www.equitybd.org

Seminar on Alternative People’s RegionalismReview SAARC declarations on climate change

From the people’s perspective

Alternative People’s Regionalism

Socio-Economic Overview of SAARC Countries

- More than 600 million living below poverty

- Living in vulnerable areas

- Growing & higher inequality

Alternative People’s Regionalism

www.equitybd.org

www.equitybd.org

Countries Temperature rise 0.6-50C by 2100

Sea level rise

Increase intensity of Flood

Increase intensity of drought

Glacier retreat

Bangladesh Yes Yes Yes Yes (some area) Yes (predicted)

India " " " Yes "

Pakistan " " " " "

Sri Lanka " " - - - " - - -

Nepal " - - - " " "

Maldives " " " - - - - - -

Bhutan " - - - " - - - "

Afghanistan " " - - - " "

Source: IPCC and cited from CANSA Report

Climate vulnerability in SA

Alternative People’s Regionalism

Impact of climate change

- Create Food Insecurity

- Migration & Population move

- Mass conflict

www.equitybd.org

Alternative People’s Regionalism

www.equitybd.org

Most vulnerable in mass conflict and creating migrants

Maplecroft 2014

Global outlook to vulnerability and climate migrants in BD

Alternative People’s Regionalism

www.equitybd.org

SAARC Declaration on CC: Major issues

Alternative People’s Regionalism

Broad Elements of the SAARC Declarations on CC

Thematic Areas (based on SAARC action plan on CC)

Dhaka Declaration: July 2008 Thimphu Statement: April 2010

Education and awareness Promote advocacy programmeand mass awareness campaigns onclimate change

Launch advocacy and awareness programme on climate change, among others, to promote the use of green technology and best practices to promote low-carbon, sustainable, and inclusive development of the region.

Incorporate science-based materials in educational curriculum to promote better understanding of science and the adverse effects of climate change

Regional capacity buildinginclusive of CDM development and joint research and investigation

Cooperate in capacity building, including the development of CDMprojects and Designated National authorities, and on incentives for removal of GHG

Establish an Inter-governmental Expert Group on Climate Change to develop clear policy direction and guidance for regional cooperation as envisaged in the SAARC Plan of Action on Climate Change

www.equitybd.org

SAARC Declaration on CC: Major issues

Alternative People’s Regionalism

Broad Elements of the SAARC Declarations on CC

Thematic Areas (based on SAARC action plan on CC)

Dhaka Declaration: July 2008

Thimphu Statement: April 2010

Regional joint research and development, sharing of knowledge and information, and south–south cooperation for technology development and deployment

Exchange information on best practices, share results of research and development for mitigatingthe effects of climate change, and undertake adaptation measures

Set up a Low-carbon Research and Development Institute in South Asian University

Establish institutional linkages among national institutions in the region to, among others, facilitate sharing of knowledge, information,and capacity-building programme in climate change-related areas

Commission a SAARC Inter-governmental Marine Initiative & SAARC Coastal Zone Management Centre to strengthen the understanding of shared oceans and water bodies in the region, and facilitate critical roles to promote sustainable living,

Commission a SAARC Inter-governmental Climate-related Disasters Initiative on the integration of Climate Change Adaptation (CCA) with Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR), to be supported by the SAARC Disaster Management Centre

www.equitybd.org

SAARC Declaration on CC: Major issues

Alternative People’s Regionalism

Broad Elements of the SAARC Declarations on CC

Thematic Areas (based on SAARC action plan on CC)

Dhaka Declaration: July 2008

Thimphu Statement: April 2010

Regional cooperation on raising of financial resources for programmes on adaptation and mitigation

Commission a study to explore the feasibility ofestablishing a SAARC mechanism that would provide capital for projects that promote low-carbon technology and renewable energy

www.equitybd.org

Where is progress actually?

- Institutional frame established (e.g. SMRC, SAARC University, Delhi, SAARC Forestry Centre, SAARC Energy Centre, SARRC Disaster Management Centre)

- Training & workshop held in SAARC member countries in the name of capacity building.

- Fund received from Japan, USA apart SADF (South Asian Development Fund)

But

- No monitoring on progress to the above as post-learning commitment and action plan as regional initiatives.

Alternative People’s Regionalism

www.equitybd.org

We expect meaningful implementation of SAARC commitments

Alternative People’s Regionalism

Shared Vision on Climate Control

- SAARC countries should aim for an increase in global average temperature by 1.5°C so that temperature increases in this region can be limited by 2.0°C

- A Sustainable Agriculture Protocol with FS

- SAARC initiative for ‘Regional Equitable Water Management Systems

- Regional Knowledge-sharing Platform on Community-based Adaptation.

- SAARC Finance to address Climate change

What says the SAARC Charter (1985)

- Article 3, mentions “common problems, interests and aspirations of the people of SOUTH ASIA and the need SAARC Charter (1985) for joint action and enhanced cooperation within their respective

political and economic systems and cultural traditions”.

- Article 4, recognizes that cooperation is necessary for ‘promoting the welfare and improving the quality of life of the peoples of the region’.

- Articles 5, 6, 7 and 8 keep continue with the need for cooperation in order to achieve all round well-being of the people of South Asia.

Alternative People’s Regionalism

We expect meaningful implementation of SAARC commitments

www.equitybd.org

www.equitybd.org

We expect meaningful implementation of SAARC commitments

Alternative People’s Regionalism

Institutional Framework

i. Establish an Inter-governmental Expert Group on Climate Change to develop clear policy direction and guidance for regional cooperation as envisaged in the SAARC plan of Action on Climate Change. This will also facilitate an integrated response to related social, economic, and environmental challenges.

ii. Enhancing institutional coordination and strengthening mechanisms to encourage resource mobilization and expert exchange for regional cooperation on research with government institutions and CSOs.

www.equitybd.org

We expect meaningful implementation of SAARC commitments

Alternative People’s Regionalism

Adaptation

i. Holding joint hydrological exercises to measure water outflow and adopting regional water resources management, since there are many river-sharing issues among the member countries of the region.

ii. Take effective measure to enhance knowledge sharing mechanism and information dissemination in practical basis as cropping patterns and crops cultivated in the region are almost similar.

iii. Establish a Regional Knowledge-sharing Platform on Community-based Adaptation that will demonstrate the practical tools &

techniques and experiences on adaptation. SAARC process should explore a possible mechanism also to engage the CSOs sharing knowledge and information dissemination in this regard.

www.equitybd.org

We expect meaningful implementation of SAARC commitments

Alternative People’s Regionalism

Adaptation

iv. Taking regional initiatives for establishing community-based seed banks to conserve the agro biodiversity of the region and placing these seed banks in the direct management of farmers.

v. Ensuring knowledge exchange and seed sharing without any intellectual property rights (IPR) restrictions or barriers

vi. SAARC Food Bank as active to support any crisis with flexible mechanism.

vii. Facilitate climate migrants and their free movement in SAARC countries

www.equitybd.org

We expect meaningful implementation of SAARC commitments

Alternative People’s Regionalism

Mitigation

i. Conduct joint research and development on alternative technologies in energy sector especially energy efficient technologies, renewable energy, etc.

ii. Commission a study to explore the feasibility of establishing a SAARC mechanism which would provide capital for projects that promote low-carbon technology and renewable energy; and a Low-carbon Research and Development.

iii. Take effective measure to develop SAARC common energy investment fund especially to produce and provide hydro power among the SAARC countries. There are huge potentiality of hydro power production in Bhutan & Nepal. This hydro power should produce through a common investment through SAARC initiative by which all member countries would be benefited.

www.equitybd.org

We expect meaningful implementation of SAARC commitments

Alternative People’s Regionalism

Finance & resource Mobilization

i. SAARC climate change fund need to establish that would be a dependable source for implementing SAARC climate action plan and

as well as act the counter part of global funds.

ii. Set up a centre for technology development in South Asia to jointly develop and deploy clean technologies to meet the adaptation and mitigations needs of the region.

www.equitybd.org

We expect also alternative Regionalism

Alternative People’s Regionalism

Our understanding: Connectivity VS alternative Regionalism

i. Overarching goal to achieve the direct People’s welfare.

ii. Open and free communication among the people.

www.equitybd.org

We expect also alternative Regionalism

Alternative People’s Regionalism

We Demand

i. VISA Free regime within the SAARC countries.

ii. Open Employment access.

iii. Demilitarization and direct Invest for people wellbeing

www.equitybd.org

“We don’t expect the Climate Change,

as a new profiteering tool of Capitalism”