On November 10-11, 2011 with financial support of the Ministry of Environmental Affairs, Land Use Planning, Agriculture and Forestry of Lichtenstein, VII Annual International Conference of REC Caucasus on “Climate Change Adaptation – Challenge and Opportunity for the Caucasus” is being organized in Tbilisi, Georgia. The event is designed to provide a forum for all interested parties in a comprehensive discourse on climate change issues.
The primarily goal of the Conference is to discuss problems of climate change taking into account natural and anthropogenic factors and environmental, economic and social impacts of global climate change in the South Caucasus region; to search for balanced approaches towards reduction of anthropogenic pressure on climate system through promotion of understanding among scientists, governments, business and public; to learn about existing trends; to raise awareness of target groups and to promote information exchange and transfer of experience within and beyond the region in the field of global climate change.
The occasion aims to take stock of challenges posed by climate change in South Caucasus focusing on three countries’ (Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia) specific problems, strategies and response actions for reaching an effective agenda on climate change.
The participants of the conference include Embassies; International Organizations; Local and Regional NGOs; Representatives of the Ministry of Environmental Protection of Georgia, Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources, Ministry of Regional Development and Infrastructure, Ministry of External Affairs, Economy of and Sustainable Development and State Ministry of Georgia on European and Euro-Atlantic Integration.
Climate risks and hazards are already increasing and evident in the Caucasus region, therefore introduction of integrated approach in identification of common risks, in planning and application of innovative adaptation practices can increase a number of options that government and population can exercise to tackle with climate risk to improve environment and reduce poverty.
Agenda for the VII Annual International Conference
November 10, 2011
10:00-10.30 Opening Ceremony
10:30-11:00 Welcoming Remarks:
Giorgi Khachidze Minister of Environment Protection of Georgia
Boris Iarochevitch Deputy Head of Delegation
Delegation of the European Union to Georgia
Dr. Felix Näscher Director General, the Office of Forests, Nature and Landscape,
Principality of Liechtenstein
11:00-11:30 General Introduction of the Issue:
Sophiko Akhobadze Executive Director of the REC Caucasus
Session One
11:30-12:00 National Climate Change Policies of the South Caucasus countries and their positions towards COP 17
Chairman : Giorgi Zedginidze
Giorgi Zedginidze Deputy Minister of Environment Protection of Georgia
Samvel Amirkhanyan Advisor of Minister, Ministry of Nature Protection of Republic of Armenia
12:00-12.30 Discussion:
Questions:
– Country and region specific institutional and technical challenges and needs SC countries face in meeting post Cancun reporting obligations
– How support can be directed to meet these challenges
– Are the funding mechanisms in place and how much work has been done in this area that we can use as a starting point
– Challenges for South Caucasus in evaluation of CC impact
– National and regional priority issues: adaptation measures, effectiveness, donor co-operation
– Prospects for co-operation
12:30-13:00 Coffee Break
Session Two
13:00-14:00
Climate Change adaptation perspectives of Civil Society
Chairman: Nino Chkhobadze
ELKANA– Presentation “Importance of agricultural biodiversity and sustainable
agriculture for the climate change adaptation in Georgia” Mariam
Jorjadze, Elene Shatberashvili
RECC BO ARMENIA Approaches to identification and implementation of adaptation
response to climate change impact for conservation and sustainable
use of agro-biodiversity in arid and semi-arid ecosystems of Armenia
Dshkhuhi Sahakyan/Armine Simonyan
ECOVISION Dedoplistskaro Municipality Sectoral Planning on the Basis of
Landscape- Ecological Background– Gia Sopadze
ECO TEAM Presentation Raising awareness on issues of climate change and
promotion of renewable energy sources in Armenia and world –
Artashes Sargsyan
SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT Presentation Energy security of the Azerbaijan Republic and the
problem of sustainable development of alternative energy sources
Fikret Djafarov
ENERGY, ECOLOGY, ECONOMY Presentation Influences of Regional Change of the Climate on the
Environment- Shamil Movsumov
ARMENYAN Mainstreaming Climate Change Considerations into Tourism -Zhanna
ECOTURISME ASSOSIATION Galyan
14:00-14:30 Discussion
14:30-15:30 Lunch
Session Three
15:30-16:30 Climate Change adaptation perspectives of the Academia
Tamaz Chelidze “On the climate change in Georgia in the past, at present and in the future: what
should be done for filling the gaps “
M.Nodia Institute of Geophysics of Iv.Javakhishvili Tbilisi State University
Nicholas Meskhidze- “Climate Change and Sustainable Development with the Emphasis on the
Southern Caucasus”
North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, USA
George Fayvush On the impact of global climate change on the flora and vegetation of Armenia
Institute of Botany, National Academy of Sciences of Armenia
Khayyam Rahimov Assessment of the impact of expected cllimate change on population of
Azerbaijan and possible adaptation
Climate and Agroclimate Department of Geography Institute, NASA.
Tahira Gahramanova Several aspects of Geosystem climate change influenced by wind erosion within
the coastal region of Azerbaijan.
Baku State University
Session Four
16:30-16:40 Climate Change adaptation perspectives of the business sector
Maharam Mehtiyev Presentation -The role of International Organizations and private sector for adaptation to climate change-SOCAR
16:40-17:00 Discussion
17:00-17:20 Coffee Break
Session Five
17:20-18:30 Climate Change adaptation perspectives of international Organizations
GIZ Dieter Muller, Climate Tolerant Rehabilitation of Degraded Landscapes in Georgia
Project Director
UNDP Presentation Climate Change Adaptation – Challenge and Opportunity for the Caucasus-
Marina Shvangiradze- Georgia
WWF Presentation ‘Climate Change Related Projects Implemented by WWF-Caucasus
Programme Office” Ilia Osepashvili, Forest Officer
RECC Presentation” Sustainable Land Management for Mitigating Land Degradation and
Reducing Poverty in the South Caucasus Region”
UNDP theses- Adaptation to climate change impacts in forests
and forestry of Armenia –Piloting selected adaptation measures in forest regeneration
and forest rehabilitation to enhance the resilience of mountain forests to climate
change, Essi Ulander, Armenia
CENN Presentation Climate Change Adaptation and Disaster Mitigation (CCADM) project
Tamar Mtvarelidze
UNDP/GEF “Role of Collaborating Partners in Implementation of Climate Change Mitigation Projects
at Local Level: Case Studies of GEF SGP Funded Projects in Armenia” Vardan
Tserunyan
18:30-19:00 Discussion
19:00 Closure of Day I
Wrap up of the first day and introduction of next day’s parallel discussion sessions
19:30 Dinner
November 11, 2011
Session Six
10.00-11:30 Dialogues on Climate Change:
Parallel Discussions
1: Integrating climate change risks into national development policies, plans and strategies
Moderator: Aram Gabrielyan (FP UNFCCC)
2: Identifying financing for adaptation initiatives
Moderator: Nino Antadze(UNDP Georgia)
3: Priority directions for climate change adaptation
Moderator: Oqtai Djafarov (FP UNCCD)
11:30-12:00 Coffee Break
Session Seven
12:00-13:00 Reports from parallel discussions:
Group 1
Group 2
Group 3
Session Eight
13:00-14:00 Common Problems in the Region and Potential Ways of Resolving
Chairman: Grigol Lazriev, Division of Hydrometeorology and Climate Chnge,
Ministry of Environment Protection Of Georgia
14:00-14:30 Closing of the Conference
Chairman: Giorgi Zedginidze
Edgar PIrumyan President of the REC Caucasus International Advisory Council
14:30 Lunch