Round table discussions

HENVI Science Day 2016 is organized as a highly interactive event allowing the audience actively participate through moderated round table discussions.

 

Questions for the morning session:

  1. Identification and assessment of key vulnerabilities: What are the key vulnerabilities that we are facing? What are the key processes that are affected and how?
  2. What obstacles might we face whilst trying to manage and adapt to change?
  3. What new possibilities might arise from managing and adapting to change?

 

Questions for the afternoon session:

TABLE 1: Assessing vulnerabilities

  1. How should we try to measure vulnerabilities? Or should we even try to measure them?
  2. What kind of indicators and criteria can/should we use in recognizing vulnerabilities?
  3. What kind of vulnerability frameworks do we have at the moment and is there something missing from them?

TABLE 2: Communities and approaches of vulnerability research

  1. What kind of groups/approaches are there within vulnerability research and how do these different communities of vulnerability research contribute to research?
  2. How do we deal with diverse approaches and what kind of communication is there/should there be between these different approaches?
  3. What are the challenges and new directions of vulnerability research within or between these communities? Are there some specific knowledge gaps and how should these be addressed?

TABLE 3: Policy-relevant science: Vulnerability research as a way forward

  1. If we measure vulnerabilities, what should we do with the results?
  2. What is policy-relevant science in this context and how can we bridge the gap between research and policy?
  3. How can we promote interdisciplinary approaches and challenge the divide between natural and social sciences to create policy relevant approaches? What are the key targets long-term vs. short-term?

TABLE 4: Built environment & ecosystem-based solutions in adapting and managing change

  1. How can we manage and adapt to change in urbanizing environments? What kind of long-term change and short-term actions are needed?
  2. What kind of possibilities do built environment and nature-based solutions provide in building disaster resilient societies?
  3. What are for example the roles of urban planning and green infrastructure in adapting and managing change?

TABLE 5: Fairness of adaptation

  1. How can we take into account the differentiated positions and abilities of people in responding to (climate) change?
  2. How can we ensure the fairness of adaptation, or can we? How do we integrate principles of equity in adaptation decision making?
  3. What kind of cooperation would best promote the fairness of adaptation?

TABLE 6: The limits of adaptation approaches: Power, environmental change and politics of vulnerabilization

  1. What are the strengths and limits of current adaptation, vulnerability and resilience approaches and programs?
  2. Are there some broader societal processes that are producing vulnerabilities that are not addressed in adaptation programs?
  3. Should adaptation be more about challenging the current power relations and less about ‘saving’ and ‘climate-proofing’ different development interventions?

TABLE 7: Risks and costs of not adapting and managing change & implications of adaptation

  1. What are the risks and costs if we do not try to adapt and manage change? What kind of implications can there arise long-term/short-term?
  2. What are the social, political, financial and environmental implications of adaptation and mitigation programs? What are the negative effects that might occur as a result of adaptation (maladaptation)?
  3. What kind of cooperation and solutions should there be so that adaptation would not present problems but solutions?