APN CCA-SD - Linking Climate Change Adaptation to Sustainable Development in Southeast Asia

Background:

Climate change is one of the primary concerns of humanity today. The most recent IPCC Fourth Assessment Report (IPCC AR4) states that climate is indeed changing and that human activities largely contribute to this change.  Indeed climate change will exacerbate current stresses on the natural and social systems (Adger et al., 2003). As the climate changes, increasing attention is given to how societies and natural systems can adapt to a new climate regime.

Recently, it is being recognized that the way to address climate change is to integrate adaptation policies into the sustainable development programs of the country (Huq et al.,2003). By mainstreaming climate change adaptation into the sustainable development and poverty reduction strategies, the most vulnerable sectors (the poor people) will become more resilient to climate change (Sperling, 2003). However, the link between climate change adaptation and sustainable development is not explicitly recognized for a number of reasons. In many cases, the climate change community has little interaction with national development planners. As a result, mainstreaming of climate change adaptation in development efforts is making little headway. This project aimed to help clarify the links between climate change adaptation and sustainable development. By engaging the policy maker community and other relevant stakeholders, the project hoped to contribute to the mainstreaming of climate change adaptation to the sustainable development agenda of SE Asian countries.

Objectives:
The main objectives of the project were:
1. Synthesize research on adaptation strategies for climate change and climate variability in SE Asian countries;
2. Analyze the links of adaptation strategies to the sustainable development goals of the respective countries;
3. Hold a science-policy workshop to disseminate results and solicit recommendations; and
4. Publish the results of the study in a format that is useful to policy makers and other stakeholders.

Activities Undertaken:
1. Synthesis Meeting
On September 26-27, 2008, a synthesis workshop was held at Khush Hall, IRRI, Los Banos, Laguna.  The primary objective of the meeting was to identify the sector to focus on and the methodology to be used.  To provide a spring board for discussion, Dr. Rodel Lasco, Project Leader, presented a general framework of analysis that will be used by the country collaborators from Vietnam, Indonesia, Laos and the Philippines.  During the meeting, it was agreed that the following activities be undertaken by each country collaborator: (1) review and analyze existing national/regional/sectoral development plans, programs, strategies and activities, and identify whether climate change have been integrated; (2) review and synthesize past and present climate change, climate risks and climate-related researches/studies to identify the most appropriate adaptation strategies/measures and analyze its links to sustainable development; and (3) conduct consultation and key informant interviews with stakeholders to identify the extent of integration of climate change into policies and the adaptation measures that needs to be mainstreamed.

2. Synthesis of climate change adaptation and related research in the SE Asian region
Each collaborator conducted an inventory of researches on climate change adaptation and related researches undertaken in their respective countries.  Results from such researches were synthesized to identify the most promising adaptation strategies.

3. Analysis of links to sustainable development
For each participating country, the link of the most promising adaptation strategies identified above to sustainable development was analysed. For instance, the consistency of climate change adaptation strategies to national policies and development plans (eg Millennium Development Goals, national Agenda 21; medium term plans) was analyzed. Scientists and policy makers of the countries involved were interviewed and consulted on various issues related to climate change adaptation, environmental protection and socio-economic development to identify the appropriate links between climate issues and national development plans. Scientists from international organisations and institutions, whose works focused on the SE Asian region, were also consulted.

4. Science-Policy Workshop to disseminate results and solicit recommendations
A year after the synthesis meeting, a science-policy workshop was held to disseminate results of the findings of each country collaborator.  The workshop brought together the policy makers of each collaborating country, the climate change community and other relevant stakeholders in the Philippines.

After the paper presentation, an open forum was held to solicit recommendations and comments on the synthesis papers presented by each collaborator.  The workshop immediately followed to determine potential points of entry where climate change adaptation can be mainstreamed, strategies/approaches to be undertaken and responsible agencies.  The participants were divided into three groups to discuss the following sectors: (1) agriculture and natural resources; (2) policy; and (3) infrastructure.

World Agroforestry Centre
PHILIPPINES Country Office
Khush Hall, International Rice Research Institute
Los Baños, Laguna, Philippines
PO Box 35024, UPLB, College, Laguna
4031, Philippines
Telephone: +63 2 845 0563/70/75
Telefax: +63 49 536 2925