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Abstract:
Introduction
to APN and its Activities
Dr. Linda Anne Stevenson
Programme Manager (Scientific Affairs)
Asia-Pacific Network for Global Change Research (APN)
The Asia-Pacific Network for Global Change Research (APN) is an inter-governmental network
whose mission is to foster global change research in the Asia-Pacific region,
increase developing country participation in that research, and strengthen interactions
between the science community and policy makers. The APN believes that international
cooperation among governments and scientists will help increase the understanding of the complex
mechanisms and impacts of global change on ecosystems and human society in the Asia-Pacific region.
This is necessary to identify and address the problems that may arise from that change.
The APN also believes that working in partnership with other organisations involved in global change
research is essential to maximise the resources available and to deliver the best possible results.
In particular, the APN cooperates with the global change SysTem for Analysis, Research, and Training
(START), the International Geosphere-Biosphere Programme (IGBP), the International
Human Dimensions Programme on Global Environmental Change (IHDP), the World Climate Research Programme
(WCRP), and the international programme of biodiversity science (DIVERSITAS.)
A core APN activity is the Networking and Capacity Building programme that targets
those APN developing countries that are considered to have the least scientific
capacity or
the weakest links to the regional research community. Recent regional workshops
in East, South and Southeast Asia have allowed participants to gain an overview
of global change
issues from international organisations, identify regional priorities, and pinpoint
promising project proposals for submission to APN and/or other funding agencies.
It should be noted that
START has been a strong partner in all such activities, and indeed APN and START
(along with MEDIAS-France and UNDP) will convene an international workshop
on
"Global Change, Sustainable Development and Environmental Management in Central
Asia" in Uzbekistan,
March 2003.
One future option of the APN Networking and Capacity Building programme - in
the form of a "type 2" partnership on "Scientific Capacity Building for
Sustainable Development in
Developing Countries" - was presented to the United Nations at the WSSD by the
Ministry of Environment, Japan, whereby APN was identified as a major partner.
Overall, the WSSD was an ideal opportunity for APN to heighten its global profile.
It also allowed APN to strengthen its network with organisations present at
the WSSD,
such as ICSU, IGFA, IHDP, TWAS, etc., and to further inform scientists, governmental
officials,
and civil society of APN activities.
Lastly, the sheer size of the WSSD highlighted the need to extract key messages
for the global change research community - and with this mind the APN and UNU/IAS
planned this roundtable session on
"Post WSSD: Sustainable Science and the Way Forward for Global Change Research."
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