The UAE Ministry of
Foreign Affairs has co-organised a workshop with the United Nations Framework
Convention on Climate Change, UNFCCC, and United Nations Environment Programme,
UNEP, on the Lima Adaptation Knowledge Initiative, LAKI, for the Gulf
Cooperation Council region, in Abu Dhabi. The workshop was hosted by the Abu
Dhabi Global Environmental Data Initiative, AGEDI.
Impacts of climate
change, such as increasing or decreasing rainfall and temperature, are expected
to affect the Gulf region and its ecosystems in many ways. These include the
effects on agricultural production, water availability, coastal
infrastructures, biodiversity and human health. Governments around the world
are taking measures to adapt to, and be prepared for, potential impacts of
climate change.
However, gaps in
knowledge, be they insufficient rainfall data, accurate mapping of fauna and
flora, robust projection of sea level rise, or economic analysis of costs of
inaction, are often cited as barriers for successful adaptation actions. The
LAKI workshop aimed to enhance successful adaptation actions in the Gulf region
by identifying and prioritising knowledge of these gaps and how to close them.
"Adaptation to
climate change is an important agenda for all, but particularly for the Gulf
region with high summer temperatures and scarce water resources," said Ali
Al Shafar, Deputy-Director, Directorate of Energy and Climate Change at the
Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
"This workshop
helped take stock of what is already in the region and identify ways in which
we can address gaps in order for the region to be better prepared for impacts
of climate change and achieving sustainable development."
Participants
acknowledged that while there are good examples of policy interventions and
research, more could be done. Specific feedback included fostering governance
mechanisms at the national level for evidence-based decision making and
effective implementation, as well as strengthening regional cooperation for
unified data gathering, monitoring and capacity building.
"We are very
pleased to hold this workshop in cooperation with the government of the United
Arab Emirates" said, Dr. Iyad Abumoghli, Director and Regional Representative
of UNEP Regional Office for West Asia. "For the first time, climate
experts gathered to identify the knowledge needed to address adaptation to
climate change. The workshop highlighted a number of important work carried out
in the Gulf region as well as challenges that could inspire others for
appropriate adaptation measures."
"We are immensely
grateful to the leadership of the government of UAE in hosting the LAKI
workshop in Abu Dhabi," said Dr. Youssef Nassef, Coordinator of Adaptation
Programme, UNFCCC Secretariat. "A list of 10 priority adaptation knowledge
needs, together with actions required to address them, emerged from the
workshop and will serve as a solid foundation for state and non-state entities
to work together towards a more climate resilient GCC region through an
enhanced adaptation knowledge base."
"We are pleased to
be engaged in the strategic and timely Lima Adaptation Knowledge Initiative, as
it is an opportunity for all to capitalise on the AGEDI’s work programme on
climate change which extends beyond Abu Dhabi and the UAE into the Arabian
Peninsula to help guide informed decision-making across the region, and for
AGEDI to further align with our colleagues on the regional level," said
Ahmed Abdulmuttaleb Baharoon, Acting Director of AGEDI, the lead technical
coordinating agency at the GCC level for the Initiative.
The workshop
participants included researchers from international organisations and academic
institutions from the region, representatives from UAE federal and local
entities as well as those engaged in international climate change negotiations.
–End-
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