Third Central Asia Climate Change Conference (CACCC-2020)
19-23 October 2020
2020 is a critical year for the countries around the world and Central Asia in particular, to start fulfilling the promise of the Paris Agreement as well as to address the Sustainable Development Goals. As many of the elements of the Agreement are in place and already functioning, the implementation and rising ambitions to the most extent depends on proactive actions of multiple stakeholders.
Coronavirus infection (COVID-19) significantly affected the socio-economic situations of all countries of the world. The reduction of global greenhouse gas emissions due to the cancellation of air communication and temporary closure of industrial enterprises benefited the environment over the recent months. However, whether the environment enjoys this momentum depends on multiple factors (global disease trends, political and economic constraints and perspectives, regional cooperation, etc.). Meanwhile, it is necessary to draw on the lessons learned now, with critical examples of how climate change initiatives were impacted by pandemic. These lessons will help the countries of Central Asia to de-risk and properly plan further actions and consider new collaborative opportunities.
The Third Central Asia Climate Change Conference (CACCC-2020) will be conducted online and take place on 19-23 October 2020.[1] The Conference is organized under the framework of the “Climate Adaptation and Mitigation Program for the Aral Sea Basin” (CAMP4ASB) and is a continuation of the World Bank’s initiative on climate change knowledge and regional information exchange in Central Asia launched in 2013. The events are called to foster a regional dialogue on climate change adaptation and mitigation, exploring opportunities for joint actions among Central Asia States and other key stakeholders.
The main objective of the conference is to strengthen a regional dialogue on climate change and sustainable development by promoting information and knowledge exchange in Central Asia. Other task of the Conference is to raise awareness of the countries in the region on lessons, which addressing climate change, have been learned in times of pandemic (COVID-19).
The CACCC-2020 is to be resulted in the outcome document, which will lay down a basis for the joint regional vision of the Central Asian countries on climate actions. A so-called statement is supposed to be introduced at one of the sessions of the UNFCCC 26th Conference of the Parties (CoP), which will reflect on the joint needs of the countries on finance, technology transfer, capacity building and knowledge.
The conference will bring together experts and practitioners from governmental and non-governmental agencies, academia, development partners, finance institutions and civil society that work in the area of climate change.
Simultaneous translation in Russian and English will be provided during the conference.
The main approach of the third Central Asia Climate Change Conference is to keep both mitigation and adaptation in a loop.
There will be five thematic sessions on:
1. Climate change impacts and policy making process in times of pandemic (COVID-19)
2. Financing climate change actions in times of pandemic (COVID-19)
3. Climate monitoring and climate services: challenges and perspectives in times of pandemic (COVID-19)
4. Climate-related information and knowledge: challenges and perspectives in times of pandemic (COVID-19)
5. Science and research perspectives on climate change in times of pandemic (COVID-19)
Online streaming of thematic sessions will be held from 19 to 23 October 2020. Each session envisages a lection segment with participation of lead regional and international experts on climate change and a discussion part. Duration of the session is up to 3 hrs per day.
Day 1: 19 October 2020: Monday
Time: 15:00 – 18:00 (Almaty time)
Thematic Session 1: Climate change impacts and policy making process in times of pandemic (COVID-19)
The main objective of the session is to put more focus on economic consequences of climate change and stress the importance of linking climate and other risks (pandemic COVID-19) to a policy making process. The session also aims to remind the participants about key milestones of the Paris Agreement and 2030 Agenda for sustainable development and expects the countries of Central Asia to navigate through kick-off actions within their national climate policies.
Moderator: Mr. Zafar Makhmudov, Executive Director, CAREC
I. CACCC-2020 opening session and welcoming remarks:
a. World Bank
b. IFAS Executive Committee
c. CAREC
II. Photo of participants
Proposed speakers:
1. Dr. Brian Charles O'Neill, University of Denver (Chief Lead Author of IPCC Sixth Assessment Report): economic consequences of climate change and associated risks at global and regional level – 15 min
2. Dr. Olga Pilifosova, UNFCCC Secretariat: marking 2020 for enhanced climate actions: challenges in times of COVID-19 – 15 min
3. SIM Hydronova and Hydroc (TBD): climate change vulnerability in Central Asia – 15 min
4. Panel session: Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan: kicking-off climate actions in national policies and transitioning to green economy – 30 min
5. Discussion/ Q&A Session – 30 min
6. Wrap-up and key messages – 15 min
Time: 15:00 – 18:00 (Almaty time)
Thematic Session 2: Financing climate change actions in times of pandemic (COVID-19)
The main objective of the session is to discuss finance opportunities to support climate actions in Central Asia given pandemic risks (COVID-2020) in 2020. The rationale behind the session is to stress the importance of all resources, available within international, public and private investment envelopes. The session welcomes the information exchange and lessons learned to accessing the funds on climate adaptation and mitigation among the countries of Central Asia.Moderator: Ms. Irina Bekmirzaeva, CAREC/CAMP4ASB
· Photo of participants
Proposed speakers:
1. World Bank (TBD): financing climate ambition in the context of COVID-19 – 15 min
2. CAREC: incentives for “Water-Energy-Food” funding in times of climate change – 15 min
3. Ministry of Finance of the Republic of Tajikistan (TBD): access to international finance resources on climate adaptation – 15 min
4. Ministry of ecology, geology and natural resources of the Republic of Kazakhstan (TBD): public investments in climate adaptation and greenhouse gas emissions reduction – 15 min
5. Ministry of investments and foreign trade of the Republic of Uzbekistan (TBD): public finance support in deployment of renewable energy resources – 15 min
6. Ministry of Agriculture and Environment Protection (TBD): mobilizing climate investments to municipal sector (sustainable cities) – 15 min
7. Mr. Rastislav Vrbensky, Founder & CEO of AvantGarde Ideas: private investments to climate change actions in Central Asia – challenges and perspectives – 15 min
8. Discussion/ Q&A Session – 30 min
9. Wrap-up and key messages – 30 min
Time: 15:00 – 17:00 (Almaty time)
Thematic Session 3: Climate monitoring and climate services: challenges and perspectives in times of pandemic (COVID-19)
The main objective of the session is to present latest developments in climate monitoring and climate services around the world and in Central Asia in particular. The participants will learn about the role of the CAMP4ASB project in improving climate data collection process, building the technical capacity of Hydromet Services, and in targeted upgrading of climate observation network in project participating countries.
Moderator: Ms. Zhanna Babagaliyeva, CAREC/CAMP4ASB
· Photo of participants
Proposed speakers:
1. Mr. Roman Wilfand, Roshydromet: role of CIS hysromet services in enhancing climate services in the region – 15 min
2. Kazhydromet (TBD) – 15 min
3. Turkmenhydromet (TBD) – 15 min
4. Tajhydromet: Tajhydromet’s case in upgrading the climate observation network, capacity building and its role in data collection and management – 15 min
5. Uzhydromet: Uzhydromet’s case in upgrading the climate observation network, capacity building and its role in data collection and management – 15 min
7. Discussion/ Q&A Session – 30 min
6. Wrap-up and key messages – 30 min
Time: 15:00 – 18:00 (Almaty time)
Thematic Session 4: Climate-related information and knowledge: challenges and perspectives in times of pandemic (COVID-19)
The session expects to present latest developments in climate-related information exchange and knowledge dissemination in Central Asia. A particular focus will be given to the introduction of the CACIP, which is one of the main knowledge products of the CAMP4ASB project. Lessons learned and best practices of other available instruments and communication channels will feed the discussion and prompt the project team to further improve the system. The speakers will attempt to talk about challenges, which they came across with and discuss on perspectives of their work in times of COVID-19.
Moderator: Ms. Saltanat Zhakenova, CAREC/CAMP4ASB
· Photo of participants
Proposed speakers:
1. Mr. Enrico Bonaiuti, ICARDA: Introduction of Central Asia Climate Information Platform (CACIP) – 30 min
2. Mr. Nagaraja Harshadeep, World Bank: Spatial Agent CAEWDP: lessons learned – 15 min
3. Mr. Viktor Novikov, Zoi Environmental Network: new publications and knowledge products on climate change in Central Asia – 15 min
4. Ms. Nurzat Abdyrasylova/UNISON: role of civil society organizations and local communities in spreading climate change knowledge – 15 min
5. Ms. Svetlana Mogilyuk/ECOM: role of non-governmental sector in decision making process on environment and climate change – 15 min
6. Discussion/ Q&A Session – 30 min
7. Wrap-up and key messages – 30 min
Time: 15:00 – 18:00 (Almaty time)
Thematic Session 5: Science and research perspectives on climate change in times of pandemic (COVID-19)
The main objective of the session is to draw the attention of the participants to existing and emerging studies on climate change, which may open up new opportunities for the innovative science-based researches in times of pandemic and discuss modern methods and tools for performing such studies in Central Asia.
Moderator: Ms. Zhanna Babagaliyeva, CAREC/CAMP4ASB
· Photo of participants
Proposed speakers:
1. Dr. Youba Sokona, IPCC Secretariat: IPCC agenda on research in a post-pandemic phase – 15 min
2. Dr. Corinne Le Quéré, University of East Anglia, Norwich, UK: global CO2 emissions during the COVID-19 – 15 min
3. Mr. Heinrich Wyes: untapped potential for innovative research on climate change in a post-pandemic period for Central Asia – 15 min
4. University of Florida (TBD): results of the crop yield agro-forecasting for Central Asia – 15 min
5. Deltares NL: regional monitoring of river deltas and forecasting results at the regional level – 15 min
6. Adelphy/Stenum Asia: new approaches in circulation of knowledge and practices on sustainable production and consumption in times of climate change in Central Asia – 15 min
7. Discussion/ Q&A Session – 30 min
8. Wrap-up of the session – 15 min
o CAREC: Outcome document of CACCC-2020 – 15 min
o World Bank
o IFAS Executive Committee
o CAREC
[1] CACCC-2020 was originally planned for 16-17 June 2020 in Dushanbe (Tajikistan).
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