Date: 2010
Author: HFP

First workshop of the climate science–humanitarian exchange working group

Co‐hosted with the Natural Environment Research Council, this workshop formed the first in a proposed series of working groups to be undertaken within the extended exchange between climate scientists and humanitarian and development policy makers. The workshop showcased a number of innovative approaches and tools which have successfully supported more effective dialogue on emerging climate science within humanitarian and development contexts. Amongst the key issues raised were: the high risk of poor use of adaptation funds unless greater efforts are made to ensure more appropriate application of emerging climate science, how best to build the trust required to enable effective dialogue, the complementarity between ‘indigenous’ and ‘modern’ climate science knowledge sets, the role of ‘translators’ or ‘brokers’ in enhancing science‐policy dialogue. Please contact HFP for information on the next climate science humanitarian exchange working group, which is taking place at the UK Collaborative on Development Science in November 2010.

The workshop report and presentations from the workshop can be downloaded below:

Presentations from this workshop:

1. John Rees, Ned Garnett, Faith Culshaw, NERC and the importance ofscience policy dialogue
2. Emma Visman, Mike Edwards and Richard Washington, An extended approach between climate scientists and humanitarian and development policymakers
3. Arame Tall, Red Cross Red Crescent Climate Centre, Climate forecasting to serve communities
4. Andree Carter, Tighe Geoghegan, UK Collaborative in Development Sciences, Building a collaborative platform for climate change: An action research approach
5. Blane Harvey, Institute of Development Studies Climate Change Group, Mutual learning and co-construction of knowledge