Concluding third session: 2nd Moderator's note: Ngamindra Dahal
Ngamindra Dahal
Response from 2nd moderator
Third Week: 23 - 30 May 2007: Future Course of Action and Priorities
I like to thank all the discussants and participants for sharing various concerns related to climate change, its impact Himalayan glaciers, glacial lakes, glacier lakes outburst flood and other associated hazards and potential adaptation measures to be adopted in near future. Thank also go to event organizers for offering me this unique opportunity to moderate the session. It was indeed a great experience.
I have presented my comments on green text below.
- What are the potential adaptation measures that can be adopted to tackle the climate change impacts on glaciers, glacial lakes, glacier lakes outburst flood and other associated hazards? (Adaptation)
Though a range of adaptation measures are suggested to tackle with the climate change impacts on glaciers, unusual snow melting and rainfall variability, none of them is perfect but suffer from inherent uncertainties, inefficiency or lack of effectiveness. For example draining out of highly dangerous glacial lakes is an option to minimize GLOF risk but often prove to be too costly and controversial. There is no direct solution for the problem of declining river flow level due to inadequate ice deposit and snowfall in the mountains. There would be no doubt that more research, knowledge and technological innovations can be helpful to maximize the effectiveness of adaptation measures. I have taken the debates over the existing knowledge base on these issues, particularly on ICIMOD's study on status of HKH glaciers as part of contribution towards our common goal of building knowledge and capacity to tackle the global problem more effectively. Refined knowledge will certainly be more relevant, practical and convenient.
- What kinds of technologies are available to ensure sustainability of mountain natural resources (in particular biodiversity, water resources, etc.)? (Adaptation)
Ensuring sustainability of mountain resources including biodiversity and water resources is, indeed, very challenging in the context of emerging climate change impacts as the resources are already in stress due to complex dynamics of socio-economic changes , mainly the changing demographic trends. Successful cases of community managed irrigation; hydropower and forestry provide good examples but need further assessment whether these approaches are effective to tackle the climate change stress as well.
- What are the mitigation measures to reduce the impact of glaciers, glacial lakes and glacier lakes outburst floods on downstream? (Mitigation)
Posting and debates in the conference clearly indicate that agencies and individual are engaged in producing knowledge on various mitigation measures elsewhere but not shared the same adequately. This might be a reason behind a wider gap between those involved in knowledge producers and policy planners or implementers. While production of knowledge and information is going on elsewhere, public access to scientific studies is still a limitation. Emphasis on networking for knowledge sharing is recommended. Transparent knowledge sharing mechanism such as networking and mutual cooperation might help minimizing the gap. In this context, ClimateHimalaya team should go ahead with formation of e-network of climate change professional in the Himalayan region and take a lead to initiate this kind of low-cost , more participatory and effective tools to refine the knowledge produced by partner organisations and individuals in the region. Moreover, the team may also start publishing an e-newsletter in a regular basis covering all the issues (like member's database, related events, emerging areas, and partner/member organisation's activities). Similarly news archives of related events can also be amplified. Since the knowledge management is the first step to start working in the issues, donor communities should also prioritize these areas. Low-cost and environmentally sound approaches, like e-discussion should be promoted. This kind of activities not only increase awareness in the area of discussion but also promotes environmental development. For example, present e-conference prevented over one hundred and forty three people from using polluting transports, saved hundred of trees from felling down as it saved thousands of paper from unwanted printing and also reduced the cost involved in other logistics .
- How can we sustain our tourism business in the context of changing climate? (Adaptation) - Setting future priorities for action, and
Though health, water supply, natural resource management and sustainability of livelihood opportunities were mentioned as the critical issues requiring discussions and recommending appropriate measures there was inadequate focus on these aspects. Climate change is emerging challenge that will have all encompassing impacts leading to many uncertain changes on the earth's biosphere, prescribing measures for mitigation and adaptation is not easy. They are also very context specifics. A clear recommendation that can be drawn from the conference posting and discussion is more emphasis on knowledge production and sharing, building capacity to act locally and collectively, focus on equitable international policy for tackling climate change problems.
Ngamindra Dahal
National Trust for Nature Conservation
Nepal
Sreedhar
Managing Trustee
Environics Trust
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