The GEF SGP together with the State Committee for nature protection of the Republic of Uzbekistan, the Center of hydrometeorological service under the Cabinet of Ministers of Uzbekistan, and Youth Environmental Network is announcing about holding of the National Symposium on adaptation of local communities to the varying climate changes. The symposium is timed to celebration of the World Environment Day.
INTRODUCTION TO THE TOPIC
We may be sick and tired of the constant articles about problems of climate change but they are still extremely actual for the whole global community. A lot of things are being made in the world in order to reduce the paces of accumulation of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. There is still a hope to hold up the processes leading to the critical concentration of gases which in its turn become the reason for increase of general global temperature, melting of glaciers, change in ocean flows and all global climatic processes.
The Global Environment Facility (GEF) is conducting extensive work around the world aimed at fighting climate change. In other words – at the struggle for reducing greenhouse gas emissions from all sources. Such work is also implemented in Uzbekistan.
If mainly the GEF is working with governments of the countries at the level of change and improvement of state politics in questions of the prevention of climate changes, the GEF also has a corporate program - Small Grants Programme (GEF SGP), which operates at the level of ordinary people and communities.
Many things could be done from the bottom, at the level of ordinary people who have their own business, their own farm. The GEF SGP is aimed exactly at this part of people. A lot of aspects depend on the habits of ordinary people – how energy would be spent, how land would be cultivated, how the vegetation cover would be or would not be preserved and so on. All this directly influence on how much greenhouses gases would be discharged into the atmosphere. Therefore, the GEF SGP works for the demonstration and promotion of such practices of farming which would prevent the emissions.
Unfortunately, while a part of the GEF focus is aimed at the work on prevention of green house emissions which are the cause of climate change, the first signs of such change are being felt and we must think what should be done with it. In other words, we need to think right now about the following:
The term “adaptation” is accepted in the world for all these aspects. Why should we adapt to the climate change in Uzbekistan?
According to the data of the Center of hydro meteorological service under the Cabinet of Ministers of Uzbekistan, we can expect the following development of the situation:
Summary of all the points written above – it would be hotter and less water in our country.
ISSUES OF THE SYMPOSIUM
It is important for the GEF, how climate change will affect the living conditions of people and the state of the Environment. Possibly, this problem should also worry management structures which are government bodies on the Republican, Regional and District levels. It should be also interesting for the people.
The coming symposium is aimed to attract attention of the participants on the following aspects:
I. Energy – how do the predictable climate changes can affect its production and usage; how will this affect ordinary people; how could it affect the infrastructure; what possible consequences should be expected by all – local authorities, authorities of the higher level and, the most important thing - by people and what should be done.
II. The land – how can the more arid climate and deficit of water affect the land use in rural areas; the usage of water; how can it affect people; the production of products and harvest of other cultures; what are the possible consequences and what people and authorities should do to rebuild the husbandry in new climatic conditions.
III. Biological diversity (biodiversity) – what does the changing climate bring to our natural ecosystems; how does climate change can influence the stability of ecosystems’ existence and its biological components; how will climate influence the existence and absence of biological resources which are critically needed for life activity of local people; what authorities and local people should do to preserve the stability of ecosystems and what are their functions.
The objective of the symposium is not only to discuss the themes on adaptation and climate change. The outcome of the symposium should be determination of the concrete directions of work in the nearest future, both for the programmes and projects of the GEF, and recommendations for the government bodies at different levels.
ORGANIZERS AND PARTICIPANTS OF THE SYMPOSIUM
The idea of holding such meeting on adaptation to climate change belongs to the UNDP-GEF project “Adaptation to climate change at the community level”, implemented through the GEF SGP in 10 countries worldwide. One of the selected countries is our neighboring Kazakhstan. Some experience is accumulated and it wouldn’t be useless for us to get acquainted with it. According to the plan of the project, the discussions will be conducted in other Central Asian countries : in Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan.
In Uzbekistan, holding of this symposium is an initiative of the GEF SGP in Uzbekistan with the assistance of:
- The Center of hydro meteorological service under the Cabinet of Ministers of the Republic of Uzbekistan;
- State Committee of the Republic of Uzbekistan for the Nature Protection;
- Youth Environmental Network
Any person who is interested in the issues of climate change and its impact on people’s lives can be a participant of the symposium. It is needed to fill in the application for the participation. Only those whose applications will be appropriate to the requirements of the symposium will be selected as the participants. The participation of the regional representatives is welcomed.
ADDITIONAL EVENTS
During the symposium an exhibition of the GEF SGP project on "mini-power installations for rural residents” will also take place. At the exhibition the examples of the technologies being introduced for the local population and their operation, will be presented.
The exhibition of the GEF SGP projects and other UNDP projects which are connected with the subject area, will also be held during the symposium.
The admission to the exhibition of the projects and demonstration of the technologies will be open for all persons interested.
The demonstration of other technologies which are connected with the subject area of the symposium by other partners is welcomed.
REQUEST FOR THE ASSIGNMENT OF THE ARTICLES
The Symposium organizers are calling to researchers; practitioners associated with the use of energy, land and water, as well as biological resources and services provided by ecosystems; interested students; those who are associated with the management of the economy and all interested persons - for preparation and submitting of articles on the matters of the symposium written above. The articles should develop these or that specific issues related to the climate change and its effect on the use of energy, land, water and biological resources in the national economy.
The articles would be written in popular science style which could be read and used by the wide range of readers.
Selected articles will be published in the collection, published after the symposium, and will be distributed with the circulation of 500 copies throughout the country. The collection will be distributed to the administrations of the Republic, the ministries and agencies, farmers' associations, as well as to the libraries of higher education institutions.
The Organizational Committee of the symposium will select some articles for the presentation by its authors on the plenary meetings of the symposium.
ORGANIZATIONAL MATTERS OF THE CONDUCTION
The symposium and the exhibition will be held on Friday, on the 3rd of June, 2011 and are timed to the International Day of Environment Protection which is celebrated on the 5th of June. Time from 8am till 6pm.
