Event

Final Programme

Opening remark (5min):

• Mr. Tamaki Tsukada, Deputy Assistant Minister for International Cooperation and Global Issues, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Japan

Presentation 1 (15 min):

Climate change and security – a base for thinking

• Dr. Yasuko Kameyama, National Institute for Environmental Studies, Japan

Presentation 2 (20min):

Introduction of the report “Climate Fragility Risks in the Asia-Pacific Region”

• Ms. Yuri Noguchi, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Japan

Presentation 3 (15min)

In Harm’s Way: Climate Security Vulnerability in Asia

• Prof. Joshua Busby, University of Texas at Austin, United States

Comments (15min):

• Mr. Hudson Kauhirona, Ministry of Environment, Climate Change, Disaster Management, and Metrology （Solomon Islands）
• Prof. Chau Loon Wai, Senior Lecturer, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia （Malaysia）

Q&A (20min):

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Session Summary

Aim of the event was to give a brief introduction of a report from Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Japan, “Analysis and Proposal of Foreign Policies Regarding the Impact of Climate Change on Fragility in the Asia-Pacific Region-With focus on natural disasters in the Region”, published last September. The first speaker made a brief introductory presentation on “climate and security” related activities within academia. The second speaker explained the above-mentioned report. The third speaker introduced outcomes from one of his research projects on climate vulnerability in Asia.

The three presentations were followed by comments by two experts from Solomon Islands and Malaysia. Many additional comments and questions were raised from the audience, such as;

• The next step of the report should include interview survey in the Asia-Pacific region,
• The studies on climate fragility risks should include countries like Malaysia, which has not suffered so much until now by climate-related disasters, but which could face damages in the future,
• The studies should consider droughts and other slow on-set events, as well as immigrants that could be increased by climate-related impacts,
• How does G7 intend to utilize Japan and other G7 member countries’ activities related to climate fragility risks in its process?

Authors of the report summarized the importance of reflecting these comments and questions in their next step for further activities.

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Key Messages

Until today, most of studies on climate change risks were conducted by researchers in the Western world, focusing on Africa and the Middle East. Nevertheless, Asia and Pacific region should attract more attention of climate-risk-related studies because of its high concentration of populations and economic activities. It was re-acknowledged that more studies are needed to understand climate fragility risks the region is likely to face in the near future.

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Name and organisation of the person(s) who prepared the summary

Yasuko Kameyama, National Institute for Environmental Studies