Global Climatic Experts, Policy Makers, Academicians Gather in NewDelhi to Discuss Climate Change Adaptation

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Internet: anil.patni (AT) ec (DOT) europa.eu

04-Dec-06 07:41 (08:41 +0100)

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Global Climatic Experts, Policy Makers, Academicians Gather in

New

Delhi to Discuss Climate Change Adaptation

---------------------------

PRESS RELEASE

 

Global Climatic Experts, Policy Makers, Academicians Gather in New Delhi to

Discuss Climate Change Adaptation

 

New Delhi, December 4, 2006: Global climatic experts, policy makers,

academicians, from across the globe will come together at the 'International

Conference on Adaptation to Climate Variability and Change,' to be held on

December 7-8, 2006, in New Delhi, seeking to come up with strategic

solutions

to integrating climate adaptation strategies into India's core response

mechanisms. The conference is being jointly organized by the Ministry of

Environment and Forests, Government of India, multilateral groups - European

Commission and The World Bank; and bilateral organizations - DFID of the UK,

GTZ (Germany), SDC (Switzerland) and TERI (India).

 

There is broad scientific consensus today that human induced climate change

is

taking place at a significant rate and poses a substantial threat to global

development efforts. These risks could undermine gains in agriculture,

health

and infrastructure and impede India's progress towards meeting the

Millennium

Development Goals. Climate variability and climate change are resulting in a

more severe occurrence of extreme events, such as droughts, floods and

cyclones, which affect the poor most, jeopardize agricultural production and

livelihoods of rural communities. The impacts on countries like India are

likely to be significant as about 20% of India's GDP is attributable to the

agriculture sector and employ?s 57% of the total workforce.

 

Adaptation, therefore, remains a crucial intermediate response strategy for

reducing the adverse effects of climate change. This can be achieved through

sectoral programs and innovative institutional reforms to strengthen the

resilience of communities and eco-systems against climate-related risks.

Over the last two years, the World Bank, The Energy and Resources Institute

(TERI) and RMSI Private Ltd. have been implementing a multi-sectoral study

to

identify ways to enhance the consideration of climate and climate related

issues in India's development process. The conference will discuss and

disseminate the emerging study results and recommendations for consideration

by

conference participants.

 

The conference also intends to provide a larger forum for the exchange of

information on recent developments, highlight programs and challenges facing

India, with the aim of increasing awareness on the adaptation challenge and

implications for the development and implementation of climate-related

policies

and programs and strengthening commitment to future strategies and programs.

 

The participants at the conference will include government officials from

the

Indian central and state administration, policy analysts, representatives of

international partners, lead academics and scientists and practitioners

representing civil society. Among others, Shri Namo Narain Meena, Minister

of

State of Environment and Forests and Dr. Prodipto Ghosh, Secretary, Ministry

of

Environment and Forests; Ms Soledad Blanco, European Commission's Director

of

International Affairs, Directorate General for Environment; Mr. Rachid

Benmessaoud, acting Country Director; World Bank-India; Dr. R.K. Pachauri,-General, TERI; Mr. Justin Mundy, Senior Advisor to the UK

government;

and key representatives from the MOEF, EU, The World Bank, DFID, SDC and GTZ

will lead the discussions over the two days.

 

Earlier this month, in the context of the Conference of the Parties to the

United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change held in Nairobi,

Adaptation to climate change featured prominently on the agenda; the Nairobi

program work on impacts, vulnerability and adaptation to climate change was

adopted and agreement was reached on the principles and modalities for the

governance of the Adaptation Fund.

 

For further information please contact:

 

- Anil Patni, Adviser - Press and Information, Delegation of the

European

Commission to India, New Delhi. Tel: 24629237 ext.213. Mobile: 09810630481.

E-mail: anil.patni (AT) ec (DOT) europa.eu

- Kiran Negi, Communications Officer, World Bank. Tel: 41479363,

knegi (AT) worldbank (DOT) org

- Sabah Hamid, Asst. Manager (Communications), TERI. Tel: 2468 2100 /

2468 2111,Mobile: 098 117 99075, E-mail: sabahh (AT) teri (DOT) res.in

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