THE development partners and the climate change experts of the globe have recommended integration of climate change into development. The whole world is now busy in setting the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) far beyond 2015-MDGs (Millennium Development Goals). Ban Ki Moon, Secretary-General of the United Nations rightly said, "The MDGs have proved that focused global development objectives can make a profound difference. Success in the next 1,000 days will not only improve the lives of millions, it will add momentum as we plan far beyond 2015 and the challenge of sustainable development."
The global experts are planning to include many issues in the SDGs, and climate change to get their priorities right. Because human-induced climate change raised many questions not only for the developing countries, but also for the developed countries to explore the ways on how to survive, and how to save lives and livelihoods.
The IPCC WGII AR5 Summary for policy makers titled 'Climate Change2014: Impacts, Adaptation, and Vulnerability' mentioned that in recent decades, changes in climate have caused impacts on natural and human systems in all continents and across the oceans. Evidence of climate change impacts is strongest and most comprehensive for natural systems. Some impacts on human systems have also been attributed to climate change, with a major or minor contribution of climate change distinguishable from other influences.
In many regions, changing precipitation or melting snow and ice are altering hydrological systems, affecting water resources in terms of quantity and quality. Glaciers continue to shrink almost worldwide due to climate change, affecting runoff and water resources downstream. Climate change is causing permafrost warming and thawing in high-latitude regions and in high-elevation regions. Many terrestrial, freshwater, and marine species have shifted their geographic ranges, seasonal activities, migration patterns, abundances, and species interactions in response to ongoing climate change.
The human interference with the climate system is occurring, and climate change poses risks for human and natural systems. Climate change involves complex interactions and changing likelihoods of diverse impacts.
The Collaborative Adaptation Research Initiative in Africa and Asia
Globally, there is an emerging concern that the negative effects of climate change will be disproportionately experienced by those who are economically and socially disadvantaged, further widening the gap between them and more advantaged population groups. However, the relationship between climate change impact, and social disadvantage remains little investigated. Considering all those issues, to understand the risks, community and organizational resilience, adaptive strategies, regional implications etc in some of the most vulnerable regions in Africa and Asia, the Collaborative Adaptation Research Initiative in Africa and Asia (CARIAA) was launched in Kathmandu, Nepal on April 30, 2014. It is a seven-year, research initiative. This writer had the opportunity to attend the program.
Through this initiative, four consortia will conduct research in three 'hot spots'. The regions where demographic trends, socio-economic development pathways, and strong climate signals put large numbers of people and their livelihoods at risk are - semi-arid regions, deltas, and Himalayan river basins. The initiative brings together experts from a variety of disciplines, and links North and South institutions to seek innovative solutions to the problems facing each hot spot. This will enable greater sharing of knowledge and experience, and encourage innovation. CARIAA's research agenda addresses gaps and priorities highlighted in the latest report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) on Impacts, Adaptation and Vulnerability (IPCC AR5 Working Group II). A number of CARIAA researchers have contributed to this report, which was released in March 2014.
Canada's International Development Research Centre (IDRC) and the UK's Department for International Development (DFID) announced that the Asian institutions would be part of four new multi-partner research consortia for tackling the impacts of climate change in Africa and Asia. CARIAA's research in South and Central Asia is very timely, as demonstrated by the call for action coming out of the 8th Conference on Community Based Adaptation that concluded on April 30, 2014 in Kathmandu, Nepal. CARIAA's consortium on the Himalayan river basins is led by the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD) based in Kathmandu. Its partners in Asia are the Bangladesh Centre for Advanced Studies (BCAS), The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI) in India, and the Pakistan Agricultural Research Council (PARC). It will include case studies in Bangladesh, India, Nepal and Pakistan. In addition, ALTERRA, a research institution from the Netherlands also helps the consortium on Himalayan River Basins.
According to a statement of ICIMOD, "Many areas of Asia are highly vulnerable to climate change. Changes in temperature and precipitation will affect snow and ice in the Hindu Kush Himalayan region, and atmospheric circulation patterns that drive the South Asian summer monsoon. These changes could put the livelihoods of millions at risk. Downstream, populations in South Asian deltas are highly vulnerable to sea-level rise and to changing temperature and rainfall patterns. The IPCC projects that without adaptation measures to safeguard populations from the risks associated with climate change, hundreds of millions of people will be affected by coastal flooding and will be displaced due to land loss by year 2100; the majority of those affected are from East, Southeast and South Asia. Finally, in semi-arid parts of Asia, more frequent and prolonged droughts threaten livestock and agriculture, a major source of food and income."
Dr David Molden, Director General of ICIMOD said, "CARIAA will provide key insights into future water supply and into effective adaptation options available at a local, national and regional scale in the countries dependent of the Hindu Kush Himalayas glaciers."
"Anticipated changes in the water flow patterns and glacial melt are going to affect the life and livelihoods of the population of Bangladesh", said Dr Atiq Rahman, Executive Director of the Bangladesh Centre for Advanced Studies. "The research undertaken by CARIAA will contribute to the advancement of science and to the welfare of the most vulnerable populations of Bangladesh," he added.
According to Dr Rajendra K Pachauri, CEO of TERI, India and Chairman of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), "Collaboration on adaptation research holds large scale mutual benefits to both Africa and Asia. It will enrich our knowledge on options available to help the most vulnerable populations in wide range of countries and regions."
Dr Anindya Chatterjee, Asia Regional Director, International Development Research Centre (IDRC) New Delhi, India said, "If there is no consensus, there is no progress. IDRC is conducting research to get better data to implement projects on climate change adaptation. Regional cooperation is a must for generating more funds to conduct more research."
Dr Saleemul Huq, Director, International Centre for Climate Change and Development said, "All the stakeholders must join hands in quality research on climate change adaptation."
In fact, climate change is one of the cross-cutting issues. That is why, experts recommended more research especially to know the key interactions across sectors, cumulative impacts and cross-jurisdictional issues that will affect the development of adaptation strategies in each sector and find out how best these cross- and multi-sectoral issues can be addressed.
The writer is a journalist, columnist, and author of four books on climate change and other contemporary issues. Email: [email protected]
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