Why the Bonn climate meet is an important one
The COP23 should push the conversation on adaptation and development in this country to the next level
The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change Conference of the Parties 23 start son November 6 in Bonn, Germany. The agenda of the high-powered meeting is vast — from sustainable innovation to developing the resilience of Pacific islanders whoare atrisk of losing their home to the rising sea level within a generation.
Bonn will be a stage for states to show the progress they have made on tack ling climate change, though what has happened till now is not enough. The fact that Fiji is chairing the proceedings is likely to force the conference to take a hard look if progress has been made on linking climate change action with development policies. Linking climate change adaptation with development is the new battleground for the climate change community and governments. This means making sure that people in charge of mainstream development policies recognise climate change as a reality and development policies have to be climate-proof.
To make this happen, first, policymakers need data and information. Second, environmental scientists have to work closely with social scientists and statistical offices to track and understand the socio-economic impact of changing weather patterns. Third, there must be innovation in development financing. Fourth, states must work towards developing risk management strategies, which place vulnerability of people and systems at their core. This is critical because ultimately it is the people who have to learn to negotiate climate change or bear the consequences. They must have access to information and contribute to designing adaptation strategies that turn climateinto an opportunity while being resilient to an extreme weather event.
At an expert consultation in September, Kamal Kishore, member, National Disaster Management Authority, stated that current development efforts in India are creating risks at a much faster pace than reducing them. One of the key highlights of the consultationwas that policymakers in India do have a mandate to plan for disaster risk management but they lack a practical framework to link this work to local and development plans and their implementation, undermining the capacity of government to doadaptationand build resilience. Ultimately, this matter is critical to everyone. Farmers in Bi h ar should know how to make the most of the changing rainfall patterns and people in cities should know how to handle and quickly re open businesses after large floods.
The COP 23, hopefully, should push the conversation on climate change adaptation and development in India to the next level.