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Abstracts
Panel Title: Climate Change Negotiation: Debriefing of Copenhagen COP-15
Challenges of social and spatial inequity and opportunities for CSOs in South Asia
Avanish Kumar*
South Asia accomplishments on Millennium Development Goals in order of descending progress are reduction in maternal mortality and CO2 emissions, access to water supply rural, infant mortality, malnutrition, sanitation rural, primary enrollment, forest cover, 1 poverty, HIV prevalence, gender primary and most progressed on gender secondary education. The paradox of choice and option according to the Human Development report, are that 15 per cent of the world’s population accounts for 50 per cent CO2 emissions. While the stabilization cost from 2009-2030 amount 1.6 per cent of GDP which is less than two thirds of global military spending. The cost of inaction could be 5-20 % of world GDP (2009, Human Development Report). To reverse this current trend, it would require a combined force of inertia and cumulative outcomes within and with neighboring countries. Primarily because there is no rapid rewind, experiential human tragedy is interrelated, and collective action is not an option but an imperative. Though at a global level the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) provides strategic insight, South Asia requires bridging the gap between scientific evidences, local political response and a comprehensive long-term development framework.
It is true that politically, economically and technologically, the world has never seemed freer but at the same time there is more inequity. This inequity in Climate Change defies human development and fundamental rights for future generations. Climate change and its impact on poorer and vulnerable countries fits into the agenda of international communities on grounds of equity. Equity is also the principle source of dialogue on Climate Change but there is some debate on the definition of equity. In the absence of a comprehensive definition of equity in climate change, the dialogue is conflicting on strategies to mitigate environmental debt created by the developed world. The failure of Copenhagen is one such expected outcome.
The paper attempts to analyze equity in the context of South Asia’s development challenges due to social and spatial inequality and thus opportunities created for CSOs. The three basic principles of inequity are; it is avoidable, it is unfair and it is beyond individual control. Equity in Climate Change (ECC) can therefore be defined as the absence of systematic disparities in Policy, Technology, Institution and Aid-action (PITA) between inter and intra countries. ECC addresses policies and technologies that are unnecessary, avoidable and unfair. Having the institutional power to influence decisions over how resources for Climate Change are shared and allocated, ECC does not set out to eliminate all Climate Change differences so that everyone has the same level of opportunities but rather ECC is committed to reducing or eliminating those factors that are considered to be both avoidable and unfair. ECC is therefore concerned with creating equal opportunities by bringing PITA differentials down to the lowest levels possible.
The focus on PITA differentials should be inequitable disparities across the geographical (spatial) region, rural/urban and provinces/states and social groups such as; tribal/racial groups, socio-economic status, gender and age. The voluntary sector is strategically placed to address these disparities by creating accountability on the government and business. Though civil society organizations in South Asia are addressing these issues individually, there is still little collective action of consequence. Presently the established and influential CSOs are experiencing a phase of self-exclusion and mutual expansion. Individual CSOs such as TERI, Development Alternatives, CSE and CEE in India, BCAS in Bangladesh and SDPI in Pakistan are progressive organizations. However they still encounter problems in creating a mechanism of collective action for comprehensive policy change in South Asia. A voluntary network of CSOs, Climate Action Network in South Asia (CANSA) is expanding its reach to CSO’s on a global level. The web of CANSA is expanding from a few national level CSOs to grassroots CSOs and international NGOs, such as Oxfam and Action Aid. While participating in national and international dialogue, these CSOs provide three incentives to its members: collective action provides material incentives such as rewards of money, knowledge products, and jobs; solidarity incentives or intangible rewards are available only to coalition members whereas purposive incentives become part of the accomplishments of the larger population. These CSOs, whether invited or not by the government, emphasize the participation and views of the poor. Undeniably they are seen as leaders in the international development policy dialogue. However, this is by no means unanimous. Some of the important factors behind lack of unanimity among these CSOs are heterogeneity in their size and scale of operations, sector of activity and approach, relationships to donors and more importantly due to lack of consistency of interpretation of key words in policy dialogues; one such key word is “equity”. As a result the components of CSOs differ in their important strategies, including vision, decision-making, implementation and benefit distribution. One of the fundamental challenges that every CSO is facing in moving towards collective action for equity in climate change is poised by a pertinent question; why should one incur costs for collective action when the benefit is provided to all regardless of who participates and contributes.
However, despite the above challenge, South Asia as a whole provides an integrated opportunity for collective action among CSOs to address climate change challenges of land, water, poverty and technology. These countries do require vibrant CSOs as an enabling instrument for promoting good governance. But in order to reduce the current divide within CSOs of the region, partner CSOs, specially thought leaders and change masters requires building structural conduciveness, a common belief system and quality control through social collateral or peer pressure. If this particular South Asian CSO strategic partnership becomes sustainable, it can create greater social and economic benefits for other countries, CSOs, and societies than any bilateral political and military partnership.
Reference:
Human Development Report (HDR) 2009
 *Dr. Avanish Kumar is an Associate Professor and Area Chair, Public Policy Management, Management Development Institute, Gurgaon, India.
Sustainable well-being and climate change in Pakistan: Case of Shigar Valley mountain ecosystem
Aneel Salman*
Climate Change is an important phenomenon in redefining the concept of development for both developing and developed worlds. It has now been established that it will affect marginalized social groups that depend on natural resources for economic sustenance. The paper explores the potential threats of climate change in the Northern Areas of Pakistan and suggests potential “adaptative” measures. The impact of climate change on Pakistan is likely to be severe. Sixty-five percent of Pakistan’s population, and two-thirds of its poor, live in rural areas. These areas will be the ones most affected by climate change and they will also be the most difficult to assess, plan for, and administer. Agricultural employment and income will likely be disrupted. In the decades to come much of the coastal areas of Pakistan will be submerged, water shortages will result from disappearing glaciers, and agricultural production will almost certainly be disrupted. These changes could lead to political instability, security concerns, and conflicts with neighboring countries. There is already a growing gap between rich and poor in Pakistan and climate change is likely to make this gap larger unless pre-emptive steps are taken.
The paper examines the ability of mountainous communities in Pakistan to manage the risks from climate change. Shigar valley in the Northern Area near the Central Karakoram National Park faces very different environmental threats from climate change. From the analysis of baseline geophysical data, field survey and in-depth interviews, the study documents current coping strategies and suggests best practices being followed in areas facing similar problems from South Asia.
 *Aneel Salman is a Fulbright Scholar, pursuing his doctorate in Ecological Economics at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, NY, USA. He is also a research fellow at the Center for Public Policy and Governance, Forman Christian University Pakistan.
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