Side Event: 11th Asia-Pacific Forum for Sustainable Development
February 22, 16:45-18:00 Bangkok Time (15:15 – 16:30 Hrs IST), Virtual
Webinar ID: 833 5321 4764
Passcode: 619601
To join the webinar: CLICK HERE
Introduction
Efforts are needed to develop working links between adaptation goals, ecosystem restoration and the SDGs to tackle climate change challenges in an integrated way. EBA enhances human resilience to climate change and addresses climate adaptive deficits, contributes towards enhancing local economies based on natural resources. The rapid anthropogenic climate change is intimately entwined with the health and functioning of the ecosystems and is impacting ecosystems through changes in mean conditions and in climate variability, coupled with other associated changes such as increased ocean acidification and atmospheric carbon dioxide concentrations. It also interacts with other pressures on ecosystems, including degradation, defaunation and fragmentation. There is a need to understand the ecological dynamics of these climate impacts, to identify hotspots of vulnerability and resilience and to identify management interventions that may assist ecosystems resilience to climate change. At the same time, ecosystems can also assist in the mitigation of, and adaptation to, climate change. The mechanisms, potential and limits of such nature-based solutions to climate change need to be explored and quantified. As ecosystems transform under climate change, so does their capacity to support human adaptation. To date, climate change has had a relatively modest effect on ecosystems and biodiversity, compared to direct anthropogenic actions such as overharvesting and land use change resulting in habitat loss. This relative importance is already changing, and the negative ecological impacts of climate change are becoming more apparent and very likely to intensify over the coming decades.
Objective:
This session delves on interaction between climate change and how it impacts various ecosystems and explores novel perspectives on how ecosystems respond to climate change, how ecosystem resilience can be enhanced and how ecosystems can assist in addressing the challenge of a changing climate. The objective of this side event is to have a dialogue with diverse stakeholders to identify and develop solutions that promote more resilient climate actions and engage local communities and policymakers to develop and apply tools for how integrating ecosystem based adaptation into national policies can limit the impacts of climate change. This session will explore how we need to rethink collaboration with our greatest allies in the Climate Crisis, if we’re going to achieve climate adaptation and resilience for all.
High Level Panel of Speakers |
Dr. Arvind Kumar |
Dr. M. V. Ramana Murthy |
 Dr. Arvind Kumar is a strategist and key-influencer in development sector with more than 28 years of experience as an author, columnist, Water and Human Rights Pro-activist, and specializes in concepts like ecosystem-based adaptation, water-energy-food nexus, with specific emphasis on Transversal approach of inter-linkages between water, environment and SDGs. He has published over 500 plus research articles and several books. He is a proud recipient of Achievers Award for his contribution to the Environment from International Human Rights Organization in collaboration with United Nations Information Centre, India. |
 Dr. M.V. Ramana Murthy Scientist G & Advisor & Programme Head, Deep Ocean Mission of the Ministry of Earth Sciences, Government of India. He is a Doctorate from IIT, Chennai, with over 28 years of experience in Coastal research and Ocean Technology he also looks after the programmes of Ocean Structures/ Island Desalination, and Coastal and Environmental Engineering at the National Institute of Ocean Technology. H is a proud Recipient of National Award for Ocean Technology – 2021. |
| Ms. Hitomi Rankine | Ms. Temina Lalani-Shariff |
 Ms. Hitomi Rankine has over 23 years of experience in the areas of environmental and sustainable development policy and an MSc. in Environmental Management from the University of Stirling. She is currently Chief, Environment and Development Policy Section of the Environment and Development Division. |
 Ms. Temina Lalani-Shariff is Regional Director, South Asia, CGIAR, and a trusted leader who brings over 20 years of diverse management and business development experience in the research and innovation industry, energy, tech, telecommunications, non-profit and government sectors. She holds joint MBA degrees from the Kellogg School of Management and Schulich School of Management, an MA in Communication Studies from the University of Calgary and a BA in International Political Science from the University of Alberta. |
| Mr. Kazuya Suzuki | Dr. Amani Alfarra |
 Mr. Kazuya Suzuki serves as the Chief Representative at the Thailand Office of JICA, where he continues to contribute to international cooperation and development efforts. Over the years, he has held various roles within JICA, including the Southeast Asia Division and the Global Environment Department. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Geology from Chiba University and a Master’s degree in Environmental Science from Tsukuba University. |
 Dr. Amani Alfarra is water resources officer at the Water and land division of FAO. She has worked extensively on water management issues and challenges at different levels (National, regional and global). She is particularly interested in water management issues and programs, not only from an engineering perspective but also from a socioeconomic angle. She believes that Water scarcity has received disproportionately more attention, particularly supply-augmenting programs and less attention to demand oriented interventions, policies and programs. |
| Mr. Jaidev Joshi | Dr. Sudipta Chatterjee |
 Mr. Jaideep Joshi is Programme Officer, Water and Wetlands IUCN: In close cooperation with the IUCN country offices in South Asia and IUCN Asia Regional Office, he is responsible for the management & development of flagship national and regional projects on Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM), transboundary water governance & hydro-diplomacy, river and wetlands conservation and management, and the application of Nature-based Solutions (NbS) in water sector. |
 Dr. Sudipta Chatterjee is the Associate Director of Programs at TNC. He brings over 31 years of experience in conservation and environmental studies. In his role, he provides technical and program support, overseeing all aspects of TNC’s technical project services that span a broad range of issues related to conservation and the environment. Additionally, he offers strategic leadership and establishes departmental and program priorities, while also being the principal contact for clients, government agencies, and other organizations in the conservation field. |
| Ms. Srabani Roy | Ms. Shweta Tyagi |
 Ms. Srabani Roy is Strategic Group Leader, resilient mountain economies and landscapes with ICIMOD. She has 20 years of experience in international sustainable development in Asia-Pacific and the U.S. Her areas of specialization include: natural resources management, water resources management, climate change adaptation, resilience, and mitigation, ecosystems services, environmental governance, sustainable, green growth approaches, as well as social and environmental safeguards. |
 Ms. Shweta Tyagi is Chief Functionary, India Water Foundation. She is results-focused development sector professional with a 22 years of demonstrated history and a proven ability to manage project teams to deliver multiple projects and programmes across diverse sectors of sustainable Development, Water and Sanitation, Social Development, Livelihood Generation, climate change etc. Excellent knowledge of project management and strategic planning of partnership creation and coordination, as well as advising decision-makers and strengthening capacities. Experience of Natural Resource management among rural communities for implementing |
For more information please contact:
Ms. Shweta Tyagi
Chief Functionary
India Water Foundation
Email: [email protected]
Mobile No: +91-9899819074
For more information please contact