URBAN PROGRAMS STRATEGIC URBAN DEVELOPMENT AND C ITIES AND C LIMATE C HANGE MAPPING OF RELEVANT INSTITUTIONS AND CENTERS OF COMPETENCE
Issam Fares Institute for Public Policy and International Affairs (IFI) American University of Beyrouth (AUB) Category: Research and training institute
Country: Lebanon
Director: Dr. Rima Habib Contact: Ms. Sarine Karajerjian, Program Coordinator 408 Diana Tamari Sabbagh (DTS) Building PO Box 11-0236, Riad el Solh Beirut 1107 2020, Lebanon Tel: 961 01 350000, x 4157 Fax: 961 1 737627 e-mail: sk63@aub.edu.lb Website : www.aub.edu.lb/ifi Missions: The Issam Fares Institute aims to: raise the quality of public policy-related debate and decision-making in the Arab World and abroad; enhance the Arab World’s input into international affairs; and, enrich the quality of interaction among scholars, officials and civil society actors in the Middle East and abroad. The Research and Policy Forum on Climate Change and Environment in the Arab World was launched in February 2008 as a prototype of the IFI's goal of bringing together AUB's significant research and analysis capabilities with the public policy-making needs of the Arab world. Over 25 faculty members at AUB whose research touches on climate change and environment issues are becoming involved with the program. The lectures provided a launching pad for the program, as it develops into a permanent mechanism that aims to: 1. Establish and maintain a central database of all pertinent research and researchers on climate changerelated issues in the Arab region. 2. Organize regular meetings among researchers, government officials, and relevant institutions in the private sector, civil society, and the international community, to exchange technical findings, identify gaps in our knowledge base on the extent and implications of climate change in this region, and initiate, coordinate and disseminate new research projects. 3. Through research studies, identify the cross-sectoral implications of expected likely climate change scenarios, in fields like Water, Agriculture, Rural livelihoods, Food trade, Energy, Transport, Air pollution, Public health, International law and policy-making, Urbanism/migration, Biodiversity, Employment and Economy. 4. Work together to define the most appropriate policy recommendations that could mitigate the negative impact of climate change, and share these suggestions with pertinent officials in parliaments, the executive branch, government agencies, the media, educators and others involved in implementing or influencing public policy in Arab countries. Relevance to the CMI urban programs: UD2 – Climate-appropriate urban development Date of entry: June 2010