2005-IGM-SPG 10.pdf - Asia-Pacific Network for Global Change ...

IGM/10/10
SPG/10/10
organisations: the International Research Institute for Climate Prediction, IRI,
Columbia University; the United Nations Environment Programme; the Global Environment
Action, GEA, Japan; and the Thailand Environmental Institute (TEI). This
event was organised under the patronage of Professor Dr. H.R.H. Princess
Chulabhorn to honor the 72 nd Birthday of Her Majesty Queen Sirikit of Thailand. This
event was participated by approximately 60 senior level participants from
government agencies, business corporations, and academic and research institutes.
Participating institutes included: H.E. Suwit Khunkitti, Minister of Natural Resources
and Environment, Thailand, Professor Nay Htun, Former UN Assistant Secretary
General, Professor Michael McElroy, Chair IRI Board of Overseers, Hon. Kazuo Aichi,
Director General Global Environmental Action and former Minister of the
Environment Agency of Japan, Mr. Kazuhiko Takemoto, Deputy Director General,
Ministry of the Environment, Japan/APN national Focal Point, and, Dr. Tariq Banuri,
Director Stockholm Environment Institute Asia. The Dialogue addressed the impacts
of climate variation on health, agriculture, food security, and water resources. Topics
for discussion during the event included: measurement and monitoring of climate
variation and change, climate effects on human health, agriculture and food
security: the role of climate variation and change, climate and water, and a round
table discussion on potential opportunities for collaboration to increase knowledge
for response options. Participants also examined and discussed the opportunities to
increase protection and improvement of the health and well-being of people,
enhance food security, manage water resources, and review the state of scientific
knowledge to support policies to promote sustainable development.
29 September–1 October 2004. ESCAP Subcommittee on Environment and
Sustainable Development First Session. Bangkok, Thailand
International organisations, United Nations bodies and specialised agencies, and 26
UN member countries throughout Asia and Australia participated in the 1st Session
of ESCAP Subcommittee on Environment and Sustainable Development, in Bangkok.
During the session, the APN was represented by Dr. Jariya Boonjawat, SPG member
for Thailand, and Dr. Anond Snidvongs, Liaison Officer for SEA. Three key themes,
covering the multi-stakeholder partnerships in promoting sustainable development
in Asia and the Pacific, were addressed. These key themes were: 1) energy services
for sustainable development in rural areas, 2) water resources management for
sustainable development and, 3) prevention and control of dust and sandstorms.
There was also discussion on the possibility of support from the APN and partnership
with UNESCAP regarding the sustainable development of the Asia-Pacific region. In
particular, the theme of dust and sand storms, which is linked with two research
priorities of the APN; changes in atmospheric composition and changes in terrestrial
ecosystems. Hence, UNESCAP will communicate with the APN members to discuss
the opportunities of future cooperation.
The plan for the next ministerial conference on environmental and development in
Asia and the Pacific, which will convene in March 2005 in Seoul, Republic of Korea,
was also discussed. The APN will co-sponsor and organise, along with ESCAP and
IGBP, the eminent scientists’ symposium on global change, environment and
development.
2-5 November 2004. The 2nd AIACC Regional Workshop for Asia and the
Pacific. Manila, Philippines
The Environmental Forestry Programme at the University of Philippines hosted the
1st workshop in March 2003, in Bangkok, Thailand. The 2nd Regional Workshop on
UNEP/START/TWAS projects under the ‘Assessments of Impacts and Adaptations to
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