Kabul River Basin Climate Change Consultation Conference

Policy BriefPresented by : Fahima Sadeqinazhad

8th Jan 2019, Dubai

Outline

Introduction

Objectives

Conference sessions

Consultation proceeding

Group work

Conclusion& Recommendation

Way forward

The Kabul River Basin Climate Change Consultation Conference Policy Dialogue held on 18th

Nov 2018 adopted conclusions for most of the issues related to impacts of climate change on

Kabul River Basin. This conference was organized by GSRO with the cooperation of Lead and

AZMA Organization.

Introduction

The participants were invited from the MEW, MAIL, NEPA, CAREC, WB, USAID , NGOs and other water

related organizations.

Objectives

Identifying source of funding andpractical methodology for climatechange mitigate in KRB.

Exploring possible solution based onthe challenge of climate change impactsof KRB.

Proposing an adaptive mechanism toguide policy making in themanagement, governance, anddevelopment of the KRB.

The Climate ChangeConsultation Conference inKRB brought together waterexperts on the same platformwith the three objectives:

Conference Sessions

The policy dialogue agenda was organized in three sessions:

• Group work, end of each sessions• Policy brief Observe

Impact of Climate

Change on KRB

Predicted Climate Change Impact on

KBR

Source of funding/ Regional

issues and opportunities

15

Consultation Proceeding

Fahimeh Salehi Peer researcher presented the “Impact of Climate Changeon Run off from Glaciers, Snow & Rainfall in Pamir & Hindukush,Afghanistan the obvious victim of climate change”.

Consultation Proceeding

1) Identification of new lakes and monitoring of existing lakes in KRB and Amu Darya

River Basin.

2) Identification of hazardous lakes and GLOF prone areas of KRB and Amu Darya River Basin using

remote sensing.

3) Installation of real time sensor network to measure the rise of and discharge of Water Lake

and early warning system coupled with GLOF simulation models for predicting the level and time

of arrival of flood in KRB and Amu Darya River Basin.

4) Awareness to the peoples living downstream of these dangerous lakes in KRB and

Amu Darya River Basin.

5) Construction and expand of required infrastructure of the site in KRB and Amu Darya River Basin

by managing the water.

6) Consideration of strategies and policies for mitigation of the glacier lakes outburst

in the Panjshir province.

7) Make amendments and considering funding for the created damaged and hazards in the suffered

regions.

8) Support of suffered people for rebuild of their residence.

9) Support researcher, NGOs to get funding support for climate change mitigation.

Consultation Proceeding

Afghanistan Water Resources under Impact of Climate Change and Ensemble GCMsClimate Change Projections for Kabul River Basin, Afghanistan under RepresentativeConcentration Pathways were the presentations that resented by Mr. Jamal NaserShokory and Sediqa Hassany.According to the information which were presented, it is advised to consider thefollowing points in the policy and strategy :

1. The temperature of KRB is rising and this year, an estimated 2.2 million or morepeople dependent of wheat and sheep farming are being severely impacted bywide-spread drought across the north of Afghanistan.

2. Evidence exists that snow cover and glaciers are declining, possibly as much as60% in surface area in northern Afghanistan.

So it is advised to consider the required policy for adaption and mitigation to theimpacts of climate changes .

Consultation ProceedingMr. Dawood Shah Ahmadi has presented the“Assessment of Urban Air Pollution of Kabul Province:Evaluation of key Alternatives & Solutions”.

Consultation Proceeding

Kabul air is severely polluted and this situation hasresulted to the pollution of environment in Kabulcity.

The method that people are using for airconditioning of their houses in Kabul city is one ofthe main source of pollution in this city.

Awareness of the people from the hazards of thepollution in Kabul city is required by holdingconferences, seminars and workshops.

So it is advise to focus on the changing this methodand try to identify new methods of warming of thehouses .

The Policy makers may consider policies foreradication and management of pollutions sources.

Consultation Proceeding

Ms. Fooman Forough presentation was “Assessment of

Climate Change Impacts and Analysis of Land Cover

Change in a Case study of Tashqorghan in Khulm

District”.

• Climate change impacts have resulted to occurrence

of consecutive drought and flood, increase the mean

temperature, increase of evaporation, extinction of

rare species of animals and plants in the region,

• Increase of unemployment and poverty, increase of

migration in the cities and increase of depression and

frustration.

• Land cover is changing in most parts of Afghanistan

and has resulted to significant challenges in this

country

• The policy makers are advised to add policies for the

mentioned challenges.

Consultation Proceeding

According to the Duad Hamidi presentation the

main impacts of climate change in Afghanistan

are on the followings:

1) Glacier and snow melt.

2) River flow and flood.

3) Agriculture and livestock

4) Food and security

5) Human Health

6) Migration

The policy makers are advised to add policies for

the mentioned challenges.

Consultation Proceeding

“Road Map for adaptation and Mitigation for

C.C fund for Afghanistan (disaster reduction

fund mechanizes, Practical steps through

word getting fund”

was presented by Mr. Wais Basiri from MEW.

• Projects, Programmes, Policies, Strategies,

plans, Technology development & transfer,

and capacity-building are activities that are

supported by GCF.

• Related to this presentation the policy

makers shall utilize from these funding

mechanisms .

Consultation Proceeding

1. The government of Afghanistan, NGOs and regional stakeholdershave used less from the existing fund for mitigation and adaptationof climate change impacts in KRB up to now.

2. The GCF has considered 50% of its budget for mitigation and 50%for adaptation to climate related changes,

3. it is advised that government add a policy to its mechanisms thatall including government bodies, NGOs and researchers can usefrom these funds.

“National Environmental Protection Agency, Climate Finance Unit”was presented by Mr. Bala Akbari from Unit Fund of NEPA.

Group work

The impacts of the climate change in the riparian state of KRB was the theme of discussion in the group work.

The bolt points of discussion in group work were:

1) Identification of glacier lakes in the region

2) Consideration of the policy and mechanisms for prevention and regulation of

suffered hazards of climate change.

3) Providing basic plan for management of air pollution.

4) Building capacity and raising awareness for climate change adaptation.

5) Apply for climate change funding in local and regional level.

The uptakes of the first session were the following points:

1) Governments bodies agreed to support researchers in giving the related data of glacier and

monitoring of the glaciers in remote parts.

2) Detail report of the “Afghanistan an obvious victim of climate change” shall be presented to

relevant ministries to consider the important issues in their strategies and polices.

The uptakes of the second session were:

1) Doing further research in different zones of KRB in local, regional and international level, to

recognize deeply the climate change impacts in each level. This will help the governments to add

proper policies for mitigation of this impacts in their plans.

The uptakes of the third session:

1) Introduction of funding for mitigation of climate change impacts.

2) Identifying the local, regional and international funding's to the researchers and nonprofit

organizations to utilize and cope with climate change impacts.

Conclusion & Recommendation

Way forward

At the end of this policy dialogue all the participants have appreciated for holding of this event and theyemphasized that the GSRO should:• continue its efforts and in next event try to have applicable solution for adaptation of climate change

impacts in local and regional level.

Finally, this policy dialogue by gathering more than 60 researchers from different organizations, deputy ofministries, university professors and water experts under the theme” Impact of Climate Change on KabulRiver Basin Consultation Policy dialogue” was a great opportunity for all to:• Share their new findings regarding proposing possible solutions based on the challenge of climate

change impacts• Proposing adaptive mechanisms to guide policy making in the management, governance, and

development of the Kabul River Basin.

Thank you for your attention