Prof. Najam Speaks at Gas Conference in Qatar

Pardee Center Director, Dr. Adil Najam, spoke in Doha, Qatar, at the 7th Doha Natural Gas Conference and Exhibition. Prof. Najam spoke on the panel on energy security which also included a presentation by Andris Piebalgs, the Commissioner of Energy for the European Union.

Prof. Najam’s presentation discussed the post-2012 Kyoto climate regime which is under negotiations. He suggested that although the Copenhagen meeting in December 2009 may not lead to the defining of this new agreement, it will provide a glimpse of how it will look.

He argued that developing countries should understand the various aspects of the newly emerging climate regime and participate in its evolution. This is essential for developing countries in order to secure their national interests. Defining these interests is itself a critical challenge, said the speaker. Interests need to be defined within the context of development and human security concerns.

Dr. Najam, in his presentation, introduced a number of critical questions relating to climate change and development and how to deal with the impact, vulnerability, adaption and mitigation of climate change. He pointed to the historical responsibilities of developed countries for climate change and hence their mitigation efforts.
Developing countries need to implement adaption programs to address climate change. He also pointed to the important issues of adaptation to water stress, food shortage, energy stress, ecosystem degradation and human migration.

Prof. Najam concluded by pointing out that “climate change used to be about fossil fuel” but is now understood to be about development, including broad issues relating to food, security and water.

Later that day, Prof. Najam also spoke at an event organized by the Pakistani Engineers Forum on “Climate Change and Development.”