Research and Policy Forum on Climate Change and Environment in the Arab
World
The Research and Policy Forum on Climate Change and
Environment in the Arab World was launched in February 2008 as a prototype
of the IFI's goal of bringing together AUB's significant research and analysis
capabilities with the public policy-making needs of the Arab world. Over 20
faculty members at AUB whose research touches on climate change and environment
issues are becoming involved with the program, with several having already
presented their research and policy recommendations at the program's inaugural
Spring Lecture
Series on The Impact of Climate Change on the Arab World.The Lecture
Series brought together eight different scholars, researchers, and policy-makers
to explore a range of climate change issues including water resources
management, carbon trading in the Middle East, public-private partnerships for
climate change legislation, and the role of Arab countries in post-Kyoto
policies. The lectures provided a launching pad for the program, as it develops
into a permanent mechanism that aims to:
- Establish and maintain a central database of all pertinent
research and researchers on climate change-related issues
in the Arab region.
- Organize regular meetings among researchers, government
officials, and relevant institutions in the private sector,
civil society, and the international community, to exchange
technical findings, identify gaps in our knowledge base
on the extent and implications of climate change in this
region, and initiate, coordinate and disseminate new research
projects.
- Through research studies, identify the cross-sectoral
implications of expected likely climate change scenarios, in
fields like Water, Agriculture, Rural livelihoods, Food
trade, Energy, Transport, Air pollution, Public health,
International law and policy-making, Urbanism/migration,
Biodiversity, Employment and Economy.
- Work together to define the most appropriate policy recommendations
that could mitigate the negative impact of climate change,
and share these suggestions with pertinent officials in
parliaments, the executive branch, government agencies,
the media, educators and others involved in implementing
or influencing public policy in Arab countries.
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