As governments negotiate a new climate agreement in Paris later this year, a multitude of actions are being taken by non-state and subnational actors, such as cities, regions, businesses civil society and investors to bring about resilient development and a transformation towards a low-carbon economy. Yet, most non-state and subnational actions seen to be led by organizations and groups based in the global North. This session demonstrates that many climate actions, in fact, emerge in the global South, and discusses opportunities and challenges for these actions to contribute to climate resilient and low-carbon development.

Presentation session: Galvanizing action for climate resilient development

SCP practices are instrumental not only for climate change mitigation, but for a broader approach enabling climate resilient development. The session will feature expert speakers to provide an overview on the latest findings on climate change in Asia and how climate change is addressed in EU-India development cooperation. In addition, concrete examples will be provided on how small scale low-carbon technologies promoted by SWITCH-Asia projects and TERI’s Lighting A Billion Lives initiative benefit local communities, mitigate climate change and promote resilience.

Panel discussion: Climate change action by businesses through SCP

Climate actions undertaken by businesses are crucial element for any successful mitigation strategy. The panel will feature representatives from large businesses and SWITCH-Asia projects working with SMEs to discuss how large companies and SMEs can cooperate effectively to implement SCP practices, green supply chains and advance the transition to a low-carbon economy in Asia.

Agenda

08:30–09:00
Registration

09:00–09:15
Welcome & Session Introduction
Southern-led climate initiatives - The role of non-state actors

• Patrick Schroeder, SWITCH-Asia Network Facility

09:15 – 10:30    Presentation Session: Galvanizing action for climate resilient development in Asia

Introduction to the Galvanizing the Groundswell of Climate Actions initiative (Sander Chan)

• Henriette Faergemann, Climate Change Counsellor EU Delegation India:
  Climate change initiatives in EU-India development cooperation
• Shobhakar Dhakal, Asian Institute of Technology and Coordinating Lead Author IPCC:
  SCP and Climate Change: Crucial linkages and opportunities
• Debajit Palit, Associate Director, Social Transformation Division, TERI Lighting a Billion Lives
• Mukesh Gulati, SWITCH-Asia MSME Cluster project, India

 Moderator: Sander Chan, German Development Institute / Deutsches Institut für Entwicklungspolitik (DIE)

10:30–11:00
Coffee/Tea break
Presentation of the winning photos of the “Clean & Green India” 2015 photography competition by the Asia Society for Societal Improvement & Sustainable Transformation (ASSIST)               

11:00–12:15
Panel discussion
Climate change action by businesses through sustainable consumption and production

• Francois-Joseph Schichan, French Embassy India: The role of non-state actors in promoting technology transfer
• Wilasinee Poonuchaphai, SWITCH-Asia Thai Automotive SME project (GIZ Thailand)
• Putri Razreena Abdul Razak, SWITCH-Asia SuBuMa project (Malaysia)
• Krishnan Pallassana, The Climate Group India: Clean Energy for All
• Arupendra Nath Mullick, TERI Council for Business Sustainability: Corporate Action in India: Vision and India GHG Program

Moderator: Manish Shrivastava, TERI