‘Adapting to climate change in China: lessons for research and policy'

Professor Declan Conway,University of East Anglia, UK

NCCARF Visiting Fellow

WHERE: The Design Studio, Room 501, Lvl 5, Civil Engineering Building (H20) UNSW, Kensington NSW. (Enter via Gate 11, Botany St Randwick and proceed to Botany St Parking Station (Map Ref: H25).  Metered parking available on top level. Map

WHEN: Thurs 16 June, 5pm for 5.30pm. Refreshments will be held before and after the event.

Food production in China is a fundamental component of the national economy and supports hundreds of millions of livelihoods. Sustaining and increasing output to meet growing demand for food faces significant challenges including climate change, increasing population, agricultural land loss, and competing demands for water.

This presentation will outline recent research to understand the combined effects of climate change and changing water availability on national level food production in China. Water availability will be seen to be a critical limiting factor. The presentation will then summarise insights from an ongoing international project to incorporate climate change adaptation into planning processes at the provincial level in China.

Experiences from these projects will be used to identify lessons for the practical implementation of measures to adapt to future climate change.

About Declan Conway

Declan is working with NCCARF as part of the NCCARF Visiting Fellowship program.

A senior lecturer in the School of International Development at the University of East Anglia, UK. His research focuses on the interactions between climate and society, with a particular focus on water resources.

He has extensive research experience in developing countries, including Bangladesh, China, India, and parts of South America and East Africa and is involved with the Tyndall Centre Research Programme on International Development and Climate Change.
While in Australia, Declan is working on a project to identify lessons for improved adaptation planning across NCCARF, and wider Pacific/Asia adaptation initiatives. The work will include a focus on water resources management and consider adaptation in the context of sharing lessons with international development programs.