AGU organises seminar on climate change

Manama, May 26 (BNA): Within the framework of the academic chair of his Highness Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan for Environmental Sciences; the Arabian Gulf University (AGU) in collaboration with the Supreme Council for Environment in the kingdom of Bahrain, the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) is organising a one-day seminar entitled "Climate Change Accord: The Road from Lima to Paris 2015"which was held today Tuesday, May 26th on the AGU’s campus in the capital, Manama. The forum will host a number of regional and local experts who will discuss pressing issues within the context of the Climate Change accord that was adopted by the United Nations convention in 1994 and its scope of stabilizing concentration of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere at acceptable level in a bid to hamper deliberate human intervention in the climate system. The forum aims to present the main results of the COP 20 conference which was held in Lima and Geneva last year, and to identify the desired contributions on Climate Change within the Arab region, and especially within the Gulf Cooperation Council GCC in terms of climate change impact and measures taken to mitigate it. The forum will look into discussing the region’s stance with regards to proposed new climate change agreements, in addition to providing research studies, most notably exploring implemented evaluation and adaptation procedures and their weaknesses in the Arab region. The forum’s objectives aspire to edify Bahrain’s civil and scientific societies, as well as national decision makers through surveying the convention and preparing for the contribution of the participatory countries which are to be addressed through the forum’s topics alongside the possible mitigation and adaptation measures of climate change, emerging financial concerns and capacity building. It is worth mentioning that Climate Change Accord forum is an extension of the Climate Change conference that was held in Lima from the 1st to the 14th of December last year, which raised a series of concerns including the balance between mitigation and adaptation measures, funding and technological development and transformation, as well as capacity building and transparency of work which are also the topics that are expected to be discussed in the coming proposed agreement. Peru has also developed the Lima Call for Climate Action towards tailoring a new climate accord that is expected to be adopted in the coming Sustainable Innovation Forum (SIF15); the largest business-focused side event held during the annual Conference of Parties (COP) which will take place in 2015 on 7-8 December in the Le Bourget area of Paris. The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change which was formulated and then signed and ratified in 1992 by most of the world's countries (including the United States and other nations who would later back out of the subsequent Kyoto protocol) was built upon the principle of common but differentiated responsibilities which happens to be one of the many issues to be discussed along with legal responsibility concerns and the rules and pathways of the proposed agreement during the forum. The Resident Representative of the UNDP, Mr. Peter Grohmann stressed that the UNDP has long had a vast experience both regionally and globally in the areas of offering consultations and providing technical expertise through the most effective development practices realized. The UNDP has supported many national efforts to mitigate and adapt to the effects of climate change by shifting to non-polluting, low emission industry techniques and raising awareness on energy conservation and the maintenance of bio-diversity through natural reserves and eco-friendly tourism. "The UNDP continuously strives towards supporting the Kingdom’s efforts towards a fruitful implementation of the Kingdom’s government action plan 2015-2018 which was presented by the government and endorsed by the Parliament in January." Said the UNDP’s Deputy Resident Representative, Mr. Amin Al- Sharkawi Mr. Al- Sharkawi further stressed the importance of aligning the objectives with that of the government action plan especially since the government has been taking important treads towards economic diversification and the enhancement of living standards. Bahrain has also established an inclusive social protection system to address social inequalities; with the establishment of the Supreme Council for Women, national efforts have been made to improve the economic and political participation of Bahraini women. The establishment of Bahrain’s Supreme Council for the Environment and the Ministry of Energy’s Sustainable Energy Unit through a joint project with the UNDP is demonstrative of Bahrain’s commitment to addressing climate change challenges and promoting sustainable development practices. "In Bahrain, as is in the other 177 countries, the UNDP constantly resolves to achieve development goals in the interest of the homeland and citizens." Said Mr. Al-Sharkawi The Arab region, and the GCC in particular, are vulnerable to climate change in terms of its impact and the actions taken to mitigate it. This change, if not deterred, could pose as a threat to the social, economic and environmental composition of the region. This large scale platform for business will create dialogue, enable collaboration and showcase game-changing solutions to climate challenges; featuring foremost expert speakers, high level plenary sessions, and interactive panel debates. The President of the Arabian Gulf University, in turn, stressed the importance of understanding the adverse impacts of climate change and alleviating them at the tertiary level through inter-knowledge programs that combine science, policy, and integrated disciplines; as well as joint research. He added that it was important to reach a fair and equitable agreement on climate in the upcoming COP 21 forum in Paris in a bid to replace the Kyoto Protocol based on the common but differentiated responsibilities principle, taking into account national circumstances of countries, including their commitment towards technological and financial support. This, in turn, builds hope towards a new proposed agreement that will put a cap on greenhouse gas emissions and will help maintain global temperature within two degrees Celsius leading to the protection of our countries and our communities from the consequences of climate change. More on the Zayed International seventh symposium which will be held from 9:30 AM to 3:30 PM can be found on the following link: http://demos.infovillage.net/webcast/agu_live/