for poverty alleviation and sustainable development in Asia.

Lead Organization/Focal Point

Partner Organizations: World Bank, JICA, ADB, and Rockefeller Foundation
Speakers:

• Jan Bojö – World Bank
• Megumi Muto – JICA
• James Roop – ADB
• Rockefeller Foundation: Fern Uennatornwaranggoon, Program Associate

Venue Theatre,  Ground Floor, UNCC

Description

Climate change will impact urban populations and systems over and above the existing 21st century challenges faced by city managers, leaders, and planners. It is estimated that 70% of the world’s population will live in urban areas by 2050, and approximately 60% of the growth is expected to take place in Asia (Ref. UN-Habitat). Climate change will lead to warmer temperatures, greater variability in local conditions, and changes in the frequency, intensity, and location of precipitation and storms, the impact of which will potentially be worse in the Asia region where there are large vulnerable populations with the least capacity and resources to cope with such negative impacts. How will these cities manage the stresses and respond to the inevitable shocks of climate change and address the compounding challenges of climate change, urbanization, poverty, and environmental degradation? This session will look at ways in which a number of Asian cities are tackling the challenges of climate change adaptation.

The ADB, JICA and World Bank have conducted a joint study on coastal mega-cities to address climate change adaptation. This session will include the launch of a synthesis report based on the city level findings from Bangkok, Ho Chi Minh, Kolkata and Manila. The lead organizations of the study will present the overall synthesis of lessons learned from the four major cities.

The session will also look at findings from the Asian Cities Climate Change Resilience Network (ACCCRN) supported by the Rockefeller Foundation. The ACCCRN assists partner cities to undertake assessments of vulnerabilities and climate risks as well as urban systems analysis in order to develop resilience strategies and plans and specific interventions.

Focus event agenda (tentative)

• 15 minutes: World Bank-JICA-ADB synthesis report presentation
• 15 minutes: Rockefeller presentation
• 10 minutes: Moderator brings together common points, notes differences, asks panel a few key questions
• 20 minutes: Open discussion with participants

Lead Organization/Focal Point

Nikolai Beresnev, UNDP

Partners:
UNCDF, UNDP RCB, UNEP ROAP

Venue Room H, First Floor, UNCC

Description

The focus event will showcase examples of how local governments can deliver climate change solutions, both at the policy level and on-the-ground. This will be done by presenting the findings of a recent UNDP-UNEP-UNCDF discussion note “Local governance and climate change”, and looking in detail at recent local government climate change actions in Cambodia, Philippines and Bhutan. The overall message is that local governments have a role to play in climate change adaptation, and this needs to be recognized in national-level policies and processes.

Lead Organization/Focal Point

Xianfu Lu, UNFCCC Secretariat

Partners:

UNFCCC,
ICIMOD- Nepal,
Regional Climate Change Knowledge Platform/Asia Pacific Adaptation Network,
Climate & Development Knowledge Network, Adaptation Learning Mechanism (ALM)

Venue Theatre, Ground Floor, UNCC

Description

Adaptation to climate change is a complex process which can be characterized as decision making under uncertainties.  It entails the assessment of risks and opportunities associated with climate change for the natural environment as well as human society, identification and appraisal of adaptation options, implementation and monitoring and evaluation of adaptation interventions.  Adaptation planning and practices involves multiple stakeholders, requires knowledge and expertise from multiple disciplines, and requires addressing specific needs at multiple levels and in multiple sectors/systems.  Therefore, successful adaptation policies and actions are necessarily dependent on effective knowledge management to provide the sound information and knowledge base.

This focus event aims to take stock of ongoing adaptation knowledge management initiatives relevant to the Asia Pacific region, highlight good practices and lessons learned, identify ways and means to strengthen collaboration amongst a diverse range of institutions and entities, including donor organizations, implementing agencies, national and regional research institutions, knowledge intermediaries/knowledge brokers, and the private sector.  The expected outcome of this focus event is a roadmap for developing a regional adaptation knowledge   management framework, with key players identified and their roles defined – a road map for the development of the framework with key milestones. 

Lead Organization/Focal Point

MFF, DEWGA
(Disaster Environment Group Asia)

Venue Conference Room 4, First Floor, UNCC

Description

Scientific evidence suggests that the climate is changing and these inevitable changes in temperature, weather patterns and sea level are likely to result in a number of impacts on coastal ecosystems and communities. The vulnerability of coastal ecosystems and communities from non climate-related impacts is well documented and the additive pressure from climate-related impacts can have both positive and negative consequences on these dynamic systems. Consequently, actions that strengthen the environmental sustainability of coastal development through the promotion of good coastal ecosystem management must take into account how climate change may impact the ecosystem and communities that depend on them. Through the climate proofing of coastal development interventions, the sustainability of those actions can be enhanced.

The Mangroves for the Future Initiative (MFF), which is a multi-partner initiative that supports investing in coastal ecosystems in the Indian Ocean region, has made progress in integrating climate change adaptation into achieving its two main objectives of strengthening environmental sustainability of coastal development and promoting investment of funds and effort in coastal ecosystem management for sustainable development. These emerging good practices demonstrate how existing project management processes serve as entry points to mainstream climate change adaptation (CCA) into the MFF program.

Focus Event Objectives

The integration of climate change into existing coastal investments is vital to achieving a "mainstreamed approach to climate change". The objective of the event is to stimulate a dialogue on identifying innovative steps to further promote partnerships that enhance the integration of climate change adaptation in coastal management and development. To promote the dialogue, the session will use the emerging good practices and lessons learned especially but not only from MFFs experience in integrating CCA through the adaption of climate change practices & tools that provide practical ways to integrate an ecosystem-based approach through better project proposal development, monitoring and learning evaluation. The session will use the preceding discussions to focus on identifying gaps and opportunities in advancing the integration of climate change using regional initiatives such as the MFF.

The session will work to achieve its objective by including an open discussion format with the participation of the audience and a panel of technical experts. The session is designed around two short presentations from MFF on the process and an on-ground example which will set the stage for an open discussion and reactions from a suit of technical experts representing the academic, conservation and development sectors.

The discussion and resulting consensus will be catalyzed using two guided questions to direct the participants. Through the discussion, it is anticipated that a suit of actions will be identified that can further strengthen strategic partnerships and help identify the gaps in knowledge and research needs. The outputs of the session should provide practical steps that MFF, the Adaptation Knowledge Platform and other stakeholders can take to promote innovative ecosystem-based approaches towards coastal climate change adaptation being realized.

Session Agenda

• Session opening and overview
  Dr Janaka de Silva- MFF Programme Manager
• The MFF Climate Proofing Elements
  Mr. Oliver Abrenilla- UNEP Seconded Consultant to MFF on CCA/DRR
• Case study to demonstrate the integration of the MFF climate proofing elements
  Mr. Jonathan Shott- Project Manager and Disaster Management Consultant Sustainable Development Forum- MFF Thailand Project Grantee
• Shared learning and discussion
  Facilitated Open Forum with the Audience (20 min.)
  Technical reactions from:
  a. The Conservation Perspective: Peter Neil, IUCN, Regional Forest Programme Coordinator & Climate Change Focal Point
  b. The Academic and Knowledge Perspective: Rajib Shaw, Kyoto University
  c. Coastal Development Perspective: Carmen Elrick, Coastal Zone Management Ltd
  End of session
  

Refreshment Break : 15:30-16:00

 

Lead Organization/Focal Point

Atiq Kainan Ahmed
Plan International

Venue Room H, First Floor, UNCC

Description

The impact of climate related disasters on children is increasingly being acknowledged by the humanitarian community. Children are amongst those most vulnerable to future risks related to climate change and their rights to survival, protection, development and participation are increasingly threatened as a result. Climate stresses are causing a drastic increase in the number of children being displaced, suffering from malnutrition, whose schooling is interrupted, and children who have to engage in harmful practices to help their families secure an income. The impact of climate change on child centred MDG targets and on intergenerational poverty calls for all stakeholders to promote a child centred approach to DRM and climate change adaptation.

UNICEF, Plan and other child focus organisations consider this a key issue and are involved in various activities in South and South East Asian countries. They have developed various child focused climate change adaptation approaches, tools and activities to address the issue of children and climate change.

This focus event will share experiences from Asian countries on how child focused climate change issues are evolving and making an impact on the ground. Various tools, initiatives and activities developed by UNICEF, Plan and others will be shared and critical discussions are expected in order to cross-fertilise ideas and generate greater knowledge among the participants of this Focus Event.

Publications and awareness materials by UNICEF , Plan International and Save the Children will be shared at the event.

Lead Organization/Focal Point

United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP)

Institute for Global Environmental Strategies (IGES)

AIT-UNEP RRC.AP

Asian Development Bank (ADB)

Mongolian Development Institute

The Regional Environmental Centre for Central Asia.

Venue Theatre, Ground Floor, UNCC

Description

The Asia Pacific Adaptation Network (APAN) was established in October 2009 as a part of the Global Climate Change Adaptation Network (GAN) to build climate resilience of vulnerable human systems, ecosystems and economies through the mobilization of knowledge and technologies to support adaptation capacity building, policy setting, planning and practices. APAN is the first network under the GAN supported by the UNEP, IGES, AIT-UNEP RRC.AP, ADB and more partners are joining including the Mongolian Development Institute and the Regional Environmental Centre for Central Asia.

The development of the GAN is a response to the call by UNFCCC SBSTA, which at its 28th Session "recognized that regional centres and networks undertaking work relevant to climate change play an important role in enhancing adaptation" and "agreed to promote existing networks for impacts, vulnerability and adaptation and encouraged the establishment of new networks." GAN is facilitated by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), in partnership with key UN and other international and bilateral agencies

The purpose of this focus event organized by APAN with supported by APAN partners including UNEP, IGES, AIT-UNEP RRC.AP, ADB, Mongolian Development Institute and the Regional Environmental Centre for Central Asia is to share the interim results of APAN activities especially in Northeast Asia and Central Asia.

Lead Organization/Focal Point

Asian Disaster Preparedness Center (ADPC),
DEWGA (Disaster environment working group Asia)

Venue Conference Room 4, First Floor, UNCC

Description

Session Agenda:

Linkages and Differences between DRR and CCA
Overview of regional consultative committee (RCC) mainstreaming program	ADPC
Mainstreaming DRR and CCA in national development planning	National economic development authority (NEDA), Philippines
Questions
Overview of the disaster and environment working group of Asia (DEWGA)	DEWGA
Role of higher education in environment disaster linkages	Kyoto university
Questions

Mainstreaming DRR and CCA in national development planning (NEDA, Philippines)
While mainstreaming disaster risk reduction in national development planning has been challenging, a number of ADPC’S Regional Consultative Committee (RCC) member countries, among them, Philippines, have actually undertaken the process and moved on to implement DRR mainstreaming in priority sectors underscored in their national development plans. The growing threats of climate change as manifested in the frequency and intensity of hydro-meteorological hazards and the vulnerability of the Filipino people have advanced the mainstreaming of Climate Change Adaptation in the national development plan of the country.
In this session, the government of the Philippines shall share their experience in undertaking DRR and eventual CCA mainstreaming in the national development plan. The sharing shall focus on the linkages between DRR and CCA as reflected in the national development plan and in the process of mainstreaming, such as: stakeholders involved in each mainstreaming DRR and CCA efforts; similar and different strategies and measures for DRR and CCA, i.e. what has remained and what has changed from DRR mainstreaming to adding CCA mainstreaming; how the mainstreaming in the national development plan bridges stakeholders of DRR and CCA in terms of policy, planning and implementation; budget allocation for DRR and CCA; lessons learned; and challenges.

Role of higher education in environment disaster linkages (Kyoto University)     
The link between development, environment and disasters is a very deeply entrenched one.  The intermediary in this process is often the environment, as can be seen clearly in the case of climate change that has been established to have arisen out of anthropological causes. While there is a very popular recent focus on carbon footprints, the concept of ecological footprints has existed for a long time in the academic domain. The Asian University Network of Environment and Disaster Risk Management (AUEDM: www.auedm.net) is a unique initiative of prominent Asian universities coming together to share knowledge resources related to environment and disaster risk management amongst themselves and with the larger group of stakeholders working on these issues beyond conventional national and thematic boundaries.  AUEDM partners work in close collaboration to jointly conduct research, share findings and find ways forward in a part of the world that is increasingly at threat due to rising disaster events and climate change impacts. AUEDM also works closely with governments, corporate citizens, international agencies and civil society organizations to establish collaborations that eventually lead to reduction of risk for the most vulnerable communities.  Recent work by some of the AUEDM university partners has thrown light on the intricate linkages between cross sectoral development activities, their impact on the environment, subsequent detrimental impacts of a deteriorating environment on human life, and the integrated approach needed to address this combined threat of climate change and disasters.   Such an understanding can be very meaningfully deployed at various levels – from governance to voluntary action to education, and can go a long way in developing community based and environment based resilience to climate change as well as disasters.  The presentation will highlight some of the achievements of AUEDM.