Panel

Call for Papers for Panel for EUROSEAS 2010:
“Coping with Climate Change in Southeast Asia”

Panel Conveners: Pamela McElwee, Arizona State University, USA, and Nghiem Phuong Tuyen, Vietnam National University, Vietnam

Emissions of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases are, by all estimations, changing the Earth’s climate. Current climate research shows that the average temperature increase in the 21st century is likely to be between 1.8 and 4 ºC if current emissions levels continue. The potential consequences of global warming are very serious: weather is likely to become more extreme, with increased hurricanes, heat waves, floods, and droughts; sea levels are expected to continue to rise, costing lives and damaging ecosystems and economic production systems; and ecosystems and species ranges may change, with impact on agriculture as growing seasons and ranges fluctuate, and human health as disease vectors enter new ranges with scaled-up impacts. In sum, climate change has the potential to threaten human welfare and security and consequently quality of life in a manner unprecedented in recent history.

For the countries of Southeast Asia, such scenarios are extremely perilous, as these countries have extended coastlines, heavy reliance on agriculture, and high levels of poverty and inequality. Likely consequences that are forecasted for Southeast Asia include increased floods as monsoons shift; sea level rises and flooding in coastal areas; erratic rainfall and changes in season; extremes of temperatures of hot and cold; spread of aridity and drought; a shift in frequency, strength and location of typhoons and storms; spread of vector diseases; and greater heat dangers in urban areas. Hundreds of millions of people will potentially be affected, and thus there is a need to understand the consequences of these tremendous changes that are forecasted.

We are convening a panel on the consequences of global climate change for Southeast Asia at the EUROSEAS conference in Goteburg, Sweden, Aug 26-28, 2010. We are seeking papers from scholars working in the area of impacts, vulnerability and adaptation to these forecasted climate changes, in both contemporary and historical perspective. Interested authors should send a title, 250 word abstract, and brief bio for consideration to the panel's co-organizers no later than December 1, 2009.

Contacts:

Dr. Pamela McElwee , Assistant Professor at the School of Global Studies, Arizona State University (pamela.mcelwee@asu.edu)

Dr. Nghiem Phuong Tuyen, Senior Researcher, Center for Natural Resources and Environmental Studies, Vietnam National University (tuyennghiem_cres@yahoo.com)