Press Release

Environment Natural Disasters And Biotechnology

Biotechnology

The need to institutionalize and promote cooperation in the area of Biotechnology has been recognized by the Heads of State or Government at various SAARC Summits since 1990. From 1990-2003, cooperation the area of Biotechnology was pursued by the Technical Committee on Science and Technology. A Working Group on Biotechnology was established in 2004 as a part of the restructured SAARC Integrated Programme of Action to coordinate regional cooperation in the area of Biotechnology.

 

The First and Second Meeting of the Working Group on Biotechnology was held in Kathmandu in April 2004 and December 2006 under the Chairmanship of Nepal. Sri Lanka assumed the Chair of the Working Group on Biotechnology on 1 January 2009 for a period of two years. The Third Meeting of the Working Group on Biotechnology was held in Colombo in June 2009.

 

The Third Meeting of the Working Group on Biotechnology (Colombo, 4-5 June 2009), among others, considered and finalized a Concept Paper on a Programme of Cooperation in the field of Biotechnology between SAARC Member States. The Report of the Third Meeting of the Working Group on Biotechnology was considered by the Thirty-sixth Session of the Programming Committee (SAARC Secretariat, 10-11 August 2009). The Report of the Thirty-sixth Session of the Programming Committee was approved by the Thrity-seventh Session of the Standing Committee (Thimphu, 25-26 April 2010).

 

The Programme for Cooperation in the field of Biotechnology provides for cooperation in the following areas:

 

  1. Medical Biotechnology
  2. Agricultural Biotechnology
  3. Environmental Biotechnology
  4. Animal Biotechnology
  5. Marine Biotechnology
  6. Bioinformatics
  7. Plant Tissue Culture
  8. Genetically Modified Organisms and bio-safety
  9. Marker Assisted Selection
  10. Bio-fertilizer and Bio-gas
  11. Vaccine Production
  12. Genomics and Proteomics
  13. Nano-biotechnology
  14. RNA interference technology platform
  15. Stem cell research
  16. Industrial biotechnology

 

Cooperation the identified areas as listed above among the Member States of SAARC will be pursued through hosting of conferences and workshops; post-doctoral fellowships; joint research projects; and exchange of visits among scientists and specialists from the region.

As per recommendation of the Fourth Meeting of the Working Group on Biotechnology (Colombo, 27 April 2011), the National State-of-the-Art Reports on Biotechnology received from Member States are uploaded below:

 

National State-of-the-Art Report on Biotechnology from Bangladesh

National State-of-the-Art Report on Biotechnology from Bhutan

National State-of-the-Art Report on Biotechnology from India

National State-of-the-Art Report on Biotechnology from Nepal

National State-of-the-Art Report on Biotechnology from Pakistan

National State-of-the-Art Report on Biotechnology from Sri Lanka

 

Since 2004, the Working Group on Biotechnology has met three times. Pakistan is the current Chair of the Working Group on Biotechnology since January 2012.

 

Environment, Climate Change and Natural Disasters

 

The Heads of State or Government of the Member States of SAARC, at successive Summits since 1987, have reiterated the need to strengthen and intensify regional cooperation to preserve, protect and manage the diverse and fragile eco-systems of the region including the need to address the challenges posed by climate change and natural disasters. The Leaders noted that the development process and prospects of the Member States were being severely undermined by these challenges.

The preservation and protection of the environment including disaster risk reduction and management remains a high priority on the agenda of cooperation being pursued by the Member States of SAARC. The numerous directives issued by successive SAARC Summits and meetings of the SAARC Environment Ministers provide continued impetus for strengthening and intensifying regional cooperation in the areas of environment, climate change and natural disasters.

The meetings of the SAARC Environment Ministers and the Technical Committee on Environment and Forestry also provide key mechanisms to guide and facilitate the agenda of cooperation.

Regional Centers have also been established and constitute an important framework of SAARC Institutions, which address diverse aspects of environment, climate change and natural disasters. These are: (i) SAARC Environment Center merged with SAARC Energy Center (SEC) for the protection, conservation and prudent use of environment resources by adopting sustainable forest management practices through research, education and coordination among Member States; and (ii) SAARC Disaster Management Centre (SDMC) to provide policy advice and facilitate capacity building including strategic learning, research, training, system development, expertise promotion and exchange of information for effective disaster risk reduction and management – the mandate of the Centre was expanded to include the development of a Natural Disaster Rapid Response Mechanism ( Fifteenth SAARC Summit, Colombo, 2-3 August 2008).

 

Meetings of the SAARC Environment Ministers

 

SAARC Environment Ministers have met periodically to take stock of progress and to further enhance regional cooperation in the area of environment, climate change and natural disasters. Since 1992, SAARC Environment Ministers have met nine times. The SAARC Environment Ministers have not met since September 2011.

In addition, a Special Session of the Environment Ministers in the aftermath of the Indian Ocean Tsunami was held in Malé in July 2005 and a SAARC Ministerial Meeting on Climate Change was held in Dhaka in July 2008.

 

Technical Committee Meetings

 

A Technical Committee on Environment was established in 1992 to examine the recommendations of the Regional Study, to identify measures for immediate action and to decide on modalities for implementation.

The Technical Committee on Environment was also mandated to monitor the progress made in the implementation of the recommendations of the two Regional Studies. The mandate of the Committee was expanded to include meteorology and forestry. However, under the restructured Regional Integrated Programme of Action (RIPA) approved by the Twenty-ninth Session of the Standing Committee (Islamabad, 31 December 2003 – 1 January 2004), Meteorology was merged with the Technical Committee on Science and Technology.

The sectoral mandate of the Technical Committee comprises of environment, climate change, forestry and natural disasters. In addition to the Terms of Reference outlined under Article VI of the SAARC Charter, the Technical Committee follows-up on the implementation of decisions taken by SAARC Charter Bodies (Summit, Council of Ministers, Standing Committee) and the SAARC Environment Ministers.

The Committee also coordinates and monitors the implementation of the 1997 SAARC Environment Action Plan; and SAARC Action Plan on Climate Change (July 2008).

Since 2004, the Technical Committee on Environment and Forestry has met five times. 

 

Important Initiatives/Milestones

 

The Third SAARC Summit (Kathmandu, 2-4 November 1987) commissioned a Regional Study on the “Consequences of Natural Disasters and the Protection and Preservation of the Environment”. The Study was completed in 1991.

The Fourth SAARC Summit (Islamabad, 29-31 December 1988) directed that a joint study on the “Greenhouse Effect and its Impact on the Region” be undertaken. This study was initiated to provide a basis for an action plan for meaningful cooperation among Member States. The study was completed in 1992.

The above two studies provided a comprehensive assessment of the state of the environment in the Member States of SAARC.

 

SAARC Environment Action Plan (1997)

 

The “SAARC Environment Action Plan” was adopted by the Third Meeting of the SAARC Environment Ministers (Male, 15-16 October 1997) and identified some of the key concerns of Member States and set out the parameters and modalities for regional cooperation.

Since its adoption in 1997, a number of measures outlined in the SAARC Environment Action Plan have been implemented by the Regional Centres.

Disaster Management in South Asia: A Comprehensive Regional Framework for Action 2006-2015

Pursuant to the Malé Declaration, a “Comprehensive Framework on Disaster Management 2006-2015” was adopted in 2006 to address the specific needs of disaster risk reduction and management in South Asia. The Framework is aligned with the Hyogo Framework of Action (2005-2015). Member States are in the process of preparing their respective National Plans of Action for implementation of the Regional Framework and thereafter, an Expert Group Meeting will harmonize the national reports and articulate a Regional Plan of Action.

 

Dhaka Declaration and SAARC Action Plan on Climate Change (2008)

 

Delhi Statement on Cooperation in Environment (2009)

 

The Eighth Meeting of the SAARC Environment Ministers (New Delhi, October 2009) adopted the “Delhi Statement on Cooperation in Environment,” which identified many critical areas that need to be addressed and reaffirmed the commitment of Member States towards enhancing regional cooperation in the area of environment and climate change.

 

Thimphu Statement on Climate Change (2010)

 

Climate Change was the theme of the Sixteenth Summit (Thimphu, 28-29 April 2010) and, among others, adopted the “Thimphu Statement on Climate Change”, which outlines a number of important initiatives at the national and regional levels to strengthen and intensity regional cooperation to address the adverse effects of climate change in a focused manner. The Inter-governmental Expert Group on Climate Change (IGEG.CC), established by the Thimphu Statement, is required to monitor, review progress and make recommendations to facilitate the implementation of the Thimphu Statement. The IGEG.CC reports to the SAARC Environment Ministers.

 

SAARC Convention on Cooperation on Environment (2010)

 

The “SAARC Convention on Cooperation on Environment” was signed during the Sixteenth Summit. The Convention has been ratified by all Member States and entered into force with effect from 23 October 2013. The Convention identifies 19 areas for cooperation in the field of environment and sustainable development through exchange of best practices and knowledge, capacity building and transfer of eco-friendly technology in a wide range of areas related to the environment. The implementation of the Convention has been entrusted to a Governing Council, comprising of the Environment Ministers of Member States.

 

SAARC Agreement on Rapid Response to Natural Disasters (2011)

 

The “SAARC Agreement on Rapid Response to Natural Disasters” was signed at the Seventeenth Summit (Maldives, 10-11 November 2011). The SAARC Agreement on Rapid Response of Natural Disasters has been ratified by all Member States and entered into force with effect from Friday, 09 September 2016. The setting up and operationalization of the SAARC Natural Disaster Rapid Response Mechanism as provided for under the Agreement would institutionalize regional cooperation among Member States in the critical area of response in the aftermath of natural disasters in the region.

 

Collaboration with Inter-governmental Organizations

 

SAARC is collaborating with many regional and international organizations, and has signed Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the South Asia Cooperative Environment Programme (SACEP) in July 2004; United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) in June 2007; the United Nations International Strategy on Disaster Reduction (UNISDR) in September 2008 and Asia Disaster Preparedness Centre (ADPC). The MOUs are renewed as may be required. These agencies extend technical and financial support in implementing SAARC programmes.

SAARC is an accredited Observer of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) since COP 16 (Cancun, Mexico, 29 November-10 December 2010) and has presented common SAARC positions on climate change.

 

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 Related Documents:

SAARC ENVIRONMENT ACTION PLAN

 

 

COLOMBO DECLARATION ON A COMMON ENVIRONMENT PROGRAMME

 

 

MALÉ DECLARATION

 

DISASTER MANAGEMENT IN SOUTH ASIA: A COMPREHENSIVE REGIONAL FRAMEWORK FOR ACTION 2006-2015

 

SAARC DECLARATION ON CLIMATE CHANGE

 

 

SAARC ACTION PLAN ON CLIMATE CHANGE

 

 

SAARC MINISTERIAL STATEMENT ON COOPERATION ON ENVIRONMENT - “DELHI STATEMENT”

 

THIMPHU STATEMENT ON CLIMATE CHANGE

 

SAARC CONVENTION ON COOPERATION ON ENVIRONMENT

 

 

SAARC AGREEMENT ON RAPID RESPONSE TO NATURAL DISASTERS