Australian Leadership Awards (ALA) Fellowship
“DEVELOPING PROACTIVE POLICY AND PRACTICE FOR LAND AND
WATER MANAGEMENT RESPONSIVE TO CLIMATE CHANGE”
Monday 5 July to Friday 9 July, 2010
‘Treetops’, Melbourne Museum
~ PROCEEDINGS ~
About the ALA
AusAID is supporting this initiative as part of its Australian Leadership Awards (ALA) Fellowships program.
AusAID supports senior fellows from participating institutions in South Asia to come to Monash University
for six weeks to participate in collaborative workshops and discussion activities addressing the theme:
“Developing proactive policy and practice for land and water management responsive to climate change”.
The immediate benefit will be improved knowledge and understanding based on a shared understanding of
current climate change issues. Particular challenges include: population growth; increasing resource
demand; disaster management; community development; water resource allocation; government to
government communication; knowledge management; and the linking of these issues (among others) to
climate change. The primary goal is to strengthen institutional capacity for education and research in
relevant disciplines and to encourage an integrated (multi-disciplinary) approach to climate change
adaptation and mitigation. A further goal is to develop and co-ordinate curriculum/research programs
addressing climate change policy development and application. This co-ordination will draw on strengths
(particularly in key disciplines) identified in participating institutions (as part of an established network of
South Asian universities). Monash University is well placed to assist, given its international profile in relevant
disciplines and its long standing and well established linkages with universities in the region, through its
Monash Asia Institute. Apart from the Forum, the ALAF program will include other collaborative activities in
collaboration with Monash University through its Faculties.
ALA Objectives
AusAID manages the ALA - a regional awards program that focuses on developing leaders in the Asia
Pacific region. ALA has two components: Fellowships and Scholarships. ALA Fellowships are offered to
Australian organisations to host current leaders and/or midcareer professionals from countries within the
Asia Pacific who are in positions to make short to medium term advances on issues of regional
development importance. The purpose of ALA Fellowships is to provide these current leaders or mid-career
professionals with high quality, flexible, responsive and continuing access to Australian ideas or expertise.
Supported by:
Summary of Presentations
CLIMATE CHANGE: THE INTERNATIONAL CONTEXT
Professor Dave Griggs
Monash Sustainability Institute, Monash University
Clayton, Victoria, Australia
Evidence for human-induced global warming has consolidated necessitating an urgent and co-ordinated
mitigation response. Impacts on agriculture, biodiversity, human infrastructure, health, and land/water
ecosystems are expected to be severe. Millennium development goals will be challenged by climate
change. Global efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions (particularly CO2) must be strengthened
(particularly in developed countries) to mitigate climate change impacts.
CONSUMPTION TRADEOFF VS. CATASTROPHES AVOIDANCE: IMPLICATIONS OF SOME RECENT RESULTS IN
HAPPINESS STUDIES ON THE ECONOMICS OF CLIMATE CHANGE
Professor Yew-Kwang Ng
Department of Economics, Faculty of Business and Economics, Monash University
Clayton, Victoria, Australia
Focus on catastrophic climate change and application of economic evaluation of consequences justifies
immediate and strong actions to reduce carbon emissions. The Stern review on the economics of climate
change adopted an annual uncertainty discount rate of 0.1 per cent. This rate is high and indicates relatively
low probability of future human survival (i.e. less than 40 per cent chance of survival within 1000 years). The
higher probability of extinction due to climate change (global warming) should increase our willingness to
sacrifice our present consumption to avoid or reduce global warming as this will reduce the probability of
human extinction.
CLIMATE CHANGE: A BANGLADESH PERSPECTIVE
Professor Muhammed Alamgir
Department of Civil Engineering
Khulna University of Engineering and Technology
Khulna, Bangladesh
Bangladesh is already experiencing climate change impacts, with floods, saline incursion, storms, and
droughts expected to increase in severity. The United Nations Development Program (UNDP) has identified
Bangladesh as the most vulnerable country to tropical cyclones and the sixth most vulnerable to floods.
Most of the country is low-lying coastal land comprising mainly the deltas of the Ganges and Brahmaputra
rivers. Floodplains occupy 80 per cent of the country. Monsoonal rainfall patterns expose Bangladesh to
extreme floods during the wet season and crippling droughts during the dry season. Flooding of major river
catchments is accentuated by tidal and coastal inundation causing backwater effects. Sea level rise can
also threaten important coastal ecosystems including the Sundarban wetlands.
ROLE OF HIGH ALTITUTE HYDROLOGICAL CONDITIONS IN REGULATING THE DOWNSTREAM FLOW REGIMES OF
HIMALAYAN RIVERS
Mr Shresth Tayal
The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI)
New Delhi, India
The Ganges and Brahmaputra river systems are supported by the Himalayan cryosphere, which is
vulnerable to climate change. The glacial component of the mean discharge of the Ganges is 9.1 per cent
and of the Brahmaputra is 12.3 per cent of the total respectively. There is a lack data for upper catchments
compromising regional forecasts. Ongoing research will initiate high altitude monitoring; development of real
time data; integration with information available from Nepal (responsive to the Ganga basin); and develop a
regional model of the river flow regime integrating field data with satellite data.
AGRICULTURE, COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT AND CLIMATE CHAGNE: AN INDIAN PERSPECTIVE
Dr Indrani Chakraborty
Institute of Development Studies, Kolkata (IDSK)
Kolkata, India
Agriculture is declining in economic importance in India (now less than 20 per cent of GDP compared with
more than 50 per cent in the 1950s) but is linked to poverty reduction strategies. More than 65 per cent of
the population depends on agriculture for their livelihood. Climate change will impact on economic yields
particularly for subsistence agriculture. Changes in temperature and rainfall will affect vegetation types and
cropping calendars. Rising CO2 concentrations could have a positive effect on agriculture. Micro-level
adaptation options include diversification and intensification of crop production, changing land use, and
irrigation. Technological developments could include development and promotion of new crop varieties and
hybrids, and development of water management techniques (e.g. irrigation, conservation of tillage).
COMMUNITY BASED ADAPTATION TO CLIMATE CHANGE: THE BANGLADESH CASE
Professor Tasneem Siddiqui
Refugee and Migratory Movements Research Unit (RMMRU)
University of Dhaka
Dhaka, Bangladesh
Migration is an important consideration in climate change particularly in exposed countries such as
Bangladesh. It is a key livelihood strategy of char dwellers (sand bank based populations in major river
basins). Most char dwellers are migrants (80-95%). Migration will occur co-incident with inundation of lowlying coastal lands through floods and sea level rise. Acute impacts of climate change will also include
cyclones and damage to infrastructure. A community adaptation strategy is needed to avoid problematic
migration issues (displacement).
PAST, PRESENT AND FUTURE OF COMMUNITY FORESTRY IN THE GANGETIC BASIN, INDIA
Professor Ajit Banerjee
Institute of Development Studies, Kolkata (IDSK)
Kolkata, India
The total forest biomass is decreasing in India. Joint forest management can exemplify best practice in land
use and avoid problems with land degradation. Community forestry is forest management by the rural
community, composed of a group of neighbours on the forest fringe or individuals with a common goal.
Climate change is likely to impact native forests including: a northern shift of mangrove populations; die
back of intolerant species (e.g. poplars); dry deciduous forests changing to spiny, scrubby forests; and
reduced productivity and economic decline of forest dependent communities.
CHANGES IN BIOTIC COMMUNITY OF SUNDERBAN MANGROVE WETLAND, INDIA: ENVIRONMENTAL STRESS AND
CLIMATE CHANGE PERSPECTIVES
Professor S.K. Sarkar
Department of Marine Science
University of Calcutta
Kolkata, India
The Sundarban mangrove wetland is an important coastal ecosystem shared by India and Bangladesh. It is
vulnerable to climate change including increased severity and frequency of cyclones and coastal inundation
(sea level rise). The Sundarban wetland is a rich store of biological and genetic diversity and is recognised
as a global biodiversity hotspot. Its vegetation is an important carbon sink and threats to the viability of the
wetland have global consequences. Other threats include: pollution from industrial and agricultural sources;
land use change (e.g. excavation of land, deforestation); and shrimp collection (for aquaculture). Heavy
metal pollution of Sundarban sediments can also threaten the ecosystem and human health.
URBAN DEVELOPMENT AND CLIMATE CHANGE
Professor Nigel Tapper
School of Geography and Environmental Science
Faculty of Arts, Monash University
Clayton, Victoria, Australia
Increased urbanisation will create heat island issues in major cities in the tropics. This will compound climate
change impacts resulting in human health issues (e.g. increased morbidity during heat waves). Proactive
intervention in infrastructure design and construction can assist, particularly given increasing trends towards
urbanisation in Asia. Links to water sensitive cities provides a framework for integrated development and a
proactive response to climate change in the design and construction of new cities.
COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT IN THE LOWER GANGETIC BASIN: A STUDY OF “CHARS” (BARS) IN WEST BENGAL
Dr Jenia Mukherjee
Institute of Development Studies, Kolkata (IDSK)
Kolkata, India
Changes to riverine hydrology and sedimentology are affecting itinerant populations on river banks (chars) in
the Gangetic Basin. Climate change will influence impacts as will changes to river flows caused by dams
and barrages. With the construction of the Farakka barrage on the Ganges, rates of sedimentation and
erosion have changed creating new chars in Malda and Murshidabad. The appearance, disappearance and
reappearance of charlands in Panchanandapore in Malda district have become a regular phenomenon.
Char dwellers therefore are confronted with poverty and insecurity. The erosion and resultant homelessness
cause an oversupply of agricultural labour in the fertile chars resulting in very low wages for char dwellers.
Further issues include: lack of clean water, education, and basic health services. Climate change and
expansion of irrigation schemes is likely to put further pressure on char dwellers with a disproportional
impact on women and children. This will require a co-ordinated and integrated response from riparian
states.
CLIMATE CHANGE IMPACTS ON SURFACE WATER: A BANGLADESH PERSPECTIVE
Dr Md. Shahjahan Ali
Civil Engineering Department
Khulna University of Engineering and Technology
Khulna, Bangladesh
Changes in tidal magnitude will affect riverine discharge rates and influence saline incursion in major river
systems in Bangladesh. Climate change impacts, including sea level rise and ice melts in upper catchments,
will influence the hydrology of major river systems in South Asia. This is particularly important for catchment
management in Bangladesh in which most water (more than 70 per cent) comes from transboundary
sources (international rivers). Sources of drinking water include ground water, which is the main source of
water in urban and rural areas. Ground water resources become depleted during the dry season and
climate change impacts could result in critical water shortages.
CITIES AS WATER SUPPLY CATCHMENTS
Professor Ana Deletic
Centre for Water Sensitive Cities
Department of Civil Engineering, Monash University
Clayton, Victoria, Australia
A transition to water sensitive cities is needed to capture waste/storm water for use during expected water
shortages accompanying urbanisation/climate change. Infrastructural development of cities can be
frustrated by: a lack of a common vision; institutional fragmentation; undefined organisational
responsibilities; limited political incentives and disincentives; poor organisational commitment; technological
path dependency; poor community capacity to participate; and lack of experience with facilitating integrated
management processes. A co-ordinated approach to new infrastructural development can assist in costeffectively harvesting storm water while maintaining essential ecosystem services (e.g. stream ecology) and
responding proactively to human health issues (e.g. pathogens, toxic contaminants). Such development can
also assist in flood mitigation particularly in those Asian cities increasingly exposed to extremes of wet and
dry (in monsoonal climates).
CLIMATE CHANGE AND THE PROSPECTS OF CDM FRAMWORK IN SOLVING MSW PROBLEMS IN BANGLADESH
Professor Muhammed Alamgir
Civil Engineering Department
Khulna University of Engineering and Technology
Khulna, Bangladesh
Waste generation and disposal is becoming increasingly problematic in dense urban environments in Asia.
Carbon emissions from municipal solid waste (MSW) are significant (2753 Gg/year CO2 for Dhaka). Clean
development mechanism (CDM) is the only mechanism that involves developing countries (i.e. non Annex 1
or Non Annex B); by which Annex 1 countries can achieve part of their greenhouse gas emission reduction
obligations through investment projects in developing countries. Waste management presents as a
significant and cost effective means of reducing CO2 emissions in Bangladesh and gaining valuable certified
emission reductions. Managing MSW can also be aligned to electricity cogeneration (through utilisation of
methane from land fill sites). Methane emissions can also be reduced by diverting the MSW to a sorting and
composting plant, which will recover the recyclable portion of the waste and convert it to marketable
fertiliser.
LIFE CYCLE ASSESSMENT: AN ENVIRONMENTAL EVALUATION TOOL FOR CARBON FOOTPRINTS AND MORE
Dr Nawshad Haque
Process Science and Engineering
CSIRO
Clayton, Victoria, Australia
Climate change impact is a function of population, affluence, and technology. With population and affluence
increasing, technological solutions are needed.
HEALTH, WATER AND CLIMATE CHANGE
Dr Martha Sinclair
School of Public Health and Preventative Medicine
Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences, Monash University
Clayton, Victoria, Australia
Climate change will create health issues linked to water. Catchment protection is needed to reduce impact
of pollutants on human health. Surface water is always vulnerable to microbial contaminants. Ground water
may be less vulnerable but dependent on the depth of aquifer and type of bore/well construction. Water
reticulation systems will need to accompany urban development particularly in large Asian cities responsive
to monsoonal climates. Climate change will bring more prolonged droughts and more intense rainfall events.
There will also be changes in water borne pathogens caused by climate change. Proactive management of
water from source to supply is needed to address health issues particularly in urban environments.
CLIMATE CHANGE AND HEALTH
Associate Professor Karin Leder
Head of Infectious Disease Epidemiology Unit
Department of Epidemiology and Preventative Medicine
School of Public Health and Preventative Medicine, Monash University
Clayton, Victoria, Australia
The co-existence of a range of factors makes it difficult to isolate climate change impacts on health.
Changes will include food borne, vector borne and air borne pathogens and influence community health
issues. Direct health effects include: physiological effects due to extremes of temperature; increased
extreme weather events (fires, floods, cyclones, droughts) and increased exposure to air pollution. Indirect
effects include changes in the ecology of infectious agents (e.g. mosquitoes, rodents) and mental health
stress.
MEDICAL ISSUES IN CLIMATE CHANGE: CASE STUDY IN WEST BENGAL
Professor Gordon Whyte
Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences, Monash University
Clayton, Victoria, Australia
Cases studies in vulnerable communities offer opportunities to identify and to respond to climate change
impacts e.g. the Suri study. Socio-economic vulnerabilities identified at Suri included: scheduled castes or
tribes; land ownership and loss of traditional habitats; employment opportunities; limited education access
and opportunity; low financial reserves; and corruption. Vulnerabilities to climate change include: variation in
monsoonal rainfall patterns (delayed onset of monsoonal rains); poor health and education infrastructure;
land degradation; and depleted ground water. Maternal and infant mortality are consequences of existing
vulnerability and climate change is expected to further impact on socio-economic indicators including
poverty, nutrition, and human health. Building resilience to climate change is an important goal and should
include empowerment to provide: safe and reliable water supplies; village level health workers; local regional
health workforce; immunisation; and local teachers. Communication of issues to inform policy is also an
important component of an integrated approach to address climate change at the community level.
NATURAL RESOURCES IN INDIA: SOME ISSUES IN VALUATION AND POLICY
Dr Anirban Ganguly
The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI)
New Delhi, India
Natural resources can be valued and a comparative evaluation of alternative land use can aid policy
formulation and implementation (e.g. forest resources in India). Valuation of ecosystem services remains
problematic in evaluating trade offs of alternative uses (e.g. forestry versus urban development). Forest
cover in India has stabilised but changes in forest composition (canopy density) have included an increase in
open forest cover. Emerging interest in REDD/REDD plus has focused attention on valuation mechanisms
as climate change mitigation mechanisms include aforestation measures. Illustration of valuation
mechanisms is provided by a case study of Himachal Pradesh in northern India. Forest values include: fuel
wood, non timber forest products, and grazing. Poorer villages in the study area had higher forest
dependence (i.e. forest income as a proportion of total income). Policies relating to land use change
(including India’s National Action Plan for Climate Change) should be based on a comparison of values of
forest lost and the benefits gained.
DIVERSITY OF AGENTS USING LAND FOR FORESTY IN INDIA
Professor Ajit Banerjee
Institute of Development Studies, Kolkata (IDSK)
Kolkata, India
Changes in forest and land management have occurred in India linked to population growth, agriculture,
and climate change. Community-based forest management is needed for effective land management.
National parks can play a role but is divisive in public policy setting. Total forest area in India has increased
but forest degradation is also increasing. This can affect the beneficial uses of the forest (including
conservation of biodiversity). Joint forest management offers opportunities for community involvement in
forestry consistent with diverse usage of forest resources.
COMMUNITY BASED ADAPTATION IN BANGLADESH: A GLOBAL INITIATIVE AT LOCAL LEVEL
Professor Aka Firowz Ahmad
Department of Public Administration
University of Dhaka
Dhaka, Bangladesh
Bangladesh is among the most exposed nations to climate change impacts including catastrophic floods
and coastal zone inundation. An emphasis on Bangladesh’s response is therefore necessarily adaptation.
Indigenous knowledge is useful in developing community-based adaptation strategies for climate change.
Building resilience at community level to climate change impacts is an important component of national
policy initiatives in Bangladesh.
THE GEOPOLITICS OF BUILDING DAMS: THE PERILOUS TRAJECTORY OF CONTROLLING WATER
Dr Sharif N. As-Saber
Department of Management
Faculty of Business and Economics, Monash University
Clayton, Victoria, Australia
Geopolitical issues are important in influencing catchment management strategies in response to climate
change (e.g. the Brahmaputra intersects with a number of countries including China and India). Resolution
of potential or actual conflicts in water resource allocation will become increasingly important as population
growth and climate change intersect to create shortages of water. In addition to these factors, major dams
will affect the beneficial uses of downstream states and, in extreme circumstances, result in major conflict.
Geopolitical issues must be recognised and constructively resolved, given emerging information on climate
change impacts, through an integrated and collaborative approach to catchment management.
LAND AND WATER POLICY FOR CLIMATE CHANGE: KNOWLEDGE MANAGEMENT
Dr Henry Linger
Centre for Organisational and Social Informatics
Faculty of Information Technology, Monash University
Clayton, Victoria, Australia
Knowledge management is essential to build a collaborative response among agencies to climate change
issues. Engagement involves a diversity and multiplicity of stakeholders resolving often contradictory
objectives beyond national borders. Challenges include building a shared understanding of information and
structures for collective decision making. Knowledge management includes structural issues (e.g.
organisational design; technology infrastructure, and information infrastructure). It also includes functional
dimensions including traditional discipline-based knowledge sources (e.g. literature) and information
consolidation mechanisms (e.g. models). Traditional stakeholder interactions (e.g. researchers,
legislators/policy makers, community) are not well developed, leading to conflicting approaches to important
policy issues (e.g. climate change). Knowledge management offers a systemic approach to information
sharing (including traditional or indigenous knowledge) to promote a shared understanding of climate
change issues.
KNOWLEDGE MANAGEMENT FOR PROACTIVE COLLABORATION ON CLIMATE CHANGE
Dr Paul McShane
Monash Sustainability Institute, Monash University
Clayton, Victoria, Australia
A harmonised response among agencies is essential for effective land and water management given likely
climate change scenarios. Current AusAID funded work on integrated catchment management in Indonesia,
Viet Nam and India has revealed poor communication among responsive agencies. The work aims to
encourage a proactive response to climate change by building multidisciplinary capacity in integrated
catchment management and by developing cost-effective adaptation strategies. Parallel processes in Asia
include: population increase and concentration in urban environments; health issues arising from high
density living and poor water quality; a transition from agriculture to industry to support economic growth;
land clearing for development; and climate change. Conflict among and between agencies/states can be
reduced by applying a knowledge management approach. Knowledge management is the systematic
management of information to develop strategy and to guide practice. It co-ordinates diverse information
streams including formal (e.g. science) and informal (e.g. local lore, traditional knowledge). It promotes a
shared understanding of the problem (e.g. climate change) and it can assist in identifying integrated
solutions (from central government to local community). The case studies have revealed a need to: harness
collaborative capability across relevant disciplines; and to apply knowledge management to develop and
inform reliable systemic models.
CARBON PRICING ISSUES
Mr Gujji Muthuswamy
Faculty of Business and Economics, Monash University
Clayton, Victoria, Australia
A carbon price is needed to encourage emissions reduction behaviour among consumers. Emissions
trading schemes can introduce “caps” on emissions and reward firms with proactive greenhouse gas
reduction schemes.
SHIFTING CULTIVATION, TRIBAL PEOPLE AND CLIMATE CHANGE WITH SPECIAL REFERENCE TO NORTHEAST INDIA
Dr Malobika Das Gupta
Honorary Associate, Centre for Urban Economic Studies
Department of Economics
University of Calcutta
Kolkata, India
Shifting cultivation patterns can influence agricultural productivity. Linkage of agricultural practices,
indigenous knowledge and climate change is needed to respond effectively to agro-forestry challenges.
Various Indian states have addressed shifting cultivation patterns. In Assam, soil conservation schemes
have been introduced to settle shifting cultivators through permanent cultivation. In Arunachal Pradesh,
reclamation and development of land for permanent cultivation has been facilitated by providing permanent
irrigation facilities. Integrated catchment management schemes have been introduced by liking agriculture,
horticulture, forestry and animal husbandry to land use classification. In Manipur and Nagaland, 1 to 2 ha of
wetland terrace has been allocated to families for permanent cultivation. Similarly, dry land (as well as wet
land) has been allocated for horticulture to shifting cultivator families in Meghalaya and Mizoram. In Tripura,
the Forest Department engaged shifting cultivators as wage earners in rubber plantation established in
degraded forest lands.
SYSTEMIC MANAGEMENT, ECOLOGICAL RISK ASSESSMENT AND BAYESIAN NETWORKS
Dr Terry Chan
Water Studies Centre and Monash Sustainability Institute, Monash University
Clayton, Victoria, Australia
Ecological risk assessment linked to Bayesian networks is a good way of visualising links among systemic
variables (e.g. evaluating catchment level responses to climate change). This is particularly useful in
engaging stakeholders in problem identification and evaluation of alternative policy options. Bayesian
networks present relationships among variables including those socio-economic and bio-physical variables
responsive to climate change impacts at regional scales (e.g. catchments). Current AusAID funded work in
Indonesia, India and Viet Nam is developing frameworks utilising existing hydrodynamic models (e.g.
Ciliwung catchment, Java) and linking socio-economic inputs (e.g. agriculture, forestry, urban development)
to evaluate the consequences of likely climate change scenarios (e.g. extremes of wet and dry). These
frameworks can also inform research targeted at addressing gaps (e.g. regional climate models), linking
land use change to hydrological/climate models, and economic models applicable to catchments.
FOREST CARBON AND LAND USE CHANGE: WHY SYSTEMIC ANALYSIS IS NEEDED TO ILLUMINATE A KEY POTENTIAL
PATHOLOGY
Dr Andrew Cock
Monash Asia Institute and Monash Sustainability Institute, Monash University
Clayton, Victoria, Australia
Changes to traditional forest usage are compromising social and environmental integrity. Current foci on
aforestation (e.g. REDD) to reduce emissions from forest degradation is leading to the replacement of
natural forest ecosystems with plantations. A systemic analysis is needed to influence forest and land
management consistent with sustainable development opportunities. Unresolved issues include: how policy
interventions are adapted; what groups will be empowered; and how will benefits (from alternative forest
management policies) be captured. Ongoing research in Cambodia, Viet Nam, India, and Indonesia will
focus on these issues.
ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY IN
SNAG
BANGLADESH: A CASE STUDY OF AN AMBITIOUS POLICY WITH IMPLEMENTATION
Professor Salahuddin M. Aminuzzaman
Department of Public Administration
University of Dhaka
Dhaka, Bangladesh
Communities have to be engaged in any policy response to climate change. Government and institutional
issues (legal and regulatory frameworks) must be harmonised for an effective response. In spite of political
instability, natural disasters and environmental challenges, Bangladesh has made significant progress in
socio-economic indicators. However, key constraints for effective implementation of policy include:
inconsistency (environmental policies not always complementary to other policies); lack of
interagency/intersectoral co-ordination (neither policy or law presents clear operational guidelines for such
co-ordination); lack of regulatory and institutional capacity; many environmental laws (200) are outdated
(70%); operational rules for effective policy implementation have not been formulated; lack of funding and
investment for policy implementation; the Department of Environment (responsible for implementing
environmental policy) lacks human and physical resources; and a general lack of participation of the
community in policy development and implementation. Knowledge management presents a framework to
address the identified deficiencies in policy development and implementation.
ADDRESSING CLIMATE CHALLENGES: BANGLADESH GOVERNMENT INITIATIVE IN THE CONTEXT OF SUSTAINABLE
DEVELOPMENT
Professor C.R. Abrar
Refugee and Migratory Movements Research Unit (RMMRU)
University of Dhaka
Dhaka, Bangladesh
Bangladesh has among the smallest areas of protected and intact forest in the world. Most Bangladeshis
(70%) depend on natural resources (wetlands and forests) for their livelihoods. Degradation of natural
capital/biodiversity will compromise effectiveness of poverty reduction strategies. Sustainable development
programs require: participatory management of the environment; accountable and transparent governance;
and conservative land management policies. Current government policies have focused on adaptation
mechanisms including flood levies and cyclone shelters. Improved co-ordination among participating
agencies is needed for an effective adaptive response to climate change including the conservation of
natural resources.
DISASTER RISK REDUCTION, CLIMATE CHANGE AND MAINSTREAM PROGRAMMATIC INTERVENTIONS IN
BANGLADESH: AN OVERVIEW
Dr Niaz Ahmed Khan
Professor of Development Studies
University of Dhaka
Dhaka, Bangladesh
There are competing needs in climate change adaptation. In Bangladesh there is a link between disaster
risk reduction (e.g. cyclones and floods) and climate change (e.g. developing a long-term response
including benefits). Even so, they remain isolated at a practical level. Government must be actively engaged
in the process. The Bangladesh climate change strategy and action plan (2009) is built on six pillars: food
security, social protection and health; comprehensive disaster management; infrastructure; research and
knowledge management; mitigation and low carbon development; and capacity building and institutional
strengthening.
FOREIGN AID AND NATURAL DISASTERS: THE FALLACY OF THE GOOD SAMARITAN AND HIS DILEMMA
1
Dr Paul A. Raschy and Dr Manijeh Schwindt
1
Department of Economics
Faculty of Business and Economics
Monash University
Clayton, Victoria, Australia
2
Institute of Public Finance
University of Innsbruck
Innsbruck, Austria
2
Aid programs can compromise risk reduction strategies in adapting to climate change. More than 90 per
cent of all disaster fatalities (1980–2004) have occurred in aid receiving nations. The findings of two
empirical studies of disaster aid reveal that countries are less likely to reduce the risk of disaster so as to
attract financial aid benefits. Furthermore, donor behaviour is not always driven by humanitarian motives
(e.g. political, military or strategic motives may be more important). A co-ordinated and realistic response is
needed to identify effective protective measures particularly given the likely increase in natural disasters,
associated with climate change.