According to the research carried out by the International Development Research Centre’s Economy and Environment Program for Southeast Asia (IDRC – EEPSEA), the map and forecasts will be highly valuable to policymakers, as well as agencies investing in local adaptations to climate change.
“Based on this mapping assessment, the Philippines, the Mekong River Delta in Vietnam, much of Cambodia, North and East Lao PDR, the Bangkok region of Thailand, West Sumatra, South Sumatra, Western Java, and Eastern Java of Indonesia are among the most vulnerable regions in Southeast Asia,” says Dr Herminia Francisco, Director of EEPSEA, who spearheaded the study with Dr Arief Yusuf, EEPSEA’s Senior Economist.
The study, which covered 530 sub-national areas in seven countries, also generated hazard maps for five climate-related risks—tropical cyclones, floods, landslides, droughts, and sea level rise. In addition, an index of adaptive capacity was created based on socio-economic factors, technology, and infrastructure.
According to Dr Francisco, the map and analysis would also help bridge the information gap between scientists working on climate change and the media and to launch a renewed conversation on this important issue.
IDRC’s Regional Director for Southeast and East Asia, Richard Fuchs, said that policymakers want more information to deal with climate change issues at the local level, and this mapping initiative assists local information gathering and policy-making.
A series of events is being organized by IDRC’s Singapore-based Regional Office for Southeast and East Asia to present the map and invite feedback from all concerned with climate change.
For more information:
Vivien Chiam
Partnership & Communications Manager
International Development Research Centre
Regional Office for Southeast and East Asia
22 Cross Street #02-55, South Bridge Court
Singapore 048421
Tel: (65) 9760-6821; [email protected]
www.idrc.org.sg
Isabelle Bourgeault-Tassé
Senior Media Advisor
International Development Research Centre (IDRC)
Ottawa, Canada
Tel: (+1-613) 696-2343; [email protected]
www.crdi.ca /www.idrc.ca
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. See http://www.idrc.ca/
About EEPSEA
The Economy and Environment Program for Southeast Asia was established in May 1993 to support training and research in environmental and resource economics. Its goal is to strengthen local capacity for the economic analysis of environmental problems so that researchers can provide sound advice to policymakers. EEPSEA is supported by a consortium of donors —the International Development Research Centre, the Canadian International Development Agency, and the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency. It is based in Singapore. See www.eepsea.org
