UN-BACKED WORKSHOP ON CLIMATE CHANGE ADAPTATION FOSTERS POLICY EXCHANGE

UN-BACKED WORKSHOP ON CLIMATE CHANGE ADAPTATION FOSTERS POLICY EXCHANGE
New York, Sep 14 2007 7:00PM
A three-day United Nations-sponsored workshop has concluded after participants exchanged information and policy recommendations on climate change adaptation measures.

Some 150 experts from developed and developing nations, intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) gathered in Rome from 10-12 September to share their experiences in adaptation planning in the fields of agriculture and food security, water resources, coastal zones and health.

"The impacts of climate change – such as changes in temperature and rainfall, increasing sea level and more frequent extreme weather events, such as droughts and floods – already have the potential to affect most of the world's countries and can lead to tremendous losses in human lives and economic productivity," said Roberto Acosta, Coordinator of the Adaptation, Technology and Science Programme of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (<"http://unfccc.int/2860.php">UNFCCC).

The fourth report by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (<"http://www.ipcc.ch/">IPCC) noted that negative climate change impacts will be on the rise in the future, making planning for adapting to these changes necessary.

During the workshop, participants identified gaps and needs in current adaptation planning, and made suggestions to allow countries and communities to better strategize in the years ahead.

The UNFCCC held a conference in Cairo in June, focusing on current and future climate-related risks and extreme events. Workshops are planned for next year concentrating on methods and tools, data and observations and climate modelling and socio-economic information.

A high-level informal dialogue on climate change is scheduled for 24 September in New York to set the stage for the upcoming major December summit in Bali, Indonesia.

That meeting seeks to determine future action on mitigation, adaptation, the global carbon market and financing responses to climate change for the period after the expiry of the Kyoto Protocol – the current global framework for reducing greenhouse gas emissions – in 2012.

In a related development, a top UN official stressed the need for least developed countries (LDCs), landlocked developing countries (LLDCs) and small island developing states (SIDS) to prepare for upcoming future climate change-related events so their views will be appropriately reflected in those meetings.

Cheikh Sidi Diarra, Under-Secretary-General and High Representative for the LDCs, LLDCs and SIDS noted that even though these countries – especially small island countries and African nations – are least responsible for global warming, they are hardest hit by climate change.

Speaking at a special meeting, organized by his Office and the UN World Meteorological Organization (WMO), on climate change issues pertaining to these countries, the High Representative said that the issue of sea-level rise is the most urgent one facing SIDS, and its impact is already being felt. He urged that effective adaptation measures be implemented.
2007-09-14 00:00:00.000

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