IPCC SREX National Outreach – Pakistan, 27th July, 2012 at Islamabad
 

Background:
 

This IPCC report addresses, for the first time, how integrating expertise in climate science, disaster
risk management, and adaptation can inform discussions on how to reduce and manage the risks of extreme events and disasters in a changing climate. The report evaluates the role of climate change in altering characteristics of extreme events. It assesses experience with a wide range of options used by institutions, organizations, and communities to reduce exposure and vulnerability, and improve
resilience, to climate extremes. Among these are early-warning systems, innovations in insurance
coverage, improvements in infrastructure, and the expansion of social safety nets.

This report also incorporates case studies that illustrate specific extreme events and their impacts in
different parts of the world, as well as a range of risk management activities.

The report provides information on how:

Natural climate variability and human-generated climate change influence the frequency;
intensity, spatial extent, and duration of some extreme weather and climate events;
The vulnerability of exposed human society and ecosystems interacts with these events to
determine impacts and the likelihood of disasters;
Different development pathways can make future populations more or less vulnerable to
extreme events;
Experience with climate extremes and adaptation to climate change provides lessons on ways to
better manage current and future risks related to extreme weather and climate events, and;
Populations can become more resilient before disasters strike;
 

Key themes

In some parts of the world, increases in some extreme weather and climate events have been
observed. Further increases are projected over the 21st century.
Socioeconomic development, natural climate variations, and human-caused climate change
influence climate- and weather-related disaster risk.
Experience with disaster risk management and climate change adaptation provides a knowledge
base for informing effective approaches to prepare for and respond to extreme events and
disasters.

IPCC National Outreach - Pakistan:

This event will form part of a series of initiatives aimed at disseminating the IPCC SREX in Pakistan and promoting dialogue among a wide range of stakeholders on the implication of the report for the country. This includes facilitating online dissemination and debate using LEAD Pakistan’s website and online networks, integrating the IPCC SREX within LEAD Pakistan’s cohort training programme, and getting national and local media coverage on SREX.

The event was managed by LEAD Pakistan, a registered NGO in Pakistan with a focus on leadership, capacity enhancement, public policy initiatives and proactive stakeholder engagement. LEAD Pakistan also manages various networks, including the National Alliance for Climate Change (NACA) – a membership-based network affecting climate change adaptation through 200 grassroots CSOs across Pakistan; and the Climate Leaders Action Network (CLAN) which creates global reach in adaptation through various experts and scores of LEAD Fellows spread across the world.

LEAD Pakistan is an alliance partner of the Climate Development Knowledge Network (CDKN) and manages CDKN’s engagements in Asia. CDKN supports policy-makers to design and deliver climate compatible development policies and programmes and has around 30 projects underway across Asia. Lead Pakistan will utilize the experience of managing three regional IPCC SREX outreach events in Asia (Delhi, Bangkok and Beijing) on behalf of CDKN.

LEAD Pakistan has forged partnerships with the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), the Ministry of Climate Change and other policy and practioner partners to design and implement the national outreach event.

Summary of the Event:

The event was jointly hosted by the Ministry of Climate Change and the NDMA, thereby promoting the idea of integration of climate change within DRM. An initial willingness from both sides to host the event has been obtained.

The 1-day event took place in Islamabad on 27th June, 2012. It targeted 50-100 policy-makers and experts from both the climate change and DRM world. It combined both a high-profile ‘launch’ of the SREX in Pakistan, as well as provided an opportunity for careful reflections on its findings.

The goal of the event was to increase integration and coordination between climate change and DRM in Pakistan.

It had the following objectives:

Highlighted the key findings of the IPCC SREX and facilitate discussion and debate on the report;
Raised awareness of the urgent need for action on climate extremes and disasters;
Promoted dialogue and collaboration between policy-makers and practitioners working on climate change and DRM;
 

(Last updated: July 03, 2012)