Lebanon National Committee

1
Lebanon National Committee

• Nadim Farajalla, PhD
• American University of Beirut

2
Background

• Established in the late 1990s
• Initially hosted by the Lebanese National Center
  for Scientific Research (LNCSR) Chaired by Dr.
  Mohammad Khawlie
• Participated in the South Africa IGBP meeting in
  2007
• Limited to no support was provided by LNCSR
  activities restricted to outreach
• Key activity was to identify scientists
  interested and active in climate change research
  through survey

3
Background

• Survey involved 114 scientists
• 48 responded
• 80 of respondents aware of issues involved in
  climate change
• 5 actively involved in research related to
  climate change

4
Future Outlook

• To ensure continuity and institutionalize the NC,
  interested members decided to remove the NC from
  LNCSR control
• Opted for NC to be hosted by academic
  institutions for 3 - 4 years on a rotation basis
• General assembly planned for mid December 2008
• Elect the first host institution and the
  following one
• Elect chairperson and executive committee members
• Review status on climate change research in
  Lebanon
• Decide on future activities.

5
Activities

• Interest in climate change and its impacts on the
  country has increased in Lebanon
• Several members active in research related to
  above.
• Some research was locally funded, other funded by
  international organizations and NGOs
• Members have been active in supporting the
  Ministry of Environment in producing climate
  change reports (e.g. 1st and 2nd country
  communication reports on climate change for the
  UNDP)

6
Activities

• The Issam Fares Institute for Public Policy and
  International Affairs (IFI) at the American
  University of Beirut
• Set up a forum on Climate a Change and the
  Environment in the Arab World
• aimed at encouraging scientific research on
  climate change
• and focusing on converting and integrating that
  research into public policy

7
Activities

• Report on the impact of climate change on
  biodiversity in Lebanon sponsored by the British
  government and two local NGOs.
• Several NC IGBP members contributed to the report

8
Activities

• Research at the American University of Beirut
  (AUB) on
• Precipitation trends in Beirut over the past 124
  years

9
Activities

• Research at the American University of Beirut
  (AUB) on
• Temperature variation in Beirut over the past 124
  years

10
Activities

• Research at the American University of Beirut
  (AUB) on
• Effect of El Nino La Nina on precipitation
  patterns in Lebanon

11
Thank you