We are glad to present you the overview of CACCC-2019 side events. Central Asia Climate Change Conference will include five parallel sessions. They aim to set up the discussion on the topics of the plenary sessions in more detail.
Knowledge platforms and communication on climate change
This parallel session will showcase possible modes of information sharing between different stakeholders in climate research and planning. Participants will discuss needs for mobilizing scattered knowledge sources and outreaching all users. Speakers will demonstrate effective ways of ‘translating’ the information into effective messages and present ongoing relevant initiatives in Central Asia and beyond. The event is organized by CAREC and ICARDA
Many organizations in Central Asia are generating climate change data and knowledge every day. There are also many governmental and non‐governmental initiatives to address climate change that could be replicated or scaled up. There are even multiple examples of cross‐border and regional cooperation on climate issues that could expand. Those experiences form a strong starting point for a regional climate change information and knowledge platform.
The session will include discussion of the Central Asia Climate Information Platform (CACIP) concept with key regional and national stakeholders who are the key users and can contribute, analyze, disseminate, or use climate data services
Integrated Natural Resources Management Approaches in Central Asia
This side-event aims to introduce a conceptual framework for an integrative natural resources management approaches (ILUMA program of GIZ and CACILM-2 program of FAO) that can be applied in Central Asia. This conceptual framework is based on more than 10 years of practical, on-the-ground experience in all five Central Asian countries. The session will gather policy makers, representatives of donors and international organisations, practitioners. It is organized jointly by the German development agency, GIZ and the CACILM-2 program of the UN FAO.
80% of the territory of Central Asia is arid land. Continued expansion of deserts and arid areas are predicted, along with above-average increases in temperature and water shortages in the long term. A significant increase in natural disasters such as drought, flooding, extreme temperature shocks etc. is already a reality in Central Asia, which is expected to further increase.
The implementation of climate change mitigation and adaptation options that focus on the management of natural resources and land management is not only a technological challenge. It requires overcoming socio-economic, institutional, financing and environmental barriers that differ across countries and regions. Integrative land use management approaches (ILUMA) including natural resource management (INRM) are based on the understanding of landscapes as ecosystems comprising environmental, human, cultural, technical and institutional dimensions, amongst others. During the session, the participants will discuss success factors for applying INRM concept in practice.
Science and evidence-based water and land management solutions for strengthening climate resilience in Central Asia
The main objective of this parallel session is to bring together a wide range of experts in the field of land and water to discuss pressing climate change issues in Central Asia and present science- and evidence-based water and land management solutions to address them. The event is organized by the International Water Management Institute.
Government officials, representatives of academia, international and institutions, development agencies, civil society organizations and youth will share experiences and best practices on water and land management. Also, participants will provide evidence-based solutions to address the negative impact of climate change and develop adaptation strategies in Central Asia for food security and improving livelihoods in Central Asia.
The discussion will focus on the main climate change challenges and their impact on water and land management practices in Central Asia, research gaps, evidence-based solutions and better translation of research outputs to evidence-based decisions and policies.
Regional environment protection for sustainable development in the context of climate change
The main objective of the next session is to discuss the development of the regional environmental program for sustainable development of Central Asia (REP4SD) with the focus on climate change adaptation, which is considered as one of the main thematic directions of the program.
Aside from that participants will elaborate next steps towards the implementation of the REP4SD and determine the scope of tasks for the working group. During national consultations conducted in Central Asian countries on priority areas within the development of REP4SD, it appeared that climate change adaptation is one of the main topics for regional cooperation.
The event is organized by the German Corporation for International Cooperation and Interstate Commission for Sustainable Development.
The role of civil society and the private sector in activating climate actions in Central Asia
The parallel session will focus on the ways to bring non-state actors closer to the decision-making process on climate change and on the formation of the Network/Coalition of NGOs, committed to the implementation of actions consistent with the aims of the Paris Agreement.
The event is to bring civil society organizations and private sector representatives together and to share experience on climate resilient initiatives they have been undertaking in the region, as well as to discuss joint collaborative measures to enforce climate actions in the countries of Central Asia. The session is organized by ACTED and the climate network of Eastern Europe, Caucasus and Central Asia.
It is well-known, that business community can be the driving force together with civil society to meet the goals defined in the Paris Agreement is essential. Moreover, they can push governments to assume their responsibilities in this very important aspect of our commitments.
More information will be available in the mobile application of CACCC-2019.