Saarc plans common stance on climate in Mexico

South Asian nations have decided to formulate a common position on climate change issues for next global climate conference in Mexico at the end of this year.
They also decided to plant 10 million trees over the next five years (2010-2015) in the region as part of a regional afforestation and reforestation campaign.
The Saarc countries would undertake advocacy and awareness programmes on climate change to promote the use of green technology and best practices to reduce the carbon footprint of the region.
The decisions were taken in the meeting of the environment ministers, now in Thimphu to attend the two-day Saarc summit, official sources said here yesterday.
Saarc environment ministers also decided to establish a Group of Eminent Persons (GEP) in the field of climate change which would provide guidance and policy inputs to the climate agenda and recommend projects on climate change for funding under the Saarc Development Fund (SDF), the sources said.
They decided to complete the ratification process for the Saarc Convention on Cooperation on Environment at an early date to enable its entry into force.
The ministers decided to incorporate science-based materials in educational curriculum to promote better understanding of the science and adverse effects of climate change and establish linkages among reputed institutions in the region, facilitate sharing of knowledge, information and capacity building programmes in climate change related areas.
The Saarc will also commission a Saarc Marine Initiative under the aegis of the Saarc Coastal Zone Management Centre to strengthen the understanding of shared oceans and water bodies.
Under the aegis of the Saarc Forestry Centre, the association would also commission a Saarc Mountain Initiative on mountain ecosystems, particularly glaciers and the environmental services they provide to sustain life and livelihoods.
South Asian nations under the aegis of the Saarc Meteorological Research Centre would commission a Saarc Monsoon Initiative on the evolving pattern of monsoons to assess vulnerability due to climate change.
Under the aegis of the Saarc Disaster Management Centre, a Saarc Climate-related Disasters Initiative will be commissioned for integration of Climate Change Adaptation (CCA) with Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR).