Improvement of rural people livelihood
in cold desert areas of the Western Himalayas

About the seminar

CONTEXT

 

Populations of high altitude mountains and cold desert areas of Asia face very harsh living conditions and are among the most vulnerable in the world. Physically isolated, marginalised, with limited access to natural resources, an important number of people still rely on traditional energy resources -mainly biomass- that sometimes lead to the deterioration of this fragile environment.

Beside preservation of the environment, access to sustainable energy providing services is a critical factor in achieving major development goals: it provides better education and health services, improves women life conditions, helps the development of economic activities, increases agriculture productivity, etc.

Mountain areas are also particularly affected by climate change as relatively small changes in temperatures have severe impacts on water supply, agriculture-based livelihoods and infrastructures. Thus, addressing issues concerning adaptation strategy choices has become a primary objective for mountain populations. For these reasons, energy as well as climate change issues have to play a particular role within development strategies and this requires active synergies between the public, local community, private and nongovernmental actors. But as mountain ranges frequently act as natural borders, and are often shared between countries, if successful experiences do exist, exchange of information and networking between countries is very poor. Transnational exchange of knowledge is then particularly relevant for up-scaling best practices.

 

OBJECTIVE OF THE SEMINAR

 

To share successful experiences, best practices and policies concerning social, economical and environmental impacts of energy-related projects and adaptation to climate change in cold areas of Asia.

 

EXPECTED OUTPUTS

 

• To gather best case-studies and lessons learned.
• To discuss impacts on economic, social and environmental dimensions of local livelihoods.
• To identify dissemination processes for best methodologies and the conditions needed for scaling-up mechanisms.
• To develop experience-sharing among key players (donors/investors, private sector, NGOs, local communities; governments and multi/bilateral organizations) and initiate a community of practice.