Dirk Niebel, German Federal Minister of Economic Cooperation and Development is to be the patron of the fourth worldwide online climate conference CLIMATE 2011. In this context, he has stressed the need for joint approaches to finding solutions to the important global challenges of our time: “Development cooperation is not merely a matter for politicians: on the contrary, poverty, war, destruction of the environment and climate change affect all of us in our everyday lives. Action on these issues is demanded by society as a whole”.
Mr Niebel is supporting CLIMATE 2011, a global information event on climate change, because it makes an important contribution to keeping the global discussion on climate change going. Climate-smart disaster risk management which takes account of both climate and development goals can make nations better placed to ward off negative climatic effects and help them to develop flexible adjustment measures aimed at reducing in the long term their vulnerability to floods resulting from increasing heavy precipitation or to persistent drought in, for example, sub-Saharan countries in Africa.
The CLIMATE 2011 worldwide online climate conference, which is the fourth to be organised, will take place solely on the Internet. From 7 to 12 November 2011, researchers, companies, public authorities, NGOs and interested members of the public will be able to exchange information and views on climate change at http://www.klima2011.net/ (German site) and http://www.climate2011.net/ (international site).
“The fact that we have been able to attain the patronage of the Federal Development Minister for CLIMATE 2011 underlines the relevance of internet-based climate conferences”, said conference chairman Professor Walter Leal. Developing countries are particularly susceptible to climatic effects, which can significantly restrict economic and social progress, and coherent adjustment measures are thus called for. “This is why, in the most vulnerable regions of the world such as Africa, Asia and Latin America, there is a great need for access to climate knowledge and practical approaches to solving the problem of how states can best adapt to future climatic effects“ Professor Leal added.
This year, the six-day conference will focus on “Climate change and disaster risk management”. Alongside the World Meteorological Organisation (WMO), renowned partners include the UN Environment Programme (UNEP), the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the UN (FAO), the Sahara and Sahel Observatory, the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD), the UN Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR) and other global organisations.
CLIMATE 2011 is supported by the business partners DHL GoHelp and KlimaINVEST Green Concepts GmbH. Media partners include the German “Die Welt” press group, the Climate Himalaya Initiative and the environmental information broker Umweltdialog.de.
CLIMATE 2011 in a nutshell: http://www.klima2011.net/, 7-12 November 2011, online and climate-neutral, Organiser: Research and Transfer Centre “Applications of Life Sciences”, Hamburg University of Applied Sciences (HAW Hamburg)
Conference chairman: Professor Walter Leal
Deadline for submission of papers: 15 May 2011
Scientists, businesses, political figures, public authorities, NGOs interested members of the public can still submit papers. All papers will be reviewed by the coordinators in accordance with scientific criteria.
Further information: The organiser, The Research and Transfer Centre Applications of Life Sciences (abbreviation: FTZ-ALS) of the Hamburg University of Applied Sciences (HAW Hamburg) was established in August 2007. Headed by Professor Walter Leal, it offers local, national and international project-related approaches to solving problems, primarily in the field of Life Sciences (incl. biotechnology, medical engineering, pharmacology and environmental protection technology) as well as regarding more general topics such as energy, climate protection and sustainability.
Contact
Franziska Mannke
Research and Transfer Centre "Applications of Life Sciences" Hamburg University of Applied Sciences, Faculty of Life Sciences
Lohbrügger Kirchstraße 65
21033 Hamburg
Phone: 040 - 42875 - 6324
Fax: 040 - 42875 - 6079
Email: franziska.mannke(at)haw-hamburg.de or info(at)klima2011.net
