A MULTI-DISCIPLINARY FRAMEWORK TO ADDRESS CLIMATE CHANGE

Abstract

This paper discusses how a multi-disciplinary framework would aid in addressing climate change in countries in Asia. The effects of climate change are highlighted and the countries of focus for the paper comprise of low and low-middle income countries (Bangladesh, The Philippines, and Indonesia), upper-middle income countries (Thailand, China) and high-income countries (Japan, Korea and Singapore). These countries were selected to obtain a holistic analysis that accounts for developed and developing countries, as well as variations in population size and GDP.

A literature review was conducted on international, regional and national laws and policies on climate change mitigation and adaptation in relation to the countries of focus. These included countries’ national five-year plans as well. Differences in mitigation (i.e. preventive measures) and adaptation (i.e. responsive actions) measures taken by the countries were also highlighted in the literature review. Adaptation measures include early warning systems and structural measures while mitigation measures include renewables and energy efficiency applications. Other frameworks which included multiple disciplines were also highlighted.

The findings of this paper show that although many laws have been implemented in order to collectively reduce emissions of greenhouse gases both on a global scale and local scale, these have not proven to be very successful due to the lack of consequences enforced by these laws. Developing countries such as Indonesia still continue to emit high amounts of pollution on an annual basis during their slash-and-burn season. However, not all hope is lost as countries such as China are strongly pushing their renewable energy agenda, and is currently the world leader in solar panel production while its adoption of renewables has increased greatly over the past few years.

Developed countries tend to have even a bigger role in mitigation measures. Adaptation is also important as seen in the case of Japan which is highly prone to natural disasters. Developing countries do need to invest more in adaptation measures as they tend to be more vulnerable and highly exposed to natural disasters such as floods and cyclones.

The findings point towards a need for a multi-disciplinary framework to address climate change, and argues for a proposed framework consisting of various disciplines: law, engineering, science, economics, urban planning and business. The paper develops the relationship among multiple stakeholders and the disciplines. The resulting implications for action form the crux of the framework.

The proposed framework in this paper has been adopted to some of the countries of focus and has portrayed how a multi-disciplinary approach is critical when planning mitigation and adaptation measures. The paper argues that a multi-disciplinary and multi-stakeholder approach would be able to fill in the gaps of developing countries, in terms of compensating where they lack in both planning and the implementation of constructive and successful measures, especially in adaptation measures. Success from developed countries such as Japan act as a benchmark for others so as to minimize the effects of natural disasters.