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:
- 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?
- What obstacles might we face whilst trying to manage and adapt to change?
- What new possibilities might arise from managing and adapting to change?
Questions for the afternoon session:
TABLE 1: Assessing vulnerabilities
- How should we try to measure vulnerabilities? Or should we even try to measure them?
- What kind of indicators and criteria can/should we use in recognizing vulnerabilities?
- 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
- What kind of groups/approaches are there within vulnerability research and how do these different communities of vulnerability research contribute to research?
- How do we deal with diverse approaches and what kind of communication is there/should there be between these different approaches?
- 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
- If we measure vulnerabilities, what should we do with the results?
- What is policy-relevant science in this context and how can we bridge the gap between research and policy?
- 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
- How can we manage and adapt to change in urbanizing environments? What kind of long-term change and short-term actions are needed?
- What kind of possibilities do built environment and nature-based solutions provide in building disaster resilient societies?
- What are for example the roles of urban planning and green infrastructure in adapting and managing change?
TABLE 5: Fairness of adaptation
- How can we take into account the differentiated positions and abilities of people in responding to (climate) change?
- How can we ensure the fairness of adaptation, or can we? How do we integrate principles of equity in adaptation decision making?
- 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
- What are the strengths and limits of current adaptation, vulnerability and resilience approaches and programs?
- Are there some broader societal processes that are producing vulnerabilities that are not addressed in adaptation programs?
- 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
- 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?
- 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)?
- What kind of cooperation and solutions should there be so that adaptation would not present problems but solutions?