By IRNA,
Tehran : “Large populations in South Asian countries depend on semi-subsistence agriculture for their livelihoods and future projections of climate change impacts indicate that in some South Asian countries, a substantial reduction from rain fed agriculture could occur.
Hence urgent steps must be taken to mainstream climate change adaptation into national development planning” H.E. Iajuddin Ahmed, President of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh stated, while opening an International Workshop on Climate Change and Food Security in South Asia.
The President, who is an eminent soil scientist, added: “We must help the planet if we want that the planet helps us”.
UN Information Center said that the workshop is being held from 25 to 30 August 2008 at the University of Dhaka (Bangladesh) with the aim of planning and implementing an Agriculture Mitigation and Adaptation Framework for Climate Change in South Asia.
The closing session will be addressed by H.E. Olafur Ragnar Grimson, President of Iceland.
Home to 1.52 billion people or 22% of world population, South Asia is a predominantly agricultural region with more than two-thirds of its population residing in rural areas.
Despite improvements in national food security over the last three decades, around 284 million people are still undernourished, and 43 percent of the world population living on one dollar per day are located here.
The rural population density – at 1.89 persons/ha- is higher than in any other developing region, and the concentration of most of the population on less than half of the land area, has resulted in severe pressure on natural resources.
Hence future impacts of climate change and the means to adapt to them are of great interest to the South Asian countries.
Over 300 experts and policy makers from national meteorological/ hydrological, agricultural and national planning/financial departments from South Asia and from international and regional organizations/ institutions are participating in this event, organized by the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), jointly with the United Nations’ Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), the UN Economic and Social Commission for Asia and Pacific (ESCAP), the Ohio State University (USA) and the University of Dhaka.
Addressing the opening session, Prof. Rattan Lal, Director, Carbon Management and Sequestration Center of Ohio State University and Chairman of the International Organizing Committee said: “Bangladesh and other countries in South Asia are frontline States in the war against the climate change and its adverse impacts on food security and environmental quality.
Problems facing Bangladesh and South Asia are global issues which must be addressed at regional scale through cooperation, information exchange, joint ventures and mutual support.
Carbon sequestration in soils, terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems is a win-win strategy for reversing degradation trends.
An effective pilot program to adapt and mitigate the effects of climate change in South Asia can be a role model for similar initiatives elsewhere in the developing countries.”
“The main determinant of agricultural production in South Asia is still the seasonal variation of precipitation and temperature”, said Mr Michel Jarraud, Secretary-General of WMO.
“Droughts, floods, frost-freezes, and heatwaves stress both crops and livestock. It is the changing frequency of these events due to climate change that is the main concern in South Asia, and in this regard improved weather and climate information can assist agricultural communities in making better decisions. It would be useful to establish a Climate Change Information Network for South Asia that would provide the means to share and communicate information, data and science on climate change and on monitoring tools and methodologies, analysis techniques, data management and verification tools.”
“Climate is a crucial factor in formulating sustainable development strategies, and therefore has an overarching and cross- cutting role in the efforts to achieve the UN Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). It is essential to help countries reduce climate-induced risks that might oppose the achievement of the MDGs notably in terms of poverty reduction and food security”, Mr Jarraud added.
Mr He Changchui, Assistant Director-General and FAO Regional Representative for Asia and the Pacific, stressed that climate change and food security are nexus as agriculture is both a bearer and a contributor of climate change.
“We need a comprehensive strategy and policy framework, involving integrated approach through multidisciplinary team work to better address cross-cutting issues. Hence, government ownership to incorporate identified options into national development planning is crucial for coping with climate change in the agricultural sector.” Mr Siva Thampi, Director, Environment and Development Division of ESCAP, emphasized the importance of policy innovations in tackling the growing problem of climate change in South Asia.
“Climate change is a development challenge that requires a holistic approach encompassing all ministries, sectors, as well as civil society organisations and the private sector”, he said.
Prof. S.M. A. Faiz, Vice-chancellor of the University of Dhaka and President of the Symposium emphasized the need for more effective coordination and cooperation amongst the South Asian countries to tackle the growing threat of climate change.
Prof Faiz said, “Universities, research bodies, institutions and organizations throughout the world must put in place collaboration amongst themselves in basic research and in the dissemination of knowledge that might contribute to meeting challenges, and take the opportunities, no later than today.”
Participants will discuss integrated mitigation and adaptation win-win options in different agroecosystems of South Asia and devise a regional Agriculture Mitigation and Adaptation Framework for Climate Change.
They are expected to recommend policy and financial innovations to enable smooth implementation of the Framework and its integration into the sustainable development planning of South Asia countries.
They will also explore options for strengthening information exchange on climate change impacts and cooperation on agriculture mitigation and adaptation actions among countries in the region.