'Landscape Functions and People' Bangkok Training Course Funding Assistance Application Deadline May 1

One of RECOFTC's most popular courses, Landscape Functions and People, will be held from 19-30 November, 2012 in Bangkok, Thailand. Interested applicants in need of financial assistance to participate must register by 1 May to qualify for funding. 

Nuffic NFP fellowships
A limited number of fellowships is available from Nuffic - the Netherlands Fellowship Programme (NFP) for nationals of certain countries. In order to apply for such a NFP fellowship, you have to register through the Nuffic Scholarship Online (SOL) system. Applications for NFP fellowships should be submitted before 1 May
2012. You will be informed by Nuffic whether your application has been accepted. More information on the NFP fellowships: www.cdi.wur.nl/UK/services/Courses/Fellowships

About Landscape Functions and People
The course offers participants an opportunity to familiarize themselves with current practices for landscape approaches. It will provide opportunities to develop practical skills and experience in the use of principles and tools applicable for landscape-level planning, monitoring, and implementation.

The course will equip participants to:

• Understand the context, principles, and relevance of landscape approaches for natural resources governance in today's world
• Understand how landscape-level planning processes can be developed and how they can be facilitated
• Become familiar with a variety of tools for landscape-level strategic planning and gain experience in applying and adapting these in real-life situations
• Understand how landscape approaches can contribute to improved decision making, sustainable management, and monitoring of natural resources

A variety of training approaches will be used. As with all our courses, the style will be participatory and hands-on. Course facilitators will encourage "learning by doing." Participants are expected to bring their own material to the course, allowing them to share their experiences with others. A web-based learning platform supports participants in applying their individual action plans and learning in their work situations.

The training program is spread over two weeks and includes three days of field work in Thailand to gain practical experience and skills.

More information available at the RECOFTC website.

CALL FOR APPLICATIONS | CAS in Disaster Risk Reduction (CDRR) | EPFL | Switzerland-Bangladesh

Certificate of Advanced Studies in Disaster Risk Reduction (CDRR)

- Part 1 - 03 Sep - 30 Sep 2012 => Preparatory phase, E-learning
- Part 2 - 08 Oct - 19 Oct 2012 => Theoretical phase, EPFL, Switzerland
- Part 3 - 24 Nov - 02 Dec 2012 => Field work, Bangladesh
- Part 4 - 03 Dec - 31 Jan 2013 => Individual project

Deadline for Applications: 10 June 2012

http://cooperation.epfl.ch/CDRR_2012_Edition

The Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL) is pleased to announce the Call for Applications for the Certificate of Advanced Studies in Disaster Risk Reduction (CDRR).

The 3rd edition of the CDRR seeks to strengthen the competences of practitioners in the field of disaster risk reduction in the context of climate change. The program favors an integrated and interdisciplinary approach to the issue, concentrating on the reduction of vulnerabilities and the strengthening of the capacities of populations at risk.

The program does not have a deep technical vocation, focusing more on a practical and field-oriented approach as a means of consolidating the theoretical component. Particular emphasis is placed on the issue of climate change as a factor in the increase of extreme hydrological, climatological or meteorological events. The immersion in two countries with distinct economic and socio-cultural realities, such as Switzerland and Bangladesh, is to highlight to participants the linkages between development cooperation and disaster risk reduction.

The program is structured in four parts, all which are compulsory. Part I (3 - 30 September 2012) involves a preparatory phase of e-Learning with access to compulsory and mandatory reading material to understand the basic concepts. Part 2 (8 - 19 October 2012), will be held at EPFL in Switzerland and will cover such modules as: Disaster Risk Management, Climate Change, Vulnerabilities and Capacities, Science and Technology in DRR. Part 3 (24 November - 2 December 2012) will be held in Bangladesh and mainly focus on field activities. Part 4 (3 December 2012 - 31 January 2013), consists of a personal project.

Upon completion, participants will be familiar with natural disaster risk management. They will be in a position to:

- Identify and asses disaster risks using risk management approaches;
- Interpret the current results of scientific research on climate change and its challenges to natural hazards, and identify appropriate measures in a specific situation;
- Apply methodological tools to assess vulnerabilities and strengthen adaptation.
- Improve their comprehension of the role and the challenges of science and technological innovations in disaster risk reduction, in an interdisciplinary manner.

Applicants must have a graduate or undergraduate degree and good English.

Full and/or partial grants may be offered to participants from developing and emerging countries that are not able to meet the total costs involved. Grants can cover tuition fees as well as accommodation and board in Switzerland and Bangladesh. Grants will NOT cover travel to Switzerland and Bangladesh, visa, insurance or any other costs incurred by participants for their private needs.

For full information and application procedure refer to our website http://cooperation.epfl.ch/CDRR_2012_Edition.

Please note that only applications submitted via the online submission system on the program webpage will be accepted.

You are encouraged to circulate this email to people and / or organizations who may be interested in this program.

Thank you for your support.

Sincere regards,

Eileen Hazboun
_______________________________________________
Cooperation & Development Center
UNESCO Chair in Technologies for Development

EPFL- VPAA - CODEV
Station 10 - 1015 Lausanne (Switzerland)
Email: cdrr@epfl.ch
Tel. +41 (0)21 693.60.48
http://cooperation.epfl.ch/CDRR_2012_Edition

Kathmandu Call for Action adopted by the International Conference of Mountain Countries on Climate Change, 5-6 April 2012

Please find below full texts of the Kathmandu Call for Action adopted by the participants of the International Conference of Mountain Countries on Climate Change organised by the Government of Nepal from 5-6 April 2012 in Kathmandu, Nepal. The conference was technically supported by the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD) and number of other agencies including the Mountain Partnership Secretariat (MPS) Central Hub based at FAO in Rome, the World Bank and the Royal Norwegian Embassy in Kathmandu, Nepal. According to the organisers, the meeting was attended by environment and mountain affairs ministers from 10 countries in the global south (South and Central Asia, Africa and Latin America) and over 300 senior delegates and experts from other 25 countries making it truly international and high level event. Conference also witnessed a strong presence of Kathmandu based diplomats, donor communities, UN agencies, youth and media as well as local and indigenous communities.  This is an important step towards strengthening Mountain Agenda in preparation of Rio+20 meeting in next few months.

International Conference of Mountain Countries on Climate Change

5-6 April 2012

Kathmandu Call for Action

We, the Ministers, Heads of Delegations and Representatives of International and National organisations, having attended the International Conference of Mountain Countries on Climate Change held from 5 to 6 April 2012 in Kathmandu, Nepal;

Aware of the human-induced multiple impacts of climate change on mountain ecosystems, goods and services and implications on livelihoods, health and welfare of the mountain people and environment;

Recognizing the need for urgent, collaborative and effective actions at all levels for addressing climate-induced vulnerabilities and impacts on mountains, enhancing the well-being of climate vulnerable communities and also strengthening the climate resilience of the people of mountainous countries; and

Applauding the Government of Nepal for starting the Mountain Initiative;

Appreciating the international expert consultation on mountains and climate change and taking note of their recommendations;

Also appreciating the South Asian Parliamentarians’ Workshop on Climate Change and taking note of their recommendations;

Hereby express our resolve to:

1.       Reaffirm the spirit of solidarity and cooperation among the mountain countries and countries with mountainous regions for addressing the common problems affecting all the mountainous regions, and for consolidating our common efforts to effectively integrate mountain issues into the global climate change and development agenda including the Rio+20 process and beyond;

2.       Promote research as well as use of traditional knowledge for sharing, learning and exchange of information and best practices to support science-policy interface and help find best solutions to climate change challenges through global cooperation, including south-south cooperation, recognizing that the mountains provide solutions for sustainable development using ecosystem services, in particular, water, biodiversity, energy, and for enhancing food security;

3.       Reinforce that our collective actions will complement the objectives of achieving equitable and sustainable development including the Millennium Development Goals with a focus on reducing poverty and enhancing gender equity and social inclusion among the people in mountain countries and regions;

4.       Agree to update the sustainable mountain development agenda in the context of growing challenges and opportunities, resulting from climate change and globalization;

5.       Encourage building appropriate incentive mechanisms at various levels to recognize and reward mountain communities for conservation and maintenance of mountain ecosystem services through climate change adaptation and conservation of critical ecosystems;

6.       Strengthen and consolidate the Mountain Initiative as a global platform for all mountainous countries to discuss common issues through collaborative and cooperative efforts for mobilizing the necessary support and raising awareness globally about the adverse impacts and vulnerabilities of mountain ecosystem services and implications on the livelihoods of the poor and disadvantaged people and make efforts to reduce impacts of climate change collectively;

7.       Urge the development partners to support through the establishment of dedicated funding arrangements for the adaptation and mitigation programmes in mountain countries within the framework of UNFCCC and other sustainable development processes and build the resilience of communities, women and disadvantaged groups in particular, through a comprehensive and holistic approach at the local, national, regional and international levels in the spirit of enhanced global partnership; and

8.       Recognize and build on high potentials of mountain ecosystem services to promote green growth strategies and strengthen linkages between mountain ecosystem and other ecosystems to reduce poverty and promote sustainable development;

9.       Work collectively to mobilize global support to promote investment in mountain countries in an institutionalized manner, and to enhance the level of concrete cooperation among all the stakeholders, including the private sector, local communities, civil society and youth, with action plan based on mutual collaboration and commitments among the mountain countries and the development partners, UN system, including the Mountain Partnership, and multilateral organisations in order to ensure adequate and effective flow of financial resources, including innovative financing, technology and capacity building to the mountain countries;

10.     Agree to give continuity to the Mountain Initiative on a sustainable basis, organize the next conference through mutual consultations at an appropriate time, and develop the programme of work to carry forward the Kathmandu Call for Action;

Have hereby decided to adopt this Kathmandu Call for Action.

Kathmandu, Nepal

6 April 2012

Asia-Pacific Network for Global Change Research (APN) Updates, 9 April 2012

APN Updates Monday, 09 April 2012
What's New Approved New and Continuing Projects for Financial Year 2012/13 The APN is pleased to announce the final list of new and ongoing projects to be funded in financial year 2012/13, as approved by its Inter-Governmental Meeting (IGM) on 16 March 2012 at APN's 17th IGM convened in Jakarta, Indonesia. Details: http://www.apn-gcr.org/2012/04/06/announcement-approved-new-and-continuing-projects-for-financial-year-201213/ APN at the Fifth GEOSS Asia-Pacific Symposium, Tokyo, Japan 4 April 2012, Tokyo, Japan — The APN was represented at the Fifth GEOSS Asia-Pacific Symposium which was held in Tokyo, Japan, from 2 to 4 April 2012. APN Secretariat Director Akio Takemoto introduced APN's new focussed activities in 2012 and its involvement in the GEOSS process and related activities. Details: http://www.apn-gcr.org/2012/04/05/apn-at-5th-geoss-ap-symposium/ IPCC Publishes Special Report, APN Work Cited The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) recently published a special report on Managing the Risks of Extreme Events and Disasters to Advance Climate Change Adaptation (SREX). The report, produced by IPCC Working Groups I and II, is the outcome of cross-disciplinary teamwork between scientists studying the physical aspects of climate change, scientists with expertise in impacts, adaptation and vulnerability as well as experts in disaster risk management. Work of the APN funded project "City at Risk: Developing Adaptive Capacity for Climate Change in Asia's Coastal Megacities" (CBA2008-06NSY-Fuchs) is cited in Chapter 5, Managing the Risks from Climate Extremes at the Local Level, and Chapter 9, Case Studies, of the SREX report. Details: http://www.apn-gcr.org/2012/04/03/ipcc-publishes-special-report-apn-work-cited/ APN at Planet Under Pressure 2012, London, UK 29 March 2012, London, UK — The biggest gathering of global environmental change specialists in advance of the United Nations Rio+20 Summit, the Planet Under Pressure conference attracted over 3000 scientists and decision-makers across the world to discuss global challenges and offer new solutions. More than 3000 people participated online through video webcast and various social media platforms. Scientists issued State of the Planet Declaration that summarizes the key messages emerged from the conference. The APN, through its funding support to the conference, facilitated 26 scientists and policy-makers from its member countries to present their work through oral and poster presentations at the conference. We also hosted an exhibition at the conference, featuring the latest work undertaken by APN-funded projects in the Asia-Pacific Region. Details: http://www.apn-gcr.org/2012/03/30/apn-at-planet-under-pressure-2012/ Global Change Announcements Call for abstracts: International Conference on Climate, Water and Policy (ICCWP) 2012 The APEC Climate Centre (APCC) is planning to hold the 'International Conference on Climate, Water and Policy (ICCWP) 2012' for three days in September 2012 in Busan, Republic of Korea. The main objective of ICCWP is to promote the use of climate information for decision making in water resource management. While the APEC Climate Symposium (APCS) 2011 explored the use of climate information in agriculture, water resources management and energy efficiency on a broad level, APCC identified high demand for in-depth studies on each sector from the participants' feedback. As a progression of the last APCS, ICCWP will work more deeply on climate applications in the water sector. Details: http://www.apn-gcr.org/2012/04/06/call-for-abstracts-international-conference-on-climate-water-and-policy-iccwp-2012/	Upcoming events 10th International Conference on Southern Hemisphere Meteorology and Oceanography: Changing southern climates (10ICSHMO) When: Mon Apr 23, 2012 to Fri Apr 27, 2012  Where: Noumea, New-Caledonia 7th MAIRS Scientific Steering Committee Meeting When: Mon Apr 23, 2012 to Tue Apr 24, 2012  Where: Zhangjiajie City, Hunan Province, China Workshop on "Developing Asian Megacities toward a Sustainable World" When: Wed Apr 25, 2012 to Fri Apr 27, 2012  Where: Zhangjiajie City, Hunan Province, China SOLAS Open Science Conference When: Mon May 7, 2012 to Thu May 10, 2012  Where: Cle Elum, WA, USA Resilient Cities 2012 When: Sat May 12, 2012 to Tue May 15, 2012  Where: Bonn, Germany 36th sessions of the Subsidiary Body for Implementation (SBI) & the Subsidiary Body for Scientific and Technological Advice (SBSTA) When: Mon May 14, 2012 to Fri May 25, 2012  Where: Maritim Hotel, Bonn Second New Commons Workshop with APN, DIVERSITAS, IHDP and UNU-ISP When: Mon May 28, 2012 to Wed May 30, 2012  View all events
APN Secretariat, East Building, 4F, 1-5-2 Wakinohama Kaigan Dori, Chuo-ku, Kobe 651-0073, Japan Tel : +81-78-230-8017 | Fax: +81-78-230-8018 Website: http://www.apn-gcr.org | Follow us on Facebook

Workshop on Uncertainty in Climate Change Research, August 6-17, NCAR, Boulder, CO, USA

Announcing the IMAGe, NCAR Theme of the Year Workshop on Uncertainty in Climate Change Research: An Integrated Approach, August 6 - 17, NCAR,
Boulder, CO.
Uncertainty is present in all phases of climate change research from the physical science (e.g., projections of future climate) to the impacts through to the effort to make decisions regarding mitigation and adaptation across different spatial scales. This theme will embrace all aspects of uncertainty in climate change research, providing a pedagogic whole for students, post-docs, and early career scientists interested in any and all aspects of climate change. One central focus will be the need to understand the strands of uncertainty throughout the climate change problem in order to focus effectively in any one area.
Students, post-docs and early career scientists are invited to apply.
For more information and to apply, please visit:
https://www2.image.ucar.edu/event/uncertainty-climate-change-research-integrated-approach