Schedule and Venue
12 December (Tue)
Inna Garuda, Thailand Room

Organisers
Murdoch University, CAI-Asia, Stockholm Environment Institute and GMS-CEP

As the economy of the Greater Mekong Sub-region (GMS) has grown, so have emissions of air pollutants and greenhouse gases. Emissions of air pollutants and greenhouse gases are inextricably linked, as they are both associated with use of energy for transport, industrialization, urbanization and economic development.

Human-induced climate change is a serious environmental and development issue with serious implications for biodiversity and food security. Under some recently published climate change scenarios, climate change poses a greater threat of species extinction than deforestation or habitat destruction. The additional stress imposed by climate change, particularly as it affects the characteristics of natural hazards, could threaten goals of poverty alleviation.

Surface ozone is a regional air pollutant growing in concentration in the GMS and elsewhere in the world with serious implications for food security. Mean surface ozone concentrations are predicted to increase by about a quarter by 2020 in parts of the GMS, and recent studies predict East Asia is about to experience reductions in crop production due to increasing surface ozone, with major yield losses for wheat, rice, corn, and soybean. In addition, emissions of acid air pollutants are expected to increase as the industrialization of the region continues and energy shortages remain.

The event will bring together leading scientists from the region and elsewhere to review what is known, and to develop plans for integrated studies and collaboration in the Greater Mekong Sub-region.

Objectives

• Collate, discuss and synthesise what is known about the potential effects of climate change and regional air pollution on biodiversity and agriculture in the GMS
• Develop priorities, plans and collaborations for studies and an assessment of effects of climate change and regional air pollution on biodiversity and agriculture in the GMS

Participants
In order to facilitate active discussion and development of plans and close collaborations, participation will be by invitation only. Those wishing to participate should contact the contact person at least two weeks prior to the meeting.

Contact person
Frank Murray
Murdoch University, Perth, Australia
Email: f.murray@murdoch.edu.au