Presented
by the Arab Academy for Science, Technology and Maritime Transport
(conference host), the Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute,
and the University of Prince Edward Island, this international
conference will examine the challenges and opportunities for integrating the three issues of global climate change, biodiversity and
sustainability. The conference will provide a collection of keynote
speakers, paper and poster sessions, training opportunities, discussion workshops, as well as study tours.
Join leading academics, Nobel laureates, and environment practitioners April 15 to 18, 2013to explore the challenges and opportunities faced by our World.
Global Climate Change – Thousands of scientists, as part of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), have concluded that the future will be a warmer and wetter world. And as Michael
Oppenheimer, a Princeton University climate scientist says, “A hotter, moister atmosphere is an atmosphere primed to trigger disasters. As the
world gets hotter, the risks get higher.” The risks include more intense
and longer droughts; hot days become even hotter and occur more often;
heavy precipitation will occur more often; wind speed of tropical cyclones will increase; and mean sea level rise will contribute to upward trends in extreme coastal high water levels.
Biodiversity
– According to the most recent Global Biodiversity Outlook, the state
of biodiversity continues to decline despite an increase in conservation
efforts, largely because the pressures on biodiversity continue to
increase. Biodiversity underpins a wide range of services to humans
that support economies, food production systems and secure living
conditions. The loss of biodiversity (at the genetic, species and ecosystem levels) also affects human health in many ways. Directly,
medicinal plants face a high risk of extinction in those parts of the
world where people are most dependent on them for health care and
income from wild collection – namely Africa, Asia, the Pacific and South
America. Plant and animal species in all groups are presently threatened with extinction.
Sustainability – Coming 20 years following the seminal UN Conference on Environment and Development, the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development concluded by stating that the World needs to
move towards achieving sustainable development. This is to be accomplished
by promoting sustained, inclusive and equitable economic growth;
creating greater opportunities for all; reducing inequalities; raising basic standards of living; and fostering equitable social
development and inclusion. Most importantly, the World needs to promote integrated and sustainable management of natural resources and
ecosystems that support economic, social and human development while facilitating ecosystem conservation, regeneration and restoration and resilience in the face of new and emerging challenges.
Global Climate Change, Biodiversity and Sustainability: Challenges and Opportunities - An international conference focused on the Arab MENA region and EuroMed
Location: Arab Academy for Science, Technology and Maritime Transport in Abu Qir, Alexandria
Dates: April 15-18, 2013.
We
are seeking innovative contributions to share results and information
from researchers, industry representatives and managers of climate
change, biodiversity, and sustainability activities under the following
topics:
- Risk Management
- Water Availability
- Our Changing Climate
- Urban Planning for Resilience
- Biodiversity
- Sustainable Tourism
- Coastal Erosion
- Food Security
- Adaptation to Climate Change
- Renewable Energy (wind, solar, wave, biomass)
- Integrated Coastal Zone Management
- Eco-housing
- Human Health
- Climate Economics and Finance
- Disaster Management
- Agriculture
- Environmental Refugees
- Other
more about the Middle East:
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