Adapting to Climate Change: IDRC at COP 13 in Bali
Ottawa, Canada, December 10, 2007 – Recognizing the serious consequences of climate change for development, the International Development Research Centre (IDRC) is helping developing countries adapt by supporting research and strengthening local institutions so they can better prepare for an uncertain future. IDRC will be on the ground as an observer to the 13th Conference of Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP 13), taking place in Bali, Indonesia, December 3-14, 2007. The Climate Change Adaptation in Africa (CCAA) program, a partnership between Canada’s IDRC and the UK’s Department for International Development, will be organizing two events that focus on the critical adaptation challenges facing the African continent:
December 6 Adapting to climate change in Africa: Towards regional solutions
Africa is the continent most vulnerable to climate change. Desertification, energy supply, and water are key issues that demand regional sharing of information, adaptation strategies, and policy responses. This panel discussion is an official side event, planned jointly with the Sahara and Sahel Observatory.
December 11 Adapting locally to global climate change: Experiences from rural Africa
Most of Africa relies on rain-fed agriculture and is highly vulnerable to seasonal shifts and changes in precipitation patterns. Roughly 70% of the population lives by farming, and 40% of all exports are agricultural products. This dialogue highlights climate change impacts affecting food security and rural livelihoods, as seen by farmers, representatives of agrarian organizations, and action researchers working with rural communities.
Staff and partners of IDRC’s CCAA program will be available to speak with media, together with invited speakers from rural Africa. Information on the CCAA and other IDRC initiatives related to climate change will be available at the IDRC booth in the UNFCCC exhibit area.
For more information on IDRC activities at COP 13, visit http://www.idrc.ca/ccaa/ev-116697-201-1-DO_TOPIC.html.
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About IDRC
Canada's International Development Research Centre (IDRC) is one of the world's leading institutions in the generation and application of new knowledge to meet the challenges of international development. For nearly 40 years, IDRC has worked in close collaboration with researchers from the developing world to build healthier, more equitable, and more prosperous societies.
For information:
In Indonesia:
Mary O’Neill
+081 353 004945
[email protected]
In Canada:
Isabelle Bourgeault-Tassé
(+1 613) 236-6163, ext. 2343
[email protected]
