4th World Summit on

Climate Change & Global Warming

Scientific Program

Keynote Session:

Meetings International -  Conference Keynote Speaker Shoichiro Ozaki photo

Shoichiro Ozaki

Ehime University, Japan

Title: Climate can be regulated by effective use of nox and waste water NP

Biography:

Shoichiro Ozaki is serving at The Institute of Physical and Chemical Research, Japan. His primary contribution is to achieve the first total synthesis of optically active myo-inositol trisphosphate, and a wide range of other inositol phosphates and lipids for subsequent physiological studies. He discovered DAB: regulator of Ca2+ release, anti-aging reagents. He is proposing method to protect global warming. His method is promotion of CO2 assimilation by effective use of NOx and drainage nitrogen, phosphorous, many countries hating NOx as pollution gas and eliminating by ammonia. He is considering that NOx is best promotor of CO2 assimilation. For the promotion of CO2 assimilation, NOx elimination should be stopped.

Abstract:

About 510 billion tone CO2 is produced by burning of fossil fuel and respiration of animal. CO2 142 billion tone increased in 2017. If we can increase fixing of CO2 by promotion of CO2 assimilation, global warming will be protected. To promote CO2 assimilation, supply of nutrient N and P is essential. 14.4 billion tone NOx is produced when 140 billion fossil fuels is burned. Many governments are eliminating NOx and NP in drainage as pollution substances. NOx and NP in drainage are promotor of CO2 assimilation, fertilizer of plant growth. Therefore, these action are promoting global warming. NOx elimination is giving bad effect on grain, fish production, electricity price, GDP growth rate. By effective use of NOx and waste water NP, we can increase plankton CO2 assimilation at sea. Stopping of NOx elimination and stopping of waste water purification is easy method to protect global warming and to regulate climate.

Meetings International -  Conference Keynote Speaker Fatima Al Kadhim photo

Fatima Al Kadhim

Sharjah Electricity and Water Authority, UAE

Title: Climate neutral now pledge at Sharjah Electricity and Water Authority

Biography:

Fatima Al Kadhim is an Emirati working in the safety, health and environment field at Sharjah Electricity and Water Authority. She has graduated from the American University of Sharjah with a bachelor’s degree in Environmental Sciences.

Abstract:

Climate change impacts everyone across the globe either directly or indirectly. To tackle the issues posed by the changing climate, individuals, governments and private organizations need to take action. One step towards addressing this challenge is reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) Emissions. This report explains the steps undertaken by Sharjah Electricity and Water Authority (SEWA) to measure reduce and offset emissions for the year 2018, in order to achieve Climate Neutral Now (CNN) status which is an initiative of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). The financial control approach has been used to define organizational boundaries for the GHG inventory for the SEWA head office and SEWA Zulal water factory. The results of the calculations show that the total emissions were 4548 tons of carbon dioxide (tCO2). Head Office emissions were 2186 tCO2 while the Zulal factory was 2359 tCO2. The measures are undertaken to reduce energy consumption which in turn reduced GHG emissions include boiler retrofit, hybrid forklifts, efficient lighting, efficient printers, efficient HVAC systems, and temperature control. Finally, the number of units canceled was 4550 tCO2 and an equivalent amount of Certified Emissions Reductions (CERs) was purchased from UNFCCC approved Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) project no. 2698 to offset unavoidable emissions.

Meetings International -  Conference Keynote Speaker Yoshinori Hayakawa photo

Yoshinori Hayakawa

Toin University of Yokohama, Japan

Title: Application of plant factory and space-based power generation, preservation of foods in Antarctic, and safe package to decrease victims by global cooling

Biography:

Yoshinori Hayakawa has been engaged in medical physics. He developed simultaneous neutron monitoring system for Boron-Neutron-Capture-Therapy, developed new method of pulsed proton beam dosimetry by ionization chamber. He has measured first in the world acoustic pulse generated in the body of treated patient by pulsed proton beam. The phenomenon may be used to monitor dose distribution in patients as planned or not.   He is interested in researches on wellbeing of human life. He has developed computer numerals, new abacus numerals, computer abacus, and universal literacy alphabet for improving basic education to reduce poverty. He has developed universal literacy alphabet as well. He has proposed and published an original research article of proposal of artificial pandemics by infectious attenuated live influenza vaccine to reduce victims of new influenza.

Abstract:

Global warming by carbon dioxide is insisted on by the IPCC. But according to observations in Hawaii, the variations of the temperature are ahead and the variations of the carbon dioxide follow. The insistence that increases in carbon dioxide concentration in the air promotes global warming is wrong. On the contrary, little ice age like Maunder minimum of 17 century is approaching shown by the decrease of sunspots. The decrease of sunspots means the decrease of the solar magnetic field that protects galaxy cosmic rays. The increase in the galactic cosmic rays in the air generates clouds and reflects sunlight to cool the earth. Currently, the sunspots are decreasing (minimum period). The temperature will be lowered similarly to the Maunder minimum in the 17th century (little ice age). Agriculture will be damaged and a certain scientist estimates two milliard people will be starved to death. Even world war three may occur. Proposed is to construct plant factories using LED lights or high-pressure sodium lamps to reduce victims. The electric power necessary is to be created by space-based solar power generation as the remaining underground fuels are to be lost within approximately 100 years. Plant Factories in large scale to produce even crops are possible if sufficient electric powers for lamps are supplied. Basic technological problems of Space-Based solar power Generation are already solved. The power should be sent by microwaves to penetrate clouds and rain.

Meetings International -  Conference Keynote Speaker Shoichiro Ozaki photo

Shoichiro Ozaki

The Institute of Physical and Chemical Research, Japan

Title: 11:30-12:00

Biography:

Shoichiro Ozaki is serving at The Institute of Physical and Chemical Research, Japan. His primary contribution is to achieve the first total synthesis of optically active myo-inositol trisphosphate, and a wide range of other inositol phosphates and lipids for subsequent physiological studies. He discovered DAB: regulator of Ca2+ release and anti-aging reagents. He is proposing method to protect global warming. His method is promotion of CO2 assimilation by effective use of NOx and drainage nitrogen, phosphorous, many countries hating NOx as pollution gas and eliminating by ammonia. Ozaki is considering that NOx is best promotor of CO2 assimilation. For the promotion of CO2 assimilation, NOx elimination should be stopped. Drainage NP elimination should be stopped.

Abstract:

Plankton growth infinitively if enough nutrient Nitrogen and Phosphorous are supplied Now about 140 billion tone fossil s are burned and 360 billion tone CO2 and 20 billion tone NOx are produced. The increase of CO2 and NOx contributed for the increase of food, grain and fish.  Fish production of the world increased 10 times in the past 80 years, because much NOx produced, and plankton growth increased. In 1940 20 million tons in 1965 35 million tons in 2016 200 million tone. China emitted 105.4 Billion tone CO2 and 492 million tone NOx. They do not eliminate NOx and use NOx as promotor of plankton growth. 79.38 million tone fish is produced and 19.8 billion CO2 is fixed. India produced 10.11 million tone fish. Japan produced 13 million tone fish in 1970. But since the elimination of NOx, fish production decreased to 4.64 million tons in 2016. Japanese can live longest. Men 80.50 (third), women 86.63 (top). The reason of long life is Japanese eat many fish as protein source. Fish contain much hyaluronic acid, glucosamine and chondroitin, which precursor of anti-aging reagents. Fish production of Japan decreased remarkably to 10% since government set up very strict law to eliminate NOx and NP in waste water.  I am now proposing methods to increase CO2 assimilation to control global warming. By stopping NOx, NP in waste water elimination, we can increase the NP concentration of sea water. And we can increase plankton production, CO2 fix, then we can get many fish and we can enjoy long life.

Oral Session 1:

  • Climate Change Challenges & Sustainability | Global Warming | Agriculture Technology | Aquaculture and Marine Biology
Speaker

Chair

Shoichiro Ozaki

Ehime University, Japan

Speaker

Co-Chair

Yoshinori Hayakawa

Toin University of Yokohama, Japan

Meetings International -  Conference Keynote Speaker Rohit Lall photo

Rohit Lall

Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare, India

Title: Plasticulture applications for enhanced productivity and sustainable agriculture: An Indian perspective

Biography:

Rohit Lall is a post-graduate in agricultural engineering with specialization in soil & water conservation engineering (MTech). He also completed his training from MASHAV-CINADCO, Israel on Plastics in Agriculture- Innovations & Applications. He has been associated with plasticulture for more than a decade and has contributed technical inputs towards development and uptake of plasticulture interventions under centre sector programs and flagship schemes of GoI. During the association with the current assignment he has been a member under technical/sectional committees of Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) for developing/ revision of various plasticulture standards in the country. Contributed monthly articles for AIPMA plastic news for the entire year towards creating awareness on plasticulture applications to leading plastics manufacturers and represented internationally at Spain, China, and Israel.

Abstract:

Plastics as a product have inevitable advantages in all spheres on the globe but need judicious disposal management to address the menace and to avoid soil & air pollution. Use of plastics in agriculture has been termed as “Plasticulture” wherein components/products/equipment are integrated to form an application such as micro-irrigation systems, polyhouses, plastic mulches, crop covers, etc. to generate more quality and enhanced cultivation of the product with limited resources such as water in per unit area. India being an agrarian driven economy where more than 70% of the population is directly or indirectly related o agriculture contributes not only to suffice the food basket but also to produce more which could provide remunerative income to the Indian growers as India being a varied agro-climatic country can produce almost all agriculture/horticulture produce. Developing field oriented and in-situ experimental details through well-knitted dedicated 22 Precision Farming Development Centres (PFDCs) and having focused approach by providing financial assistance under the flagship schemes to the beneficiaries have throttled the adoption of these applications in last two decades with global footprints in leading the productivity of many crops. Joint ventures of the leading agriculture/horticulture product related companies have also boosted the growth of these technologies and had put India to a self-sufficient Agri/Horti producer despite climate resilience and recurring droughts. These applications have not only provided food production sustainability but also have generated employment opportunities to the rural youth besides the upliftment of the Indian growers. Dedicated missions, policies and extensive government support across the country have proved to be a milestone in the agriculture history of the country. Thus we could see and also can say that the next Green Revolution in India could only be achieved through plasticulture applications & technologies in providing and managing the inputs in a precise and regulated manner by use of these technologies.

Meetings International -  Conference Keynote Speaker Annie Chen photo

Annie Chen

Guangdong Laswim Pool and Spa Equipment Co. Ltd., China

Title: Exhibitor's Presentation

Biography:

Abstract:

Meetings International -  Conference Keynote Speaker Lolita N. Ragus photo

Lolita N. Ragus

COM-FSM Chuuk Campus, Federated States of Micronesia

Title: Diverse responses of local giant swamp taro under saline swamp environment in the FSM

Biography:

Lolita N. Ragus obtained her PhD (Agronomy-Plant Breeding and Genetics) from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Illinois, USA.  She co-authored references in agriculture called Philippines Recommends in rice, corn, sorghum, winged bean, peanut, mungbean, soybean and ginger.  She was employed as Researcher at the Northern Marianas College (1988-1995) and Palau Community College (1995-1999). Presently as Agronomist Researcher at the COM-FSM Chuuk Campus, she conducts US department of sgriculture research and extension programs in food security and climate change.

Abstract:

Giant swamp taro (Cyrtosperma chamissonis or C. merkusii Schott) is an important crop at atolls and mountainous islands in Micronesia. In the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM) with four states (Chuuk, Kosrae, Pohnpei and Yap), the population is threatened with food insecurity.  Foremost is abandoning their taro patches damaged by recurrent wave surges and salt-water intrusion. 
To ensure security of this food source, 43 cultivars from Pohnpei and 30 cultivars from Chuuk were collected and grown in a swamp with an average salinity of 1,300 ppm (0.13 %) to identify salt-tolerant varieties.  For two years, these seedlings were monitored for plant height, number of petioles and leaves, monthly corm diameter increment, leaf damages, leaf width and length, seedling survival and sucker number. The 43 cultivars were grouped into 15 clusters based on their morphological characterization. These clusters were soaked under high water salinity level using ocean water averaging 53,000 ppm (5.3.%) for seven hours to determine their responses to salinity including losses in biomass, corm masses, root number and length. Two cultivars were identified with more than 2-cm monthly diameter growth and more than 80% survival rates under natural swamp condition. From the 7-hour soaking experiment, few cultivars were identified with minimal root damages. This study recommended root number before and after soaking in highly saline water as a practical indicator in identifying a salt-tolerant giant swamp taro cultivar.
Meetings International -  Conference Keynote Speaker Thakur Bahadur Singh Rajput photo

Thakur Bahadur Singh Rajput

Indian Agricultural Research Institute, India

Title: Development of a decision support system, DOMIS for designing micro irrigation systems

Biography:

Thakur Bahadur Singh Rajput has completed his PhD from Indian Agricultural Research Institute New Delhi after his MTech degree from Indian institute of Technology Kharagpur, India. He has over forty years of experience as a research scientist at Water Technology Centre. He is a water management scientist of repute with highest award in Agricultural Research in India, to his credit. He has published over 200 papers, ten books and a large number of Technical Bulletins and extension leaflets. He has guided thirteen PhD and six MTech students for their research and was awarded as the best teacher by Indian Council of Agricultural Research.

Abstract:

A decision support system namely DOMIS (Design of Micro Irrigation Systems) was developed for standardizing the designs of Drip, Sprinkler and Micro Sprinkler irrigation systems. The decision support system was developed using standard formulae with richness of knowledge and expert opinions. Flexibility and simplicity of use make the DSS DOMIS a superior tool for designing micro irrigation systems. The DSS provides knowledge, expert opinion and necessary data on crops, soil, water and climate in the form of default options at different interactive stages of the software. The DSS also allows the user to make appropriate changes in the parameters provided by the DSS, if the user so desires. DSS-DOMIS suggests most optimal layout plan for main, sub-main and lateral pipes with appropriate sizes of different components including pipes, pumping system, filters and fertilizer application systems. The web based system has been hosted on the net with domain name http://domis.iari.res.in.  Besides the design of micro irrigation systems, the DSS provides complete list of concerned state and district officials, approved micro irrigation system suppliers and the general information about the district, different government schemes and their implementing agencies all over the country. The decision support system will be useful for industry, farmers, students, researchers and policy makers. The DSS is available for use or free on line and the author will appreciate the feedback and suggestions from the users for its further improvement.

Meetings International -  Conference Keynote Speaker Sanjeet Purohit photo

Sanjeet Purohit

Rajasthan High Court, India

Title: Climate change and sustainable development - A developing country's perspective

Biography:

Sanjeet Purohit is a Humanities and Law Graduate from Jai Narain Vyas University, Jodhpur, one of the esteemed universities of Rajasthan, he has been practicing law at the Rajasthan High Court, Jodhpur, district courts and tribunals within the State of Rajasthan since the year 2001. He started his professional career with the stalwarts of their times and now sitting judges, Hon’ble Justice Govind Mathur and Hon’ble Justice Gopal Kishan Vyas and with the senior counsel Mr. P. K. Lohra, I gained first-hand experience in different areas of law under their able guidance. In a career span of a decade, he has been dealing with matters involving constitutional law, civil laws, economic laws, human rights law and environmental laws. He is having core interest and passion for work in the area of environmental law, had written a book “Commentary on National Green Tribunal Act, 2010” and been involved in suggesting to the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change as well as the Parliamentary Standing Committee regarding various amendments or policy decision to be taken in the field of environment. He is representing MoEF & CC in many cases before the National Green Tribunal, Principal Bench, New Delhi. He is endeavoring to achieve sustainable growth in the society by striking a balance between preservation of the environment and human rights vis-à-vis the growth of liberalized economy has been one of the major initiatives taken by me along with various organizations, lawyers and other professionals.

Abstract:

We live in an emblematic era. We have never been here before and if we do not come together with common purpose and an indefatigable strive to make this planet a better place to live in, it would surely not keep us long. This paper is an attempt to critically dissect India’s journey as a developing country in combating climate change with the help of sustainable development. The objective pursued herein is to identify and share replicable takeaways for developing countries which endeavour to strike a balance between their economic aspirations and obligations to posterity. The research is constricted to the examining policy decisions and steps undertaken by India in an attempt to fulfil its obligations under the Paris Agreement. It shall include a comprehensive analysis of its Biennial Update Report(s) and National Communication to United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and the Forestry Sector. In order to understand this journey, Governance, Policy Decision and other paradigm shifts are assimilated, observed and analysed so as to bring-forth a better understanding of what has worked and why. India faces challenges in economic development, which have to be met with the limited resources available, with minimal externalities and in the presence of large uncertainty with respect to climate. One of the growing and accepted approaches to overcome this development paradox is adoption of sustainable development paradigm, which entails development that meets the need of the present without compromising the ability of the future generation to meet their own needs. On 30th June, 2008, India announced and launched its National Action Plan on Climate Change - NAPCC.  The NAPCC, guided by the principles of sustainable development aligns the environmental and economic objects. The NPACC identifies measures that promote our development objectives while also resulting in co-benefits in terms of addressing climate change. There are 8 National Missions which form the core of NAPCC.  These 8 National Missions along with their objectives are mentioned herein under: A concerted effort is made to analyse in detail exhaustively and categorically the ripple effect of these Schemes on the ground in terms of measurable improvement.  Followed by a critical evaluation as to if the steps undertaken have successfully accomplished its objectives. If yes, whether the success model can be replicated by other developing countries and if not, what can developing countries learn from India’s humble experience? A special focus is also maintained on other incidental steps undertaken to combat climate change while also discussing the most effective innovative and sustainable Governance solution that can easily be adopted by a developing country in its race to economic prosperity.

Meetings International -  Conference Keynote Speaker Md Ashik Sarder photo

Md Ashik Sarder

International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, Bangladesh

Title: Local resilience practices to climate change: A study on coping with flood vulnerability of a river-adjacent community of Bangladesh

Biography:

Md. Ashik Sarder is as a researcher and development practitioner, working at International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC), Bangladesh Country Office as Disaster Management Officer. He has earned graduation, post-graduation and MPhil degree in Anthropology from University of Dhaka, Bangladesh. During his professional career, he has also worked at Bangladesh Centre for Advanced Studies (BCAS), NGO Forum for Public Health and UNDP Bangladesh. He has the experience in working with issues like climate change, resilience, adaptation, migration, public health, disaster management and humanitarian responses.

Abstract:

The geophysical contexts of different areas of Bangladesh are diverse and distinctive from location to location. Each of the areas has distinct characteristics and varied livelihoods pattern. The recent climate change has made different communities of Bangladesh vulnerable to frequent disasters. The impact of climate change has also been visible at river-adjacent communities. So, enhancing community resilience is very important to make the community people capable to cope with climate change and ensure sustainable livelihoods for the future. If the community people become resilient, then they can come back in their previous usual situation within a very short period after any type of disaster. The Khasbarashimul community is a flood-prone community situated in the Sirajganj district of Bangladesh on the bank of Jamuna River with having Brahmaputra delta characteristics. Most of the community people are marginalized, and agriculture and day-laboring are the main means of their livelihood. Almost every year, a flood occurs and causes tremendous losses to property and livelihoods. The study has aimed to identify the flood vulnerability due to climate change on the Khasbarashimul community people and their livelihoods. The study has been conducted at the participatory observation approach using both qualitative and quantitative research perspectives. The study has identified some of the local and indigenous community resilience techniques which the community people usually used to practice by their own knowledge and experiences. Some of the other resilience techniques have also been suggested to make community people more resilient to disasters and flood risks resulting from climate change.

Meetings International -  Conference Keynote Speaker Rozelindra Coz-Rakovac photo

Rozelindra Coz-Rakovac

Ruder Boskovic Institute, Croatia

Title: Selenium nanoparticles impact on growth and biochemical composition of marine microalga Dunaliella tertiolecta

Biography:

Rozelindra Coz-Rakovac, DVM, MSc, PhD is a head of the Laboratory for Aquaculture Biotechnoloy within the RuÄ‘er Bošković Institute in Zagreb, Croatia. She is also a head of the Centre of Excellence for Marine Bioprospecting-BioProCro within the same institute. She is a senior scientist and holder of a number of awards and research projects.

Abstract:

The study investigated the impact of several concentrations of selenium nanoparticles (SeNPs) on growth performance and biochemical properties of marine microalgae Dunaliella tertiolecta. It is known that selenium (Se) effects may range from toxic to essentially micronutritive, both within a narrow concentration span. Thus, SeNPs might act as sources of Se, particularly due to being less toxic than sodium selenite (Na2SeO3). We have proved that their lower doses can increase algal biomass without any toxic cellular effect. The concentrations of chlorophyll A, total lipid and protein content, as well as composition of fatty and amino acids were determined in Dunaliella tertiolecta cultured under a wide range of different SeNPs concentrations for up to 14 days. Lower SeNPs not only positively impacted the biomass increase, but also chlorophyll a concentrations, as opposed to higher SeNPs concentrations. Total protein content and productivity were similar at all tested SeNPs concentrations, while fatty acids had higher content of unsaturated fatty acids in all tested samples. The results provide an insight into the effects of SeNPs on Dunaliella tertiolecta, which may lead to a set of various novel biotechnological applications.

Meetings International -  Conference Keynote Speaker Natalija Topi Popovi photo

Natalija Topi Popovi

Ruder Boskovic Institute, Croatia

Title: Adriatic shellfish as a source of polyunsaturated fatty acids-I

Biography:

Natalija Topi Popovi, DVM, MSc, PhD, senior scientist, is a member of Laboratory for Aquaculture Biotechnoloy within the Ruder Boskovic Institute in Zagreb, Croatia, and of the Centre of Excellence for Marine Bioprospecting-BioProCro within the same institute.

Abstract:

A great variety of organisms inhabiting seas and oceans are rich sources of fatty acids (FA). Marine biogenic lipids are vastly provided from the bivalves, which can successfully be farmed and enhanced. This work is focused on seasonal variation of fatty acid content and relative ratios of the specific polyunsaturated fatty acids (n-3 to n-6) in European flat oysters from the Adriatic Sea. Farmed seafood are natural products and are subjected to normal seasonal variations in composition that can affect nutritional functional properties. Increased understanding of these compositional variations is of interest for the industry for labeling and for health purposes. Also, there is a gap in the area of the links between consumption of Croatian aquaculture seafood and their benefits for human health. The aim of this research is to overcome this gap by identification of unsaturated fatty acids (n-3 and n-6) of native European flat oyster (Ostrea edulis L.) and to identify benefits that could be used to promote this seafood. Our research shows that the highest values of n-3 and n-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids occur in the winter and spring. Because of the potential for national health benefits and consequent reduction in health costs, this work supports harvesting of oysters for unsaturated fatty acids extracts as a national health priority and economical prosperity.

Meetings International -  Conference Keynote Speaker Tomislav Smuc photo

Tomislav Smuc

Ruder Boskovic Institute, Croatia

Title: Adriatic shellfish as a source of polyunsaturated fatty acids-II

Biography:

Tomislav Smuc, PhD is a Head of Laboratory for Machine Learning and Knowledge Representation in RBI, Zagreb, Croatia. He is the member of the Centre of Excellence for Marine Bioprospecting-BioProCro. His research interests are in the area of machine learning, data mining techniques and their applications in bio-science domains. Other coauthors are researchers (from doctoral students to senior scientists) working on the problematics of aquaculture.

Abstract:

A great variety of organisms inhabiting seas and oceans are rich sources of fatty acids (FA). Marine biogenic lipids are vastly provided from the bivalves, which can successfully be farmed and enhanced. This work is focused on seasonal variation of fatty acid content and relative ratios of the specific polyunsaturated fatty acids (n-3 to n-6) in European flat oysters from the Adriatic Sea. Farmed seafood are natural products and are subjected to normal seasonal variations in composition that can affect nutritional functional properties. Increased understanding of these compositional variations is of interest for the industry for labeling and for health purposes. Also, there is a gap in the area of the links between consumption of Croatian aquaculture seafood and their benefits for human health. The aim of this research is to overcome this gap by identification of unsaturated fatty acids (n-3 and n-6) of native European flat oyster (Ostrea edulis L.) and to identify benefits that could be used to promote this seafood. Our research shows that the highest values of n-3 and n-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids occur in the winter and spring. Because of the potential for national health benefits and consequent reduction in health costs, this work supports harvesting of oysters for unsaturated fatty acids extracts as a national health priority and economical prosperity.

Meetings International -  Conference Keynote Speaker Rabiatu Abass photo

Rabiatu Abass

University of Ghana, Ghana

Title: The role of formal and informal institutions in smallholder agricultural adaptation: The case of Lawra and Nandom districts, Ghana

Biography:

Rabiatu Abass has completed Masters and MPhil from University of Ghana at the Institute for Environmental Studies. She has published her research paper in “West African Journal of Applied Ecology” journal.

Abstract:

As the current frequency of climate impacts is expected to increase in semi-arid regions of Ghana, smallholder farmers will require access to new and relevant information to adapt successfully. Institutional support is increasingly gaining attention for effective and successful adaptation; however, there is limited knowledge of the specific roles of both formal and informal organizations in implementing adaptation strategies in semi-arid regions. Using the Lawra and Nandom Districts as case studies, the various roles of existing institutions in adaptation strategies were examined. A total of 135 household questionnaires, six focus group discussions (FGDs), 20 in-depth interviews with farmers, and seven key informant interviews from institutions evaluated climate risks and impacts, adaptation responses of farmers and the functions of the different institutions in supporting these adaptation strategies. The majority of respondents observed that irregular and unpredictable rainfall (77%), high temperature and extreme heat (56%) and rainfall irregularities during the growing season (55%) as the main changes in the past 10 years. Major agricultural adaptation strategies identified were changing of planting dates (100%), planting of different varieties of the same crop (51%), planting of trees (35%) and seasonal migration by the local farmers (21%). There is high dependence by the smallholder farmers on formal institutions’ resources to adapt, especially for developing/ building the local capacity, rather than on local innovations within the communities. This is mainly due to the lack of knowledge about climate change risks and adaptation strategies and limited or no access to financial resources. Government-led adaptation is considered to be more sustainable than NGO-led programs although it comparatively lacks specific mandates and financial resources. Continued support by formal institutions will, therefore, enable the development of more effective agricultural adaptation initiatives.

Meetings International -  Conference Keynote Speaker Cristian Popescu photo

Cristian Popescu

TPF Inginerie, Romania

Title: Global warming versus global cooling

Biography:

Popescu Cristian has completed his studies at Polytechnical University, Energetic Faculty, Hydro department and he has finalized his PhD at the age of 33 years from Technical University of Constructions Bucharest, Romania, with specialty in hydrotechnical constructions. He has a vast experience accumulated in 7 private companies working from research-design to project management and business development for various energy projects from hydro, wind, thermal, to nuclear.

Abstract:

The present study describes the alternation of periods of global warming with periods of global cooling at planetary scale. As our planet travels through the universe spinning around the Sun, the solar disk also spins around the Sun making one change of zodiac sigh at about 2000 years. For 12 zodiacal signs a complete cycle is made at 24000 years. Today our data show the temperature it’s at its peek of the last 10000. Since we know 10000 years ago it was colder, the phenomenon which describes this change is the presence of the solar disk in the plane of the movement of the Sun around the centre of galaxy. Sun leaves behind it a trace of thermal heat and when planets spin they accumulate part of this heat when they pass behind the Sun, loosing it when they move in front of the Sun facing the cold from the universe. But as the solar disk moves, in the same time with the Sun, when this angle becomes high enough, all planets no longer pass behind the Sun and they no longer accumulate thermal heat, so the temperature of our planet becomes lower. After a complete cycle of 12 zodiacal signs (24000 years) the temperature of the planet is the same. Periods of global warming and global cooling are a natural phenomenon which repeats itself at every 24000 years. On long term, as in our universe we have 3 types of rotations, the consequence of each one is the following:1st rotation, the planets spin in the solar disk. For Earth we have spring, summer, autumn and winter with a period of 1 year. 2nd rotation, the solar disk spins around a line which connects Sun and centre of galaxy. For Earth we have global warming and global cooling with a period of 24000 years. 3rd rotation, the solar disk spins around an axis perpendicular on the galaxy plane. For Earth we have a period of continuous warming lasting hundreds of thousands of years followed by periods of global warming and global cooling, with a total period difficult to be defined.

Meetings International -  Conference Keynote Speaker Bhavna Vimawala photo

Bhavna Vimawala

Sarvajanik College of Engineering and Technology, India

Title: Capacity building of Indian cities on urban climate change resilience

Biography:

Bhavna Vimawala is an architect from CEPT- Ahmedabad & Masters in Planning. An active academician since 22 years, a professor at Faculty of Architecture., SCET, Surat India, She has received many awards ‘Aqua Foundation’s Excellence Award 2017, IIA Award for Excellence in Architecture 2015 for Research Studies, BEST Papers PORTUS plus journal of RETE Publisher, Venice in 2016 & 2017. She was invited by Asian University Network Forum on Advances in Research AUNFAIR 2018 at Nagoya, JAPAN and invited to participate in the Eu Funded Erasmus +KA-107 Mobility Program at Universidad Politécnica de Cartagena (Spain)-UPCT.

Abstract:

The cities across the globe face long-term challenges in ensuring the well-being of their inhabitants. With cities growing, the problems are also growing. More population pressure leads to intensive resource use and damage to the environment. These challenges are impact of climate change and are often compounded by pre-existing vulnerability. Urban resilience is the capacity of cities to function, so that the people living in cities survive and bounce back no matter what stresses or shocks they encounter. Thus, it is important to build up and strengthen national, regional and community level capacity. This particular paper highlights the attempts carried out to improve the resilience of climate change by strengthening the capacity building of identified six Indian cities (Bharuch, Bhavnagar, Jodhpur, Aurangabad, and Kolhapur Ujjain in different states of India) on urban climate change resilience city. The objective was to exchange information on capacity building along with knowledge networking among the Urban Local Bodies on UCCR. The aim was to generate debate that may help to arrive at contextualize options for the policies and impart knowledge to educate the aspirants that they can further implement the learning in their cities and put in practice. Here the solution couldn’t only be drafting of plans and coming up with ideas. But any successful implementation of the plans requires effective collaboration from root to top. Also one solution fits all concepts could prove to be inefficient in coping up with the climate change problem. Local  conditions are to be studied before implementing any plan, there are absolutely no boundaries to climate change, the best way to prevent its worsen effects is by being prepared and also being sensitive towards nature is the need of the hour.