International Conference on Green Economy and Sustainable Mountain Development: Opportunities and Challenges in View of Rio+20
Introduction:
The “International Conference on Green Economy and Sustainable Mountain Development: Opportunities and Challenges in View of Rio+20,” organized by the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD), with support from the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) and the International Development Research Center (IDRC), will be held in Kathmandu, Nepal, from September 5-7, 2011.
Although the conference will address issues concerning all mountain systems of the world, its special focus will be on developing countries and particularly on the Hindu Kush-Himalayan Region, where the potential for development of low-carbon growth is huge.
Mountain people are among the poorest in the world, particularly in the Hindu Kush-Himalayan region. The major contributing factors to poverty in mountain regions are a fragile environment and the inaccessibility and marginalization of the mountain people. The Hindu Kush-Himalayan Region is one of the largest and least studied mountain regions in the world. It is shared between eight countries, and 10 large river systems originate in the region, providing ecosystem services that benefit over one billion people in the downstream areas.
Conference Structure:
- The first part will be a two-day workshop in which plenary sessions, panels, and working groups will present and discuss the issues of green economy, sustainable mountain development, the contribution of mountain ecosystem services to the green economy, and emerging opportunities and challenges for mountain goods and services in the context of the green economy paradigm.
- In the second part, a broader range of policy makers and experts will discuss and refine the policy-relevant messages developed by the workshop.
- The conference will conclude with agreement on key policy messages and a road map to promote the mountain agenda in the upcoming Rio+20 Conference.
Conference Takeaways:
- A common understanding about the scope of the green economy, its relevance, and the challenges and opportunities for mountain regions;
- A framework and rationale for a green economy in which developing and less developed mountain regions capture the benefits of mountain ecosystem services and ensure these services for sustainable development in the mountains and beyond;
- Enhanced understanding and recognition of mountain ecosystem services, and their inclusion in national accounts and policies;
- Positioning of the green economy agenda in relation to mountain systems, and an outline of a road map for the Rio+20 conference and other regional and international for a;
- Actionable inputs for policy development for green growth in the countries of the Hindu Kush-Himalayas.
Who Should Attend?
The conference will bring together a broad range of stakeholders – government representatives, scientists, private sector, civil society, policy makers and international organizations. Key international organizations such as ADB, FAO, GIZ, the Green Economic Coalition, IFAD, IDRC, IIED, TEEB, the Third World Network, UNEP, UNEP/GRID-Arendal, and the World Bank are potential partners.
The following categories of representation are expected:
- Officials of ICIMOD Regional Member Countries
- Regional and international experts
- International organisations and donors
- Private sector, NGOs and civil society
- Other mountain regions
About ICIMOD:
The International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD) is a regional knowledge development and learning centre serving the eight regional member countries of the Hindu Kush-Himalayas – Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, China, India, Myanmar, Nepal, and Pakistan – and based in Kathmandu, Nepal. Globalization and climate change have an increasing influence on the stability of fragile mountain ecosystems and the livelihoods of mountain people. ICIMOD aims to assist mountain people to understand these changes, adapt to them, and make the most of new opportunities, while addressing upstream-downstream issues. For more information, visit www.icimod.org.
Contact Details:
Website: http://www.icimod.org/?q=3729
