CAI-Asia participated in the scoping consultation meeting that was co-organized on 13-14 February by the Institute for Global Environmental Strategies (IGES) Climate Policy Project and the United Nations University – Institute of Advanced Studies (UNU-IAS) at the IGES headquarters in Shonan Village, Kanagawa, Japan. The meeting discussed the progress of incorporating adaptation concerns in projects impacting two of the most important climate change affected sectors: agriculture and water resources. Participants of the meeting also discussed how they can collaborate with IGES in future work on climate change adaptation.
Representatives from different projects shared their positive experience in mainstreaming adaptation concerns to assist communities in India, Viet Nam, China and the Philippines. Most of the presentations showcased studies that involve small communities, although in India a national plan was drafted based on a successful demonstration project. Another presentation showed through modeling the likely impact of future climate change on flooding and drought patterns of Bangladesh.
CAI-Asia's presentation focused on a proposed project on Strengthening Capacities to Adapt to the Effects of Climate Change and Regional Air Pollution on Crops, Forest and Water Resources in the GMS region. CAI-Asia highlighted that air quality management remains to be its main focus but it is interested to work on climate change issues as well because of increasing evidence of its linkages to this global environment problem. The Working Group I of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), during the launch last 2 February of its Summary for Policy Makers on Climate Change 2007: The Physical Science Basis, showed that air pollution (specifically aerosols and ozone) affect the climate. Emissions of both air pollutants and greenhouse gases also share the same major sources specifically urban-related activities in the energy, transport and industry sectors. Changes in climate parameters and regional air quality have both recorded impacts on agriculture and water resource availability. CAI-Asia also acknowledged that the air pollution and climate change communities need to improve communication to policy and decision-makers; working together would provide better leverage.
The proposed project is a collaboration of CAI-Asia, Murdoch University (Australia) and the Stockholm Environment Institute (SEI, York). The project aims to strengthen the capacity of selected countries in the Greater Mekong Subregion to adapt to the effects of climate change and regional air pollution in its agriculture and water sectors. The project is requesting funding from the Asian Development Bank's GMS Core Environment Program.
IGES has indicated its interest to continue its work on recommending policies to facilitate adaptation to climate change through its Climate Policy Project. One of the main activities under the topic is an international workshop on adaptation on first quarter of 2008 which will be funded by an Australian government agency. Both formally during the meeting and in informal discussions , IGES recognized the value of CAI-Asia’s work as a regional convenor of AQM initiatives in Asia and the latter’s work towards promoting a cobenefits approach to urban AQM and climate change mitigation and adaptation. IGES has likewise indicated its interest to continue working with CAI-Asia specifically in promoting the cobenefits approach in the region.
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