Seminar Programme: UK-South Asia Young Scientists and Practitioners Seminar on Climate Change and Disaster Impact Reduction

PROCEEDINGS

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Special Guest Address

Professor Panna Kathmandu University

Coming Soon (a summary will be uploaded when available)

The Minister of Local Government, Nepal
The Minister of Local Government in Nepali, welcomed participants and encouraged them to think long and hard about disaster risk reduction in Nepal. He emphasised that vulnerability was significantly higher in poorer communities and that there was need to build local government capacity to respond to extreme events.

Professor Sharma, Kathmandu University
Professor Sharma: “There are tensions between environment and development. Special mention must be made of the energy-development nexus where in Nepal more energy was needed. However, this is then related to increased green house gas emissions and consequent accelerated climate change: this can lead to an increase in disasters as nature, under present conditions, ceases to be a self-regulating system.
I wish to use this occasion to cement the relationship between Kathmandu University and Northumbria University but I also wish to celebrate the South-South collaboration, which brings to prominence a network of young scientists.”

Dr Andrew Collins, Northumbria University (Presentation Slides (PDF))
Dr Andrew Collins outlined the value of integrating local knowledge of people and practitioners and academic research. He spoke of the importance of risk assessment for mitigating risk. The people-centred approach was emphasised as a critical factor necessary in addressing issues of climate change and development.

Margaret Arnold, Head ProVention Consortium Secretariat, Geneva (Presentation Slides (PDF))
Margaret highlighted issues of managing funding in terms of time and resources, in continuing support via financial investment in the global context. She pointed out that intergenerational transfer of knowledge and the continuity of international research is needed. Margaret used LARED as an example to illustrate the issue of developing stronger innovative research to keep the momentum, maintain sustainability and ensuring a people-centred approach in development. The urgency of achieving pragmatic and sustainable development was highlighted.

Dr Clare Shakya, DfID (Presentation Slides (PDF))
Dr Clare Shakya discussed DfID’s thinking on climate change. She discussed plausible futures for South Asia; some of the challenges in South Asia and DfiD’s role in the region.

Professor Julie Mennell, Dean of Applied Sciences, Northumbria University
Professor Julie Mennell welcomed delegates and explained that the purpose of the conference was the development of South Asia. She particularly celebrated the fact that the core of the conference was made up of young scientists. She reiterated the fact that, from the core of Northumbria University, the issue was to support young intellectuals in gaining confidence, not just in presentation of research results, but also in representing local communities that they championed.

Mr Thapa (Under Secretary from the Ministry of Development, Nepal)
Coming Soon

Keynote Speech

Professor Phil O’Keefe, Northumbria University (Presentation Slides (PDF))
Professor Phil O’Keefe explained that IPCC’s latest findings undoubtedly indicate that the climate change phenomenon is upon us. Climate change was highlighted as an issue that transcends, local, regional, national, and international levels; i.e., climate change does not recognise definitive boundaries. He discussed the important role of indigenous people, particularly at the community and/or household level in mitigation and adaptation of risk. Professor Phil O’Keefe outlined in detail, the risks of climate change, its variability and uncertainty, explaining that people most affected by uncertainty and more prone to risk are also those who are generally the poorest of society. He pointed out that extreme weather events would significantly accelerate changes in a different range of sectors. It was stated that risk reduction was not sufficient rather, that “bouncability” as well as risk reduction are interlinked factors crucial for adapting to and mitigating risk. Professor Phil O’Keefe also outlined the importance of integrative and collaborative research between different parties to enhance and generate greater information transfer, the building of knowledge bases, the sharing and dissemination of information between parties, whether at local, regional, national or international levels. He emphasised the importance of this approach in increasing the capacity of local communities in ultimately driving forward good governance, sustainable development, and aid/improve decision-making to meet the common goal of risk reduction and greater resilience that is both equitable and sustainable.

Professor Fuad Hassan Mallick, BRAC University, Bangladesh (Presentation Slides (PDF))
Professor Fuad Hassan Mallick began with highlighting the context of climate change in developing countries and stated that in order to be prepared and to take into account the worst possible case scenarios, that education in developing countries is critical for the future. Professor Fuad Hassan Mallick agreed with the previous speaker in acknowledging the climate change phenomenon. He indicated that some consequences may involve changes in precipitation, risk of flood and drought and highlighted Bangladesh’s vulnerability (by 2050 Bangladesh will be under water). He also covered a range of climate change consequences such as extreme weather, ecosystem changes, cropping pattern changes, inundation, migration, disease, food and livelihood security. Precautionary and adaptation measures were pointed to as being the dominant approach in present development projects. However, Professor Fuad Hassan Mallick argued the need for resilience. He gave an example of strengthening houses through capacity building and education, which contributed towards empowerment of local indigenous to undertake more effective, pre-disaster action. The tertiary and research levels in the context of education were highlighted as important in creating a wider knowledge base to facilitate capacity in dealing with disasters within a social and economic framework. Professor Fuad Hassan Mallick stressed that non-formal education at the community level is critical in engaging people within disaster and risk reduction practice that can transcend local, regional, national and international boundaries whilst addressing issues from bottom-up, more robust, knowledgable and resilient approaches.

Questions and discussion following the first Special Session
One key theme to emerge in the discussion was around how religion and the media could be used as a tool to teach people about climate change. Fuad explained that in mosques, Imams could play a key role in knowledge transfer to local communities. He highlighted the importance of educating central actors such as Imams to ensure engagement of local communities in adapting to climate change and/or mitigating the risks. Also, theatres, billboards and television may be useful. There is a wide range of media but particularly with respect to Bangladesh, theatre is commonly used to provide an entertainment and educational value. Education is about communication, Fuad noted. All are entitled to education via a range of media. Communication about disaster preparedness in Bangladesh and Nepal may benefit and be most effective through pictures and song. An Indian delegate referred to deforestation issues in India and how awareness and education was communicated through song which has been taken as a model by WHO in order to ensure knowledge transfer to the poorest of society who are at the highest risk and most vulnerable to disasters. Education is about creativity in order to find creative means of communication.

Professor Phil O’Keefe was asked about his reference to indigenous practices and how it might be possible to reconcile indigenous practice and the increasingly technological context of climate change. Professor Phil O’Keefe discussed womens’ health, HIV aids and education (especially for women and children). Warning systems were discussed, eg., Bangladesh, Mozambique (1999 and 2000 floods). The problem with warning systems is who owns them? Reference was made to the Tsunami and there not being an early warning system in place. If you do not have political capital you are not going to address the essential element of building resilience. The 5 hours of grace for Bangladesh at the time of the Tsunami was noted, which struck at the lowest possible tide at that time of year – the issue of luck not being a satisfactory answer to early warning systems. The main causal factor of risk is poverty: marginal people in marginal places. Ultimately professionals do not deliver health. Mothers are fundamentally important in getting the message across to societies at community levels by addressing the main providers of low risk living: mothers.