The Asia-Pacific Network for Global Change Research (APN) reports its new research and capacity development initiatives at the 32 nd Session of the Subsidiary Body for Scientific and Technological Advice (SBSTA 32) in Bonn, Germany, 31 May-11 June 2010.
The official component of APN’s presence at SBSTA is to attend as an invited contributor to the SBSTA dialogue on developments in research activities relevant to the needs of the convention, being hosted by the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) Secretariat and chaired by the Chair of SBSTA, Mr. Mama Konaté, 3 June 2010. Progressing dynamically into its Third Strategic Phase (2010-2015), APN highlights its new focussed activities which were officially announced through a Special Call for Proposals launched in April 2010.
There are two (2) key areas and the new activities focussed under Scientific Research Themes 2 and 4 of theAPN 3rd Strategic Plan: 1) Forestry and Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation (REDD)-Plus of Theme 2: Ecosystems, Biodiversity and Land Use; and 2) Global change implications of efficient resource utilisation and action to establish international sound material cycle society of Theme 4: Resources Utilisation and Pathways for Sustainable Development. These initiatives are realised through additional support from the Ministry of the Environment, Japan (MoEJ).
Key Focus Area 1 not only responds to UN-REDD, and REDD+ and the issues outlined in the Copenhagen Accord but also covers greenhouse gas inventory sector that includes emissions and removals of greenhouse gases resulting from direct human-induced land use, land use change and forestry (LULUCF) activities. Key Focus Area 2 addresses the need to establish a sound material society, particularly for resource utilisation to promote green growth towards sustainable development which is interlinked to climate change. Proposals review is underway and the APN hopes to announce the results by mid-September 2010.
Dr. Andrew Matthews, national Focal Point/Scientific Planning Group (SPG) Member for New Zealand and member of the Steering Committee represents APN at the SBSTA Dialogue. To further promote APN new initiatives and to be fully engaged at SBSTA 32, Dr. Matthews and Mr. Tetsuro Fujitsuka, APN Secretariat Director, also participate in selected side events and exhibits. This p rovides significant exposure, good science-policy linkages and the opportunity to align APN’s future undertaking with those of global change partner organisations through the continuing dialogue with SBSTA. There are also vast opportunities to network directly and collaborate with officials from member States and to highlight the activities of APN to a wide range of policy-makers involved in the climate change negotiation in addition to non-governmental organisations (NGOs), the research community, the industrial sector, etc.
In addition to the new focussed areas, Dr. Matthews and Mr. Fujitsuka will highlight other APN major activities including the seven projects that are currently being undertaken in China Indonesia, Philippines, Pakistan, Viet Nam and Thailand following the launch of focussed activities in Scientific Capacity Development for Climate Change Impact and Vulnerability Assessments (SCBCIA). Activities cover broad areas of relevance particularly for the Asia-Pacific region. The APN also undertakes a synthesis of its climate-related activities over 10 years. This activity will synthesise 56 APN projects in climate-related research and capacity development. A synthesis report will be published in March 2011 and results will be shared with SBSTA and other organisations at SBSTA 31 in Bonn, in 2011.
For more information, log on to: www.apn-gcr.org or contact the APN Secretariat at [email protected].
