Final background note
0 likes118 views
1. The document discusses a planned EU-South Asia summit to strengthen linkages between climate change networks in South Asia and Europe. It aims to enhance understanding of climate impacts in South Asia and facilitate joint advocacy for equitable climate policy. 2. The summit seeks to improve the capacity of non-state actors in climate change decision-making processes in South Asian countries, the SAARC region, and at the UNFCCC level. It also aims to promote partnerships between leading climate networks in South Asia and Europe. 3. Expected outcomes include strengthened linkages between climate networks across regions, increased influencing capacity of networks, and South Asian networks benefiting from European campaigning experiences. The summit will be held in Orchha,
Final background note
- 1. Strengthen Linkages between EU-South Asia Networks on Addressing Climate Impacts EU-South Summit Orchha 24th– 25th March, 2014 Conference Hall, TARAgram Supported by - Strengthening the role of Non-State Actors in climate change policy formulation in South Asia and enhancing their capacities to influence global climate change negotiations Development Alternatives, B-32, Qutub Institutional Area, New Delhi – 110016, INDIA Background – Climate change presents an important threat to sustainable development in South Asia. Poor and vulnerable people (40% of the people in South Asia live with less than US$ 1.25 a day), with limited capacity to adapt to changing climate patterns, will most likely be the most affected by climate change. Climate change impact will be more particularly felt in rural areas, where farming will come increasingly under stress as a result of erratic rainfall, increased severity and frequency of extreme climate hazards (droughts, floods and cyclones), decreased access to fresh water and increased land salinity in coastal areas. Climate change impact on agriculture will therefore be very significant in terms of threat to poverty and development, as 70% of the population in South Asia still live in rural areas and agriculture remains the region’s principal occupation, employing over 60% of the labor force. Non-State Actors have been partly associated to the development of climate change policies and strategies in South Asia. However, this effort remains ad-hoc and patchy and some policies were clearly formulated without adequate consultation of Non-States Actors. Influencing policies and strategies on climate change need to happen at global level and would benefit from increased North/South interactions. The European Union has one of the most advanced and ambitious position on climate change mitigation and is also supportive of climate change financing to support LDCs adaptation to climate change. Greater linkages between climate change networks in Europe and in South Asia will increase the influencing capacity of these different networks. European networks will gain a better understanding of climate change in South Asia and will be better equipped to influence European decision-making processes that will benefit developing countries, especially regarding the needs for ambitious emissions cuts (to prevent global warming beyond 20 C, which will first and foremost affect the countries with least capacities to adapt) and the need for climate change financing from the EC and from EU member States to support adaptation in developing countries. Objective – In the given context, CANSA plans to organize EU-South Asia Summit in February 2014 to strengthen linkages between climate change networks across South Asia and between South Asian and European climate change networks that will further contribute to pro poor climate change adaptation and mitigation in South Asia through enhanced understanding on climate impacts in South Asian Region and thereafter joint advocacy for an equitable climate policy. It will benefit poor and marginalized communities who are currently excluded or very poorly associated to policy making processes related to climate change. It will strengthen the capacity of civil society organisations to participate in the definition and implementation of climate change strategies, which are central to poverty reduction and sustainable development in South Asia. To improve the capacity of Non-State Actors in decision-making processes related to climate change policies and strategies in these respective countries (national), at SAARC level (regional) and at the UNFCCC level (international)
- 2. Strengthen Linkages between EU-South Asia Networks on Addressing Climate Impacts EU-South Summit Orchha 24th– 25th March, 2014 Conference Hall, TARAgram Supported by - Strengthening the role of Non-State Actors in climate change policy formulation in South Asia and enhancing their capacities to influence global climate change negotiations Development Alternatives, B-32, Qutub Institutional Area, New Delhi – 110016, INDIA To promote partnership and improved linkages between three leading climate change networks in South Asia and similar network in Europe (Climate Action Network Europe). To facilitate interactions and exchanges between the stakeholders Expected Outcomes – 1. Linkages between climate change networks across South Asia and between South Asian and European climate change networks are strengthened 2. Increased influencing capacity of NSA networks in respective regions 3. Sensitised Stakeholders in the regions on climate and policy related challenges 4. South Asian networks benefit from the campaigning experiences of European networks Partners – The Summit will be organised in Orchha, Madhya Pradesh, India in partnership with CAN Europe. The event will be for two days in 2014. Methodology – The agenda will be developed and finalised by CANSA and CANE in consultation. The participants will be identified based on design of agenda by CAN (SA and E).