| PROCEEDINGS |
PDF version is also avilable <Preface>
<Special Guest Address & Keynote>
<Sessions Day1> <Sessions Day2>
<Summing Up & Final Discussion> <List of Attendees> |
Summing Up Comments Andrew Collins, Northumbria University This event focused on the link between climate change and disaster impact reduction. It was opened by a high level representation from the Government of Nepal, international development organisations and university leaders. Its purpose was achieved; to consider local and regional perspectives on the climate threat, share and stimulate ideas about how people are reducing climate associated risks, and further engage networks that can contribute towards a more sustainable future. Presentation contributions were made from more than ten countries. The seminar engaged with theoretical, methodological and policy aspects of the subject area based on original research and reviews. There was a genuine sense that presentations were made to a very high standard with a stimulating level of varied and context specific detail. We engaged with a particularly strong set of examples from South Asia, from the mountain environments of Nepal to the deltas of Bangladesh. Presentations and discussion took place on physical hazards ranging from varied types of flood, landslide, fire and drought. These were addressed alongside analysis of vulnerability, risk and resilience. There have been models of good practice for disaster mitigation from community based protection strategies to institutional responses in the mode of emergency management. Education has emerged as crucial, both formally and informally. The importance for universities to engage in research, teaching and learning activities in the climate and disasters field was further demonstrated by this occasion. However, education is for all and extends into the communities, schools and other institutions. Particularly good examples of progress in this respect were presented from Turkey, Japan and Bangladesh. We frequently noted how climate and disaster impact reduction issues are both global and local, demonstrated also by presentation showing recent flooding events in the United Kingdom. Making distinctions between notions of developed and developing worlds in this respect are not always useful. The threats identified are interrelated both in terms of global climate, economies and political forces. We are all in this together. Furthermore, on a distinctly positive note, we witnessed how the research agenda for both new and established scholars has become and can become further internationalised. We noted the particular strength of contributions combining environmental and social perspectives, in many instances drawing in much wider disciplinary influences. We exposed evidence that climate change and disaster reduction is well on the agenda of the academic community in this region and elsewhere. It is also on the agenda of NGOs, practitioners and Government. However we have seen how we are still in the early parts of a long road ahead not only in terms of there being the political will, but also in terms of building sufficient knowledge and capacity, essentially both specialised and accessible. There is a need to further understand the full nature of hazard, and the characteristics of resilience that reduces climate change impact. There are many ongoing questions, some of which were posited at the start of this event but which became clearer alongside the case studies provided. How can we better invest in research that will enable a wide variety of concerned groups and civil society to risk assess more fully and to manage risk effectively? What are appropriate forms of governance at local and wider levels that allows this agenda to be appropriately supported? We know that climate change is not all in this agenda. In many instances a reduction of poverty and marginalisation would reduce climate impact significantly. We know that appropriate preparedness and response systems can prevent major environmental events becoming a disaster. Linking to real world situations, full on and applied, we can make a difference rather than accepting a fatalistic view of what is now inevitable increases in temperature and unpredictability in local and region climate systems. Some of the students contributing to this event and more established academics were associated with the Universities organising the event. Others came from beyond. It has been particularly encouraging to note that a community of new scholars is strengthening in this field. This in itself spells significant hope for the future. Professor Sanjay Nath Khanal, PhD, Kathmandu University, Nepal On behalf of Kathmandu University, it is my honour to be here with you at this very important UK-South Asia Young Scientists and Practitioners Seminar on Climate Change and Disaster Impact Reduction, organised jointly by Northumbria University, BRAC University, Bangladesh, and Kathmandu University, Nepal. I am pleased to inform you on this occasion that these universities are collaborating science for the last couple of years in higher education teaching and research in Disaster Management through the support of DfID and the British Council under the DelPHE Programme. Our joint effort has a disaster risk resilience committee approach to understand how communities can self organise to be resilient to disasters covering wider geographical areas in South Asia. We, from the universities are expected to observe and document how the committees evolve and devolve and define what the risk and resilience issues are in the local community so they get identified or addressed in the process. A number of committees are established in Nepal and the initiative has good moral support of the government. There is also incorporation of a disaster curriculum in related academic programmes. Climate change is a source of multiple, multi dimensional hazards which affects livelihood as well as natural and man made capital. It also weakens resilience and increases vulnerability to different natural and anthropgenically induced factors. Therefore, climate change related disaster management is an urgent task – which could be implemented through mainstreaming it as a component of the development process and part of sustainable development. While doing so, both long term and short term impacts are to be taken into account. Climate change brings the possibility of increasing frequency and severity of extreme weather events and increase in occurrence of disasters. Therefore, reducing the impacts of disaster is an urgent priority. Now many people believe that climate change although a natural phenomenon is accelerated by human activities. Most vulnerable and marginalised people of poor nations are also most likely to suffer, though their contribution towards climate change is negligible. The disaster management and climate change link may need to be viewed as mainstreaming climate variability and change into disaster management, taking into consideration sectoral initiatives too. Some key understandings and processes for this may include:
Climate change not only brings climatological but also brings health, biological and socio-economic impacts and natural resource degradation. Possible impacts of climate change are likely in high altitude environments such as Nepal due to Nepal´s topography. We are more prone due to our young geology, naturally extreme hydrological regimes and stiff and varied geographic gradients within a very small surface area. Its impacts could range from glacier retreat, loss of biodiversity, change in land use patterns and changes in productivity, floods and drought or anything similar for that matter. Though Nepal is highly vulnerable to climate change implications, it is also an important place to understand and study the climate change phenomenon due to its widely varied climatic and geographical characteristics within a small surface area. The Hindukush Himalayas share the major global source of fresh water and continued climate change may lead to complete depletion of this valuable resource, impacting all sectors related to this resource including the infrastructure and livelihoods of one third of humanity. Therefore, thorough study of the phenomenon is needed for better understanding of climate change and its potential impacts in different sectors as our region currently is constrained by limited data in this context. It is now high time that we put our collective efforts towards this global humanitarian effort and planet earth saving endeavour. I believe this is a highly important event that has been organised involving young scientists of the region. Through their varied efforts, I am confident that they will come up with important and valuable ideas to put forward to minimise and overcome the implications of climate change. As a partner institution, we look forward to our continued participation in this collective effort. My sincere appreciation and thanks to all those who sponsored and supported this event. I wish a fruitful outcome and success of the seminar. Thank you. Final Discussion How do we take this forward? The following discussion reflects comments from a number of different delegates. This meeting is already the outcome of earlier meetings and things are forming elsewhere. Komal has been instrumental in linking these people and can perhaps continue to be an important communication channel. Health, wellbeing and security are enhanced by this kind of activity. Komal has been a catalyst to this and we should express our gratitude for the level of organization. Latin America and Asia have much in common, thus any initiative linking the two places will be well-received. We can share and learn form each other. A major theme has been education. The money for a conference is easier, the theme is more difficult. How about education for DRR? A conference every two years would be great – the organizer has chosen himself! (Komal). There are other forums, ISDR for example, is every two years. This is an event for young researchers might be useful to avoid conference fatigue. University education could be a focus. A ProVention forum also exists. It would be useful to think of other ways to influence policy decisions – those high level decisions that influence many people. Practitioner-academic links are important. A crucial dimension is the involvement of civil society, emergency services and other government representatives. |
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