Download panel session - LED Forum Torino 2015

PANEL SESSION
Title of the session: “How To promote innovation ensuring environmental
sustainability”
Date & Time: 16/10 – 10:30h-12:00h
Room: Galileo
Organizers: Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Global Island Partnership (GLISPA), Mountain
Partnership Secretariat (MPS)
1. Concept Note of the Panel:
Mountains and islands are among the most vulnerable ecosystems to climate change.
This year Tropical Cyclones Pam and Super Typhoon Maysak have devastated islands across the Pacific. In
2014, Cyclone Ian caused over $50 million in damage in Tonga, equivalent to 11 percent of GDP. From the
densely populated urban centers of the Philippines, Taiwan and Hawai’i to the atolls and archipelagos of
the Caribbean, Asia-Pacific and Indian Ocean, never before have the more than 600 million people living on
islands been so at risk.
Mountains are also experiencing an increasing number of climate induced extrem events, which have taken
a heavy toll in terms of human lives. They are due to changes in precipitation, melting of permafrost,
destruction of forests needed for protection from avalanches and for slope stabilizations. The rapidlymelting glaciers and significantly reduced snow cover in many parts of the world are threatening vital
water sources, especially during dry seasons, with devastating effects for local communities and
populations further downstream, affecting regional food security and economic development . The loss of
biodiversity is also on the rise as specialized mountain plants and animals are very sensitive and vulnerable
to changing conditions.
Our planets fragile island and mountain ecosystems are feeling the effects of temperature rise, and the
escalation of these impacts will have catastrophic implications. Islands and mountains are also facing rapid
growth of urban centres, pressure on limited land and water resources, and dramatic biodiversity loss from
the mountain ridges to the depth of their vast oceans.
Responding to these threats, a number of island leaders have made visionary commitments to action to
build resilient communities. However island responses on their own will not be enough. New partnerships
are needed to mobilize large-scale investment in sustainable development initiatives at the water-energyfood nexus on islands to strengthen local economic development and build resilience and sustainable island
communities. Mountain governments and key United Nations and civil society actors created back in 2002
the Mountain Partnership, an official United Nations Alliance focused on promoting sustainable mountain
development and supporting the livelihoods of mountain peoples. This Partnership can be instrumental to
promote greater attention to mountains in the key fora, such as the UNFCCC COPs, but its full potential has
to be unlocked by a collective efforts of its 260 members, including 56 governments.
2. Objective of the session:
This session will:
 Showcase visionary integrated commitments and solutions by island and mountain leaders that are
working to build resilient and sustainable communities
 Demonstrate how islands and mountain countries are taking leadership in putting in place
innovative financing mechanisms that stimulate local economic and infrastructure development
 Share emerging approaches and solutions being championed by island leaders through the Global
Island Partnership (GLISPA) and the Mountain Partnership.
3. Key points of discussion:
 Islands as the champions of visionary and integrated approaches to sustainable economic
development such as blue and green growth;
 The value and opportunity presented by islands and mountain countries as laboratories of solutions
to prove market-based solutions in building resilience;
 Opportunities to support islands and mountain countries in achieving their visionary commitments
4. List of invited speakers/moderator/(confirmed and foreseen):
1) H.E. Ronny Jumeau, Ambassador for Small Island Developing State Issues, Republic of Seychelles
2) H.E. Hersey Kyota, Ambassador to the United States, Republic of Palau
3) Oliver Hilllel, Convention on Biodiversity Secretariat
4) Thomas Hofer, Coordinator, Mountain Partnership Secretariat, FAO
5) Grammenos Mastrojeni, Environment Coordinator, Italian Development Cooperation
6) UCLG Corporate Partner SUEZ Environnement
7) Marcelino Chumpí, Morona Santiago Prefect
8) Association Internationale des Maires Francophones
9) Former coordinator of LED programme
5. List of Background Documents:
H.E. Ronald Jean Jumeau, is the roving Ambassador for Climate Change and Small Island
Developing State Issues for the Republic of Seychelles, a tropical island nation spanning
an archipelago of 115 islands in the Indian Ocean.
Ambassador Jumeau is a champion for climate change, conservation and sustainable development
for islands globally. He is the President of Seychelles Representative to the Global Island
Partnership and Chair of the Partnerships Steering Committee through which he helps to inspire
leaders to take action for conservation of island biodiversity and sustainable livelihoods.
From 2004 until 2007, Ambassador Jumeau was Minister for
Environment and Natural Resources, and from September
2001 to 2003 Minister for Environment. He served as his
country’s Minister for Culture and Information from 2000
until September 2001, and as Minister for Agriculture and
Marine Resources from 1998 to 1999. From 1993 through
1998, Ambassador Jumeau served in various capacities
including as secretary to the Cabinet and director of
research in the President’s office during that period, as well
as secretary of the bipartisan National Economic
Consultative Committee. From 1994 to 1998, he was also
secretary to four inter-ministerial committees of the
Cabinet, and from 1995 to 1998 he was responsible for the
Government’s relations with the National Assembly. From 1991 through 1993 he was adviser, with
special press duties in the Ministry of Education. Jumeau was born in Dar es Salaam, United
Republic of Tanzania, on January 24, 1957.
H.E. Hersey Kyota became Palau’s ambassador to the United States on November 12, 1997. Kyota
obtained a bachelor’s degree in Art in 1977 and a master’s in Art in 1979, both from the United
States International University in San Diego. He was a legal researcher for the Palau House of
Delegates from 1981 to 1984. He then became the chief clerk for the Palau House of Delegates in
the Palau National Congress from 1985-1988. Kyota served as the director of the House Legal
Counsels’ Office from 1989 to 1990. He served as a senator in the Palau National Congress from
1990 to 1996.