[Orchha, Madhya Pradesh] – March 25, 2014 – Climate Action Network South Asia in partnership with Climate Action Network Europe and hosted by Development Alternatives together conducted the first of a four-day Summit entitled Strengthen Linkages between EU-South Asia Networks on Addressing Climate Impacts on March 24, 2014 in Orchha, India.

The sessions for the day included the impacts of adaptation and climate change in the European Union and South Asia; the different approaches taken by the two regions on low carbon development and energy transition and defining equity in climate impacted world.

“This Summit provides an opportunity to look into the varied dimensions of climate issues specific to each region. Hence, it is important for the regions to work in solidarity and consolidate in moving forward,” said CANSA Co-Chair Amb. Shafqat Kakakhel.

“South Asia is highly vulnerable to climate impacts and home to 43% of the world’s poor. Our key goals should aim to minimise dependence on fossil fuel subsidies and work towards providing basic necessities for dignified life that would result in inclusive equitable growth,” said CANSA Director Sanjay Vashist.

One of the key concerns of discussion for India was the introduction of equity reference framework that introduced the varied approaches taken by Climate Action Network (CAN) and the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).

“We are dealing with a process where each country is entrusted with a certain percentage of responsibility. That brings us to the question of, what would be a fair and equitable division of responsibility? Further, in which sectors or industries could these reductions be facilitated? Are we going to look at emission reduction from sectors where basic needs are being met?,” said CANSA Advisor Sudhir Sharma.

The Summit will also advocate the requirement for sustainable development to improve capacity of Non-State Actors in decision-making processes related to climate change policies, promote partnership and facilitate interactions and exchanges between the stakeholders.

DA was founded in 1982 as a research and action organisation that designs and delivers eco-solutions for the poor and marginalised communities.

CANSA is a coalition of 112 civil society organisations from South Asia, demanding that all countries ratify the second commitment period of Kyoto protocol by 2015. CANSA strives actively towards the protection of the global climate in a manner that promotes equity and social justice between people, sustainable development and protection of the environment.

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For further information contact Vositha Wijenayake on vositha@cansouthasia.net