Adapting to change around the Indian Ocean rim

By April 1st, 2014

Experts from countries around the Indian Ocean rim are meeting this week in India to discuss ways to improve their disaster resilience and improve management of future climate risk.

The meeting, co-organised and supported by the Indian Ministry of Earth Sciences and CSIRO, is being held at the National Institute of Ocean Technology in Chennai from 1 to 3 April 2014. The meeting is part of a $1.175 million package launched at the IORA Council of Ministers’ Meeting in Perth in November 2013.

Workshop convenor, Ms Jennifer Sutton from the CSIRO Climate Adaptation Flagship, said the workshop would share information and plans about practical ways to help communities, farmers, industry and policymakers adapt to climate changes expected around the Indian Ocean rim, including for small island developing states. The meeting would discuss what actions are being taken and determine possible options for future action.

“Around 50 delegates will share knowledge of the impacts of climate change on the livelihoods of the people of the Indian Ocean rim, to identify the best ways to increase resilience.”

Ms Jennifer Sutton, CSIRO Climate Adaptation Flagship

“Around 50 delegates will share knowledge of the impacts of climate change on the livelihoods of the people of the Indian Ocean rim, to identify the best ways to increase resilience,” Ms Sutton said.

Workshop participants will attend from countries around the Indian Ocean rim, including Australia, Bangladesh, China, India, Indonesia, Kenya, Malaysia, Mauritius, Mozambique, Seychelles, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Tanzania, Thailand and Yemen. There will also be representation from southern African states.

Projected climate changes around the Indian Ocean rim include increases in temperature and extreme rainfall events, longer and stronger monsoon seasons, increases in sea level, and increased probability of extreme wave heights.

Ms Sutton said the workshop aimed to increase capacity within countries around the Indian Ocean rim to identify, develop and implement appropriate adaptations to such changes.

“We’ll consider how climate risk will impact various countries and regions around the rim, what they are doing to respond to the changing environment, share information and best practice, determine how to increase collaboration and information sharing across the region and identify possible future actions that countries and regions may adopt to manage these risks,” Ms Sutton said.

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Farmers applying fertiliser to seedlings in India.

A CSIRO-run workshop will share knowledge of the impacts of climate change on the livelihoods of people around the Indian Ocean Rim, and plan practical ways to help farmers and others adapt.