Presentation
Second International Conference on Climate, Sustainability and Development in Semi-arid Regions - ICID 2010
ICID 2010 will convene public policy makers, scientists and members of civil society to promote secure and sustainable development in the semi-arid regions of the world.
Thirty-five percent of earth’s people live in arid and semi-arid lands. Drylands cover forty-one percent of the planet and closely follow the world’s map of poverty. While already exposed to climate extremes, according to IPCC, drylands are likely to be severely hit by climate change. The concerns of populations living on these lands remain under-represented in climate-action and development discussions. People of semi-arid regions need development support now. What actions are unfolding from Copenhagen? How can negotiators, policy makers, scientists and practitioners translate global agreements into practice on the ground? How can we ensure that felt needs and practical learning will drive the agenda for Rio+20 (the UN Conference on Environment and Development to be held again in Rio in 2012)? People of semi-arid regions need development support now. What actions are unfolding from Copenhagen? How can negotiators, policy makers, scientists and practitioners translate global agreements into practice on the ground? How can we ensure that felt needs and practical learning will drive the agenda for Rio+20 (the UN Conference on Environment and Development to be held again in Rio in 2012)? By focusing on the links between policy, knowledge and practice, The Second International Conference on Climate, Sustainability and Development in Semi-arid Regions (ICID 2010) aims to help turn agreements into local development outcomes and bring adaptive development learning into ongoing global policy processes. The Second International Conference on Climate, Sustainability and Development in Semi-arid Regions (ICID 2010) will convene concerned parties from around the world to: Identify and focus action on challenges and opportunities for a better future in the world’s arid and semi-arid regions. Update and share experience and knowledge on matters concerning the semi-arid regions: environmental and climate variability and change, vulnerabilities, social-economic-environmental impacts, responses of adaptation and sustainable development; Explore synergies among the conventions of the United Nations concerning the development of semi-arid regions, and Generate information and recommendations to support global and national policy processes, to inform civil society and development practitioners to achieve sustainable economic, environmental, and social development in the world’s semi-arid regions. In 1992, the first ICID gave voice to the plight of drylands peoples at the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED) in Rio. In support of Rio+20 (2012) and other global policy fora, ICID 2010 aims to leverage the greatest possible development effect of the existing UN conventions on climate change, biodiversity protection and combat to desertification, and to provide information and guidance to governments and all parties aiming to improve ecological and social sustainability in arid and semi-arid lands. The main event of ICID 2010 will be a meeting from 16 to 20 August 2010 bringing together governments, civil society and experts to assess and articulate the needs and opportunities of the world’s semi-arid regions. The meeting will be organized around four thematic areas: 1) Climate Information Information on climate variability and climate change and environmental concerns in regional and local—forecast and scenarios. 2) Climate and Sustainable Development Human security, vulnerability reduction, welfare and development—modeling, measuring and addressing vulnerability, impacts and adaptation. 3) Governance and Sustainable Development Representation, rights, equity and justice in the face of climate variability and change—monitoring and improving governance patterns in arid and semi-arid lands. 4) Policy Processes and Institutions. Public policy process—formulation, implementation, monitoring and performance of public policies for adaptation and sustainable development. Lessons from Experiences. ICID 2010 will generate, publish, and present recommendations to guide global, regional, national and local analysis and policies aimed at reducing vulnerability and improving the lives of the people of drylands around the world.