Formation of an Asia-Pacific Forum on Loss and Damage announced in Incheon, Korea on 20th March 2013 at the conclusion of the third Asia-Pacific Adaptation Forum

Background

Loss and damage from climate change has emerged as a new area that looks at the limits to adaptation and explores the adverse impacts in the increasingly warming world. At the 18^th Conference of Parties (COP18) in Doha, Qatar in December 2012 Parties decided to establish institutional arrangements to address loss and damage in developing countries.  However, in order to benefit from institutional arrangements at the international level, institutions must be established at the local, national and regional levels as well as at the international level. Moreover, loss and damage is not an issue unique to developing countries and collaboration is required at all levels to address it.

The Asia-Pacific region is highly vulnerable region to a range of natural disasters and climate change impacts, from those eminating from extreme events to those resulting from slow onset processes. Asia has been referred to as a disaster hot spot for extreme events – with cyclones and other events now occurring with alarming regularity.  The Pacific is also vulnerable to extreme events, but is poised to suffer most from slow onset processes like sea level rise, loss of biodiversity and ocean acidification.

Announcement

A number of organizations working on different aspects of loss and damage met together on the margins of the Third Asia-Pacific Adaptation Forum being held in Incheon, Korea from 18th to 20th March 2013, decided to form the Asia-Pacific Forum on Loss and Damage (APFLAD).

Forum

The objectives of the forum are:

1. To share information on loss and damage within the Asia-Pacific region.
2. To support and facilitate further research on different aspects of loss and damage and provide recommendations to relevant institutions.
3. To support and facilitate convening of meetings, workshops, conferences and training courses on loss and damage.

Members of the forum:

A number of organizations have already expressed willingness to be members or partners of the forum. These include: ActionAid, Climate Action Network South Asia (CANSA), Asia-Pacific Network for Global Change Research (APN) and Asia-Pacific Adaptation Network (APAN).

Proposed activities over the next 12 months:

1. Set up a website for sharing information, documents and reports on loss and damage
2. Convene/support a regional conference on loss and damage
3. Facilitate research community in conducting regional research and capacity building activities on loss and damage

Joining the forum:

The forum is open to individuals or organizations interested in sharing knowledge on loss and damage.  A number of organizations have already expressed interest in being involved in the forum including Action Aid, Climate Action Network South Asia (CANSA), Asia-Pacific Network for Global Change Research (APN) and Asia-Pacific Adaptation Network (APAN).

Secretariat:

International Centre for Climate Change and Development (ICCCAD)
Independent University, Bangladesh
Bashundhara, Dhaka
Bangladesh

Contact person:

Erin Roberts
[email protected]