KAZAKHSTAN NATIONAL COMMITTEE FOR THE UNESCO PROGRAMME “MAN AND THE BIOSPHERE” (MAB)

6th Meeting of The South and Central Asia MAB
Network (SACAM)

"Impact of Climate Change on Natural Ecosystems"

December 3-5, 2014

Objectives of the Meeting

These days, there has been a greater emphasis on Climate Change issue and it severely has affected almost all the physical and biological components of the Planet Earth. Apart from the changes brought in different seasons and rainfall patterns, the biodiversity loss and wetland degradation are other important areas on which the impact of climate change are clearly visible. Thus urgent and serious attention is needed for these issues. This platform will provide an opportunity to develop collaboration among scientists and government officials to develop better strategies to cope with the burning issue of climate change.
Important themes to be discussed in this meeting are:

Sharing of knowledge from the individual countries to understand the severity of the issues related to climate change.
Understanding the present and projected impact of climate change on weathers, economies, agriculture, wetlands, biodiversity, natural resources and ecosystems for sensitizing the policy makers, researchers and planners for an increased future attention on these issues in the region.
Encouraging and inspiring SACAM countries to focus on climate change issues at policy level while planning conservation and management practices of the protected areas and biosphere reserves.

Analysis of ongoing climate change mitigation efforts and discussion on future line of action to minimize the impact of climate change on the natural resources and livelihoods.

AGENDA

Day 1: December 3, 2014

*Inaugural Session*
08:30-09:00	Registration
09:00-09:05	Guests to be seated
09:05-09:10	Recitation from Holy Quran
09:10-09:15	Welcome address by Country Focal Person, MAB-Pakistan
09:15-09:20	Remarks by Secretary, SACAM
09:20-09:25	Remarks by Representative, UNDP
09:25-09:30	Remarks by Deputy Director, UNESCO Regional Science Bureau-Indonesia
09:30-09:35	Remarks by Director, UNESCO-Pakistan
09:35-09:45	Address by Chairman, SACAM /Co-Chairman, National MAB Committee-Pakistan/Chairman, PSF
09:45-09:55	Address by Chairman, National MAB Committee-Pakistan/Secretary, MoST
09:55-10:10	Address by Chief Guest
10:10-10:15	Vote of thanks by Director General, PMNH
10:15- 11:00	Refreshment
*Session I: Introduction and Overview* Chaired by: Chairman, National MAB Committee-Pakistan Facilitator: Secretary SACAM Rapporteur: Country Focal Person MAB-Pakistan
11:00- 11:30	Introduction of participants facilitated by Secretary SACAM
	Adoption of the Agenda with permission from Chair
	Introduction of the theme of the event by Co-Chairman National MAB Committee-Pakistan
11:30-12:00	SACAM background, progress and future plans: Report by Secretary SACAM
12:00-12:45	Intervention by member countries/ participants
12:45-14:00	Lunch/ Prayer Break
*Session II: Scientific Evidence of the Climate Change* Chaired by: Chairman /Co-Chairman, National MAB Committee-Pakistan Facilitator: Delegation from India and Iran Rapporteur: Director, PSD, PMNH
14:00-14:20	International conventions, agreements and protocols on climate change
14:20-14:40	Paleoclimatology: the earth’s climate in geological perspective
14:40-15:00	Recent Climate changes based on meteorological and climatological data
15:00-15:20	Ice cap reduction and glacial melt in world in general and in Asia in particular
15:20-15:40	Present and projected changes in sea level as a result of climate change
15:40-16:00	Relationship between climate change and severe sporadic events like floods, drought, hurricanes etc.
16:00-16:20	Methodologies and techniques for measurement of climate change process
16:20-16:40	Comparison of models developed for local and global climate change and gap analysis
16:40-17:00	Innovations and new trends in meteorology and climate informatics

Day 2: December 4, 2014

*Session III: Country Presentations on Impact of climate change on different ecosystems* Chaired by: Chairman /Co-Chairman, National MAB Committee-Pakistan Facilitator: Delegate from Sri Lank and Maldives Rapporteur: Chief Scientific Officer, PSF
09:00-09:20	Role of UNESCO in climate change mitigation measures
09:20-09:40	Impact of climate change on Freshwater Ecosystems
09:40-10:00	Impact of climate change on Mountain Ecosystems
10:00-10:20	Impact of climate change on desert and dry land ecosystems
10:20-10:40	Impact of climate change on coastal ecosystems
10:40-11:00	Impact of climate change on marine ecosystems
11:00-11:20	Impact of climate change on forest ecosystems
11:20-11:40	Impact of climate change on grassland ecosystems
11:40-12:00	Impact of climate change on wilderness and protected areas
12:00-12:40	Coffee & Tea Break
*Session IV: Human role in acceleration of Climate Change* Chaired by: Chairman /Co-Chairman, National MAB Committee-Pakistan Facilitator: Delegation from Bangladesh and Nepal Rapporteur: Director ESD, PMNH
12:40-13:00	Role of natural and human factors in acceleration of climate change
13:00-13:20	Impacts of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases in acceleration of climate change
13:20-13:40	Impacts of land use patterns and agricultural practices in in acceleration of climate change
13:40-14:00	Impacts of deforestation and forest fires in acceleration of climate change
14:00-15:00	Lunch/Prayer Break
*Session V: Impact of Climate Change on Humans* Chaired by: Chairman /Co-Chairman, National MAB Committee-Pakistan Facilitator: Secretary SACAM & delegation from Bhutan Rapporteur: Director General, PMNH
15:00-15:20	Impact of climate change on biodiversity and human well being
15:20-15:40	Impact on humans due to change in cropping patters and reduced fish stocks and food supply
15:40-16:00	Impact of climate change on island countries and human settlements
16:00-16:20	Impact on humans as a result of water scarcity and desertification
16:20-16:40	Impact on humans as a result of extreme weather events and natural disasters
16:40-17:00	Impact of climate change on international economies
20:00	Cultural Evening/Welcome Dinner

Day 3: December 5, 2014

*Session VI: Socio-Political Responses to Climate Change* Chaired by: Chairman /Co-Chairman, National MAB Committee-Pakistan Facilitator: Delegation from Kazakhstan and Azerbaijan Rapporteur: PSO, PSF
09:00-09:20	Environmental Policies in response to Climate Change
09:20-09:40	International politics of Climate Change
09:40-10:00	Education and awareness for management of global climate change
10:00-10:20	Technologies of mitigation: carbon dioxide sequestration, solar shades and other processes
10:20-10:40	Alternative and renewable energy sources: technologies, policies and strategies
10:40-11:00	Carbon taxes, offsets and trading
11:00-11:20	Emission standards
11:20-11:40	Tea Break
11:40-13:40	Group Discussion/Closing
13:40-14:40	Lunch/Prayer Break