ICARDA News

International Center for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas

P.O. Box 5466, Aleppo, Syria
Phone: (963-21) 2213433, 2213477, 2225112, 2225012
Fax: (963-21) 2213490, 2225105;
E-mail: ICARDA@CGIAR.ORG
Website: www.icarda.org
13 December 2007
Media contact: Surendra Varma (s.varma@CGIAR.ORG), Ravi R. Prasad (r.prasad@cgiar.org)
 
International Solidarity Conference on
Climate Change Strategies for African and Mediterranean Regions
The International Solidarity Conference on Climate Change Strategies for African and Mediterranean Regions was held in Tunis, Tunisia, 18-20 November. The conference was an initiative of the Government of Tunisia, with support from the governments of several countries, and from a host of regional and international organizations, including ICARDA. The Center was represented by Drs Mahmoud Solh, Richard Thomas, Mohammed El Mourid and Ali Nefzaoui.
Dr Mahmoud Solh (fourth from right) chaired a parallel workshop on ‘Tools to integrate adaptation in development’. Seated with him (from left to right) are: Mr Al-Hamandou Dorsooma from OSS, Mr Danielle Ponzi from the African Development Bank, Ms Khalida Bouzar from IFAD, Mr Abdessalam Kallala from OSS, Mr Karim Okka from the World Bank, Dr Richard Thomas from ICARDA, and Mr Karim Laraki from UNECA-North Africa.

The conference addressed climate change issues in relation to energy, infrastructure, natural resources, agriculture and the environment; as well as partnerships, solidarity and funding mechanisms. It aimed to engage all stakeholders in addressing vulnerability to and impacts of climate change in Africa and the Mediterranean; mainstream efforts to address climate change in development planning/funding, especially in Africa; upscale mitigation and adaptation measures at various levels; and agree on a common African and Mediterranean input for the Kyoto Protocol meeting to be held in Bali in December 2007.

There were 1400 participants, including ministers from Africa and the Mediterranean region, climate change experts, and representatives of international and regional organizations, donors, multilateral institutions, the private sector and civil society organizations.

The conference was opened by H.E. Mohamed Ghannouchi, Prime Minister of Tunisia. Opening addresses were made by Dr R.K. Pachauri, Nobel Peace Prize winner, IPCC Chairman and President of the World Sustainable Development Forum; and by Dr Yvo De Boer, Dr Ahmed Djoghlaf, and Dr Luc Gnacadja. The last three are UN Deputy General Secretaries, and Executive Secretary of key international bodies – UNFCCC, UNCBD and UNCCD, respectively. Short statements were made by 24 ministers and other leaders, who shared their perceptions on adaptation and mitigation at national, regional and international levels.
H.E. Prof. Abderrazak Daaloul (left), State Secretary at the Ministry of Agriculture, Tunisia; and Prof. Abdelaziz Mougou (right), President, IRESA, discussing Tunisia-ICARDA collaboration with Dr Mahmoud Solh.
Two major outputs were achieved: a Tunis Declaration (see box above), agreeing on a common regional input for the Bali meeting, and an action plan on an Integrated Climate Change Strategy in Africa and the Mediterranean.

The conference included a ministerial round table (involving ministers in charge of climate change issues and representatives of UN agencies and other international and regional organizations), seven parallel workshops focusing on specific technical issues, and plenary sessions.

ICARDA was strongly involved in the preparations for the conference, as a full member of the organizing committee. Dr Mahmoud Solh, Director General, made a series of significant contributions. He addressed the conference at the opening ceremony; participated in the Ministerial Roundtable Meeting; delivered a keynote paper at the Science and Technology plenary session, entitled Transfer of technology to the African and Mediterranean regions, what is needed and how; and chaired the parallel workshop on: ‘Required tools to integrate adaptation in development’. Dr Richard Thomas was a panelist at the same workshop, where he delivered a presentation entitled ‘Importance of research to improve climate change adaptation in agriculture in dry areas’. Drs Mohammed El Mourid and Ali Nefzaoui participated in the workshops on natural resources and water resources.

ICARDA also had a publications booth highlighting the Center’s work, particularly its activities on climate change issues. ICARDA scientists manning the booth distributed a range of documents and leaflets.

Dr Solh also used the opportunity to further strengthen ICARDA’s close ties with Tunisia. He visited the Ministry of Agriculture and met with H.E. Prof. Daaloul, State Secretary at the Ministry of Agriculture, and Prof. Mougou, President, IRESA, to review Tunisia-ICARDA collaboration. He also visited the new national genebank and discussed with its Director, Dr Jemmali, avenues for future collaboration.
 

About ICARDA: Established in 1977, ICARDA (www.icarda.org) is one of the 15 international research centers supported by the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR). ICARDA serves the entire developing world for the improvement of barley, lentil, and faba bean; and dry-area developing countries for the on-farm management of water, improvement of nutrition and productivity of small ruminants (sheep and goats), and rehabilitation and management of rangelands. In the Central and West Asia and North Africa (CWANA) region, ICARDA is responsible for the improvement of durum and bread wheats, chickpea, pasture and forage legumes and farming systems; and for the protection and enhancement of the natural resource base of water, land, and biodiversity.

The Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR) (www.cgiar.org) is a strategic alliance of countries, international and regional organizations, and private foundations supporting15 international research centers that mobilizes cutting-edge science to promote sustainable development by reducing hunger and poverty, improving human nutrition and health, and protecting the environment.
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