During a Panel Discussion on the last day of the International Symposium distinguished participants resumed their take-away and action points in a plenary session. Professor Fukui proposed an integration of the regions online portal sites that have so far served the purpose of making data available to end users, in particular on issues of mitigation. He further emphasized the importance of communication within stakeholders, not only in this region but international, he encouraged a review process of the symposium outcomes, to take the cooperation a step further. Prof Li Jing saw the Symposium as a good platform to tap many resources. He suggested to also keep in mind that it is not only data but information which can be understood by the end user that is needed, in particular especially during disasters. That is why the platform could be used to share more than data, but best practices in production and technology.
Dr Thomas Painter made three points on the importance of face-to-face encounters, the applicability of the data for those implementing and youth’s role to ask questions. “Make sure that the answers you get make sense, if not, ask again. And we as the scientific community should do the same”. Soonchang Yoon commented that there is a need for concrete and accurate numbers on climate change from earth observation, as well as sound modeling and the creation of an inventory. To carry out earth observation through ground, satellite and airborne observation regional cooperation will be key in sharing the costs. In the same line, Yussif Hussin encouraged regional cooperation in capacity-building.
Jeffrey Kargel showed himself struck by the solid achievements in the form of SERVIR and the JAXA receiving station, which in his view are “semanting some of the longstanding contributions between the wealthy world and ICIMOD.” Further he saw humans as the key to understanding and supporting mountain systems: those living in them, those studying them, and those benefiting from change, downstream, and there are those that must solve problems: “Most notably the young, who will really have to grapple with the successes and failures of my generation.”
Following the deliberations participants gave their comments on the way forward after the symposium. Ramesh Maski, from Kathmandu University asked for suggestions on how to bridge the dissemination gap, in particular at the level of research institutions. Two participants from Bangladesh asked for a mechanism to access real-time data, in particular for disaster situations. Furthermore, the suggestion was made for ICIMOD to include the downstream effects of climate change – which are mainly affecting Bangladesh – to be studied as well. Further suggestions aimed at the inclusion of a regional mechanism to coordinate ground observation were also made. Finally, a representative from the youth forum asked for concrete suggestions on how youth as a stakeholder can get involved.
The chair, Tej Partop, summed up the discussion. He showed himself happy that “everybody seems to have realized the need for cooperation, need for a glue, a platform, and the role for institutions like ICIMODO.” For him the most important way for youth to get involved was to increase the critical mass of expert human resources. During the discussions he found one dimension missing, which is that of those communities already affected by climate change, such as many farming communities. Finally he suggested a future reinforced focus on the impact of snow and rainfall. Co-chair Madhav Karki underlined the role of the media and it to be more knowledge-based and informed.
ICIMOD DG Andreas Schild in his concluding remark showed himself overwhelmed with the wide participation and the political support given by ministers and agencies. He expressed his special thanks to the support received during the seminar from JAXA, NASA, USAID, and key personalities of Minister Shri Jairam Ramesh, Charles Bolden, Michael Yates and Jose Achache. In his message to the youth he picked up Bolden’s remarks: “Don’t wait to be invited, take initiative”. Schild expressed his gratitude for the many suggestions and the trust given to ICIMOD. “It is an enormous responsibility. You are expecting our staff not only to be very proficient, they also have to be able to interpret data and be able to respond to the users’ needs. It is a noble task, which will need assistance of international resource centers to make it possible.”
The session was closed by a vote of thanks by Basanta Shrestha, MENRIS Head and main symposium organizer. He was delighted about many collaborations, with NASA, USAID, GEOSS, JAXA and most recently the Chinese Meteorological Administration. His final thanks went to all the delegates and his ICIMOD team. “The kind of vibration I could feel not only during the sessions but everywhere, is calling for a new beginning.”
