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Climate change and its impact on developing countries Report: Outcome of the Round Table Presentations: Climate Changes and its impact on developing countries - Prof. Dr. Milan Lapin UNDP Human Development Report 2007/2008 - Jan Szczycinski The Way to Copenhagen: the role of climate finance - Jiri Jerabek Presentation by Prof. Dr. Milan Lapin, PhD. – developing countries Climate change and possible impacts onFacts and figures: Present climate change due to anthropogenic enhancement of greenhouse effect Between 1945 – 1985 the human interference was comparable with the natural causes Since 1985 the greenhouse gases exceeded the natural causes The period 1991 – 2008 has seen exceptional weather events (heat waves, flash floods,Climate change impacts also the socio-economic sectors as seen in the heightenedCommunication on climate change – National Climate Program establishment, needReduction of the athmospheric greenhouse gases concentration is the only way to slowDicussion: LAND USE – very important especially in forest regions becuase these are the means of the “sink of carbon”. Besides the forest management, water management is extremely important in wet regions – they are colder because the sun radiation there is used for water evaporation and not for earth heating. Breaking this cycle would have catastrophic consequences. FUTURE PREDICTION – the most probable is the most pessimistic scenario and that is because of the policy choices made by the politicians in the biggest and/or the most influential countries. MITIGATION AND ADAPTATION – very difficult to see the real costs because in climate change the plans and analyses need to be done for a period of 100 years as opposite to the usual 5 years period of the politicians. Mitigation is therefore not very efficient (politicians do not like long-term measures) but adaptation alone is not enough. IMPACT OF SCIENTIST ON POLITICIANS – scientists need to prepare studies and presentations for the politicians but it is difficult because they only hear what they want to hear. Leftist politicians, for example, like populist studies with rapid response measures. In Slovakia the current government does not cooperate with the scientist, unlike the previous ones. Day 1: UNDP: Climate change and its impact on developing countries – UNDP Human Development Report 2007/2008 Presentation by Jan Szczycinski – Fighting climate change: Human solidarity in a divided worldFacts and figures: There are three distinctive characteristics to the climate change – it is cumulative, the The world should cut emissions in 50% by 2050 – to do this, developing countries If every person living in the developing world would have the same carbonas an average person in US or Canada, we would need the equivalent to 9 People in developing countries are much more likely to be affected by a climate Possible consequences of one meter rise in sea level would mean 6 million people Measures taken to help people differ according to the wealth of the country – Strategies for mitigation: setting mitigation targets – the current problems; pricingDiscussion MITIGATION AND ADAPTATION – technologically it is possible, it is rather a question of political will. The problem goes in a circle – the poor countries are waiting with their commitment on the developed countries while these do not want to decide unless they know the decision of the big developing countries like for example China. Copenhagen could be the turning point. REALISTIC OUTCOMES OF COPENHAGEN – it is hard to what is realistic at this point so we should push for the 50% emission cuts no matter what. An agreement is much needed since the Kyoto will soon be expiring. Everyone is waiting to see what the approach of the US administration will be. Maybe it would be helpful to make sure that people of the developed world understand that cuts in the emissions will not decrease their standard of living. It might help to prevent short-term policy decisions if the public pushes for the long-term ones, although that is quite hypothetical. ADAPTATION PLANS FOR DEVELOPING COUNTRIES – probably there are not any clear formulated plans and it is more in form of suggestions and presenting of new technologies which are helpful. ROLE OF NGOs IN CLIMATE CHANGE – we should cooperate with the already existing environmental NGOs, implement projects, find the scientists with reliable information and data, have a roster of these to be presented to media and anybody who asks for specific information on climate change. When presenting results always say where and who it came from. The way to Copenhagen Presentation by Jiří Jeřábek: The way to Copenhagen: the role of “climate finance”, involvement of NGOs and public campaigningFacts and figures: · Climate change is an important topic for development and humanitarian organizations· Climate Action Network CAN includes about 140 organizations almost half of which· The Kyoto Protocol effective since Feb 16, 2005· There are 2000 to 12 000 participants in UN FCCC – Framework Convention on· Copenhagen 2009 should give the new framework beyond 2012 but the legal form or· Complicated and long negotiation process involving the parties, working groups,· Climate finance uses many different funds and mechanisms. There are 2 proposals:· In public campaigning the goal is to create a public pressure on politicians by· Public campaigning has different forms – demonstrations, statements, declarations,Discussion: WHAT IF COPENHAGEN WILL NOT BE SIGNED? (Is there a plan B?) – If this happens, another conference will have to take place until they agree on something. A much greater danger is that they will agree on something non-substantial so that there is a proof of agreeing on “something” but without any help or progress in the worsening situation of climate change and its consequences. KEY CHALLENGE/TASK – is to achieve an agreement on the specific targets for developing countries which have to be measurable and verifiable, as well as agreeing on financing. Everyone is waiting for the US climate policy which is under development at the moment. Working groups For this workshop participants formed 2 groups. One of them was working on lobbying and advocacy work of NGOs during negotiations towards the Copenhagen agreement, specifically targeting the decision-makers. The other group was working on how to communicate the climate change and its impact on developing countries to the public. 1 st group – targeting the decision-makers:· Targeting politicians domestically – on the national level (with an international· Goal: positive COP 15 outcome (countries keep their promises)· How to do it: NGOs – tool of pressure; position papers; round tables with the· Why should we finance? To live up to our commitments· How should we finance? Burden sharing, through public and private money, money· Activities and tools – meetings, discussions, presentations on different levels, policy· 2 Put climate change on the V4 agendand group – targeting the media and broader public:· Aim: to put pressure on the EU to keep their promises (because they have made· Audience: YouthCampaign: to pledge to do something and get media interested in the campaign so thatThe campaign would involve every means available such as online petitions,Campaign would involve a lot of work in planning each step in order to set the toneThis document has been produced with the financial assistance of the European Union. The contents of this document are the sole responsibility of CASE and can under no circumstances be regarded as reflecting the position of the European Union. ............................................................... See also:
News: Outcome and presentations Round table IV - Climate changes and its impact on developing countries
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