Call for Papers

Introduction

The phenomenon of climate change constitutes one of the most important challenges facing all countries of the world at the present time. Reports from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change clearly confirm that harmful emissions resulting from anthropogenic activities dependent on fossil fuels over the last century, has led to vast concentrations of greenhouse gases being emitted to the Earth’s atmosphere. This has undoubtedly caused the observed increase in not only atmospheric temperature, but also the warming of oceans and the extreme weather experienced across the world in recent years.

While all studies and field measurements confirmed that the contribution of Arab countries to the causes of global climate warming is relatively low; the climate models that were studied within the framework of the Regional Initiative for Climate Change Impact Assessment in the Arab Region (RICCAR) predicts large swathes of the Arab region will be negatively affected by climate change, as these increased temperatures will make the Arab region hotter and drier the effects of which will impact all economic and social sectors.

To mitigate the negative impact of climate change, many Arab countries are showing more interest in the issue of adapting to the effects of global warming and are making remarkable efforts to reduce carbon emissions and their dependence on fossil fuels. Many Arab nations have developed national programs focused on renewable energy; have invested large funds into clean energy generation, they have raised the efficiencies of energy and water usage such as reusing wastewater after treatment, and some have established afforestation areas to combat carbon emissions and to reduce soil erosion. Some Arab countries are also preparing for carbon capture and storage projects, in addition to adopting economic policies that include providing incentives and subsidies to industries to encourage them to embrace environmentally sound alternatives to fossil fuels.

To confront the wide ranging social and economic repercussions of this global phenomenon, which will negatively impact all of us, and to contribute to the wider discussion on how to achieve our aims for more sustainable energy sources and environmentally sound initiatives the Arab Fund for Economic and Social Developments will hold the Arab Conference for Cooperation on Climate Change in the state of Kuwait during the period May 29-30, 2023.

The Conference will assess and discuss the expected negative effects on Arab countries from climate change and how to strengthen cooperation in the region in confronting its repercussions. A select group of 100 researchers and experts will be invited from scientific research institutions and official Arab and international bodies. They are expected to participate in the wider discussion utilizing their expertise from conducting studies and research on the causes of climate change, taking measures of various factors, and designing projects to mitigate or adapt to the effects of climate change.

The conference will be held in person and remotely.

Conference Objective

The Arab Conference for Cooperation on Climate Change aims primarily to strengthen and support the inter-Arab dialogue on climate change; to strengthen cooperation between states in facing potential negative repercussions, and to encourage the launch of new joint Arab initiatives such as establishing a database on climate change related statistics in the region. The Conference will also review climate change challenges and solutions and help identify the best means to mitigate its effects and adapt to it, and to benefit from lessons learned in this field that contributes to supporting the efforts of Arab countries to achieve the desired results.

The Conference will provide an opportunity for Arab countries to discuss common priorities in the areas of adaptation and mitigation and will increase the contribution of Arab countries to climate change research and give them the possibility to actively participate in the global discussion and influence the international pursuit of climate change science.

The Conference will also provide an opportunity for Arab financial institutions to study the possibility of expanding their role in supporting Arab cooperation to include collaboration in the field of climate change by establishing practical mechanisms to stimulate and support regional, sub -regional and bilateral development and teamwork, in accordance with the needs and priorities of each country, and by engaging in new initiatives for joint Arab projects in the field of mitigation and adaption. Expanded Conference Themes

– Climate change repercussions in Arab countries,

– A review of the economic impacts of climate change.

– A review of joint projects between Arab countries in the fight against climate change.

– Pilot projects and success stories in the areas of mitigation or adaption to climate change.

-Stimulating Arab cooperation in the field, launching initiatives to activate the Arab climate information system and exchanging data and lessons learned.

– Building the capacities of Arab institutions and Arab experts in all areas of climate change, the most important of which are ways to support scientific research.

– Formulating a common Arab outlook of climate change actions.

– Prospects of efforts to combat climate change in the Arab countries.

– International finance to climate change projects and the role of Arab financial institutions.

Conference language

Papers will be prepared and submitted in Arabic. The Conference will provide interpretation service from English into Arabic and vice versa.

Conference Outcome

The conference will contribute to the formulation of common Arab vision on climate change and help in the preparation of the position paper of the Arab Fund to the Conference of Parties (COP 28) expected to be held in the United Arab Emirates in 2023. A summary in Arabic of all presented papers at the conference will be prepared and published, in addition to publishing the papers on the Arab Fund website.

Participating Institutions and Organizations

Official invitations will be sent for the participation of scientists, experts and researchers from Arab official institutions and research centers concerned with studying the phenomenon of climate change in Arab countries, and from regional and international organizations, including the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), and from Arab, regional, and international development finance institutions.

Conference Venue

The conference will be held in person in the Abdlatif Y. Al-Hamad Hall for Conferences located in the Headquarter Building of the Arab Organizations in Kuwait, and virtually using the application (Teams).

Submission of Paper’s Abstract

Those wishing to participate in the conference may submit an Extended Abstract of more than 500 words no later than 30/11/2022, including a description of the research that will be presented at the conference, the data sources on which the research is based, models drawn from the data, and the proposed projects and procedures, Policies, strategies, success lessons in reducing, mitigating and/or adapting to climate change, and the institutional affiliation of the research provider.

Research abstracts should be emailed to the Arab Fund to the address [email protected].

Review of Submitted Papers

The Technical Committee of the Conference will review submitted abstracts. Announcement of accepted contributions will be made by 31/12/2022. Final completed papers should be submitted by 28/02/2023.

The Technical Committee will make final announcement of the conference program by 30/03/2023. Special invitation will be sent to selected renowned scientists in the field of climate change to prepare plenary papers to be presented in the beginning of each conference session.

Travel and Accommodation Expenses

The Arab Fund will cover the travel expenses of a limited number of research presenters, whose papers are classified by the Technical Committee of the Conference as “Invited Paper”. The Arab Fund will also cover the accommodation expenses of all accepted speakers in the Conference.

 

You are invited to submit your papers by email

[email protected]