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

PROCEEDINGS

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Sessions Day1

Climate Change, Health and Pollution

Zaina Gadema, Northumbria University (Presentation Slides (PDF))
Following an introduction on pesticides, Zaina discussed a range of impacts of pesticides through an analysis of the academic literature. She then reported on her findings from field work conducted in the Panchkhal Valley of Nepal.

Ahmad Kanruzzaman Majunder, Bangladesh (Presentation Slides (PDF))
Ahmed discussed many aspects of air pollution and its link with climate change. He also explained the effects of different types of air pollution. Kathmandu as a case study was presented and results of air pollution monitoring were reported.

Discussion following the Session on Climate Change, Health and Pollution
Zaina was asked to clarify the link between pesticides and climate change: If pesticides increase production and climate change leads to drought and flood, if there are droughts and floods, there will be no farming and therefore no pesticide use. She explained that extreme events lead to increased vulnerability. Floods have only a temporary effect on agricultural production. Climate change creates stress upon livelihoods and pesticides may be used as a response to increased livelihood stress. As such after extreme events, pesticide reliance may increase. Zaina added that climate change is not only about extreme events. Gradual temperature rises may increase the incidence of insects. Issues surrounding public health as well as ecological effects require further research, such as the impacts of pesticide residues on ecosystems within Nepal. Kathmandu University is interested in further research in this area. Zaina was also asked whether she collected the samples herself. How did she know that the samples that were analysed and were not imported rice samples? The part of the agricultural cycle in which they were collected is very important. When were they collected? She explained that samples were collected at harvest time from six locations in the valley and that this was the most representative time to collect them as crops are often sold and consumed during this period.

Climate Change and Biodiversity

Parveen Kumar Chhetri, Tribhuvan University (Presentation Slides (PDF))
Parveen discussed results of tree ring analysis in the Langtang National Park as a means to study climate change in Nepal. He also reported on findings of a study on local perceptions of climate change in the study area.

Laura Villaescusa, Northumbria University and Spanish representative (Presentation Slides (PDF))
Laura began by explaining how forest fires historically have been beneficial for rural communities in Spain. However, recently, forest fires have had more disastrous consequences. She discussed forest fires as both a cause and consequence of climate change. She explained the ways in which Spain tackled forest fires, noting that the areas affected by fires is decreasing yet the number of fires is increasing. She concluded by suggesting that a more holistic approach to forest fire management is needed.

Discussion following the sessions on climate change and biodiversity
A question was asked about the problem of desertification in Spain and the national response. It was confirmed that it is a problem in Spain, which is a victim of its own development. Golf courses consume water unsustainably. Areas have been marginalised due to tourism. Still the focus is on national income from tourism rather than unsustainable development. Clarification on the causes of fires was sought. It was explained that 95% are caused by human action, few are caused by lightening, yet the can be very difficult to strop once started. The question of whether technology is used to predict wind direction to ascertain the impact on communities was asked. It was noted that technology exists on topography, wind direction, vegetation and information is sent from national to regional level. One questioner noted that people usually need benefits to conserve forests and whether there anything in Spain to give benefits to communities like forest resource users groups being given compensation to protect their forests. Laura explained that the benefits of forests to communities in Spain is low so there is little incentive to conserve them. Communities are given money to recover their livelihoods following a fire such that possibly has the opposite effect. Instead communities should be rewarded for responsible use of forests.

Climate Change and Education

Nihan Erdogan, Istanbul Technical University (Presentation Slides (PDF))
Nihan’s lively presentation began with a hazard profile of Turkey and highlighted Turkey’s national strategy for climate change. She then dealt with the national education system and raising awareness on climate change. The challenges for climate change education in Turkey were outlined.

Hideyuki Shiroshita, Kyoto University (Presentation Slides (PDF))
Hideyuki identified two approaches to disaster education, one of which dominated in Japan and the other in the UK. He presented a detailed case study of the Ozone Rescue Troop in Japan and compared it with the holistic approach adopted by the Fire Safety Education Programme adopted in Edinburgh. He suggested that the impacts of climate change could be reduced through both approaches to disaster education.

Discussion following sessions on climate change and education
A question was asked of Nihan about whether there were plans to expand the educational programme beyond climate change? She explained that while education in schools is under the Ministry of Education, hazards are under the responsibility of different ministries. It is a challenge to integrate hazards into the education system. It was suggested that it is best to focus on teenagers who are about to become consumers. Hideyuki noted that in Japan and the UK, it is difficult to ascertain whether educational programmes regarding climate change are commonplace or not, but stated that disaster education is currently only geared towards natural hazards. School education is very vulnerable to change. Nihan made a correction that she didn’t say/mean that the media in Turkey is ‘supportive’: “There is news about climate change every day, but there is little about what should be done –it is more alarmist. However, the issue is always popular which is useful to pressurise the government. It is difficult to evaluate the efficacy of educational awareness programmes – the media is certainly increasing awareness but it’s not known whether this will affect behaviour.”

Climate Change and Emergency Management

Animesh Kumar Gain, IWFM (Presentation Slides (PDF))
Animesh explained the extent of flood inundation risk in Dhaka City, Bangladesh through flood inundation mapping. Vulnerability mapping was also outlined to present a risk map for Dhaka. He highlighted how valuable the risk map could be to evaluate policy alternatives to manage flood risk.

P.K. Joshi, Teri University (Presentation Slides (PDF))
He explained in detail the development of the geospatial database for biodiversity and climate change. He thoroughly explained the use of GIS technology for examining the potential ecological effects of climate change. He identified areas which do not currently have protected status but which are highly representative of bio rich areas in India.

Discussion following Climate Change and Emergency Management
Of PK Joshi, a question was asked about the status of biodiversity in India. It was summarized that 22% of forest is virgin forest, there are three biodiversity hotspots and unique ecosystems such as Sundarbans. The disturbance index was explained in ore detail. He was also asked whether vegetation shifts were occurring. He noted that it is a challenge to link to climate change directly to shifts in vegetation. While they are confident that there has been a change to the timber line, shrinkage in size of flower and grasslands invaded by pine forest, stating these are directly proportional to climate change is difficult, but they seem to be part of the climate change footprint. Also shifts in fauna due to sea level rise. In his speech, Aminur had mentioned that a higher percentage of people in Dhaka are poor and was asked whether rural productivity losses would bring more people to Dhaka? He explained that climatic refugees would increase in number as resources are concentrated in the city so people would move there for income generation.