Scoping phase writing workshop, Kathmandu, April/May 2007

Second programme methodology meeting, Kathmandu, February 12th-18th 2007

Debtor Finance is a generic description of a funding service, based on the value of a business’s Accounts Receivable ledger. Most businesses have to offer credit terms , usually of 30 days, in order to secure orders from other businesses. Current statistics show that these invoices can take up to 60 days to be paid. This delay cuts off essential cash flow and restricts the growth of the business owed the money. Debtor Finance, also marketed as: Invoice Discounting, Factoring, Cashflow Finance, Debtor Finance, Asset Finance, Invoice Finance and Working Capital finance, provides the solution to this problem by providing an advance against those outstanding invoices.

A storm warning generally refers to an advisory issued by an official meteorological department to warn citizens of approaching dangerous weather. A storm watch, on the other hand, typically refers to an advisory issued to indicate that conditions are favorable for the development of dangerous weather patterns, although the dangerous weather conditions themselves are not currently present. In the United States, storm warnings and watches are issued by the National Weather Service, which is itself a branch of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. The NWS defines a watch as "the risk of a hazardous weather or hydrologic event [increasing] significantly, but its occurrence, location, and/or timing is still uncertain" and a warning as "hazardous weather or hydrologic event [that] is occurring, is imminent, or has a very high probability of occurring" . Additionally, the NWS breaks down storm warnings and watches based upon the specific type of hazardous weather. These warnings and watches include, but are not limited to, hurricanes, tornadoes, and severe thunderstorms. The term "storm warning" is also used by the NWS to warn of high wind conditions not associated with tropical cyclones.

Ongoing degradation of basic water resource systems in South Asia is likely to compound the climate change impacts and increase vulnerability to natural hazards. Four factors are, we believe, particularly important to note:  The over-exploitation of groundwater resources leading to declines in both the physical availability and quality of water in many aquifers; Ongoing problems meeting basic water needs in urban areas; Drainage basin alteration through the creation of numerous structures (from embankments and water supply infrastructure to buildings and roads); The impact of high intensity precipitation events on erosion and consequently sediment levels. In addition to the above, existing patterns of water pollution and quality degradation are likely to both exacerbate and be exacerbated by the impacts of climate change. These water quality impacts, while important, are beyond our focus here. Over-exploitation of Groundwater Resources The over-exploitation of groundwater resources in South Asia, particularly India, is now well documented (World Bank and Ministry of Water Resources - Government of India 1998; Shah, Roy et al. 2003; Centre for Water Policy 2005). In many regions water levels are falling and groundwater quality is declining as the concentrations of naturally occurring contaminants (such as salinity and arsenic) and pollutants (such as agricultural and industrial chemicals) increase. The combination of depletion and quality degradation is already undermining the agricultural, economic and other benefits groundwater development has delivered in recent decades.

Climate change, scientific consensus increasingly suggests, represents one of the single most important challenges global society will face over coming decades and centuries.  Understanding regarding the impacts of climate change has evolved substantially in recent years. Until the Fourth Assessment Report is published by the IPCC later this year, the most up to date summary of changes in climate and their likely impact is contained in the Stern Review on the Economics of Climate Change (Stern, 2006).  This review emphasizes the manner in which the costs associated of climate change increase as the average temperature increases.  As the figure below, copied from the review, highlights even a 1o C change will be sufficient to cause major impacts while changes of 2-3o C or more will cause massive disruption.  According to the review:  “The current stock of greenhouse gasses in the atmosphere is equivalent to around 430 parts per million (ppm) C02, compared with 280ppm before the Industrial Revolution.  These concentrations have already caused the world to warm by more than half a degree Celsius and will lead to at least a further half degree warming over the next few decades, because of inertia in the climate system (Stern, 2006, p. iii).” They further point out that given the accelerating rate of emissions, the concentration could reach 550ppm “as early as 2035” virtually[1] committing the world to an average temperature rise exceeding 2o C.  The average level of warming is, however, simply an indicator of the impacts, not the full story.

Climate change, degradation of water resource systems and disaster risk together represent some of the greatest challenges to sustainable development facing human society over coming decades. These issues can not be viewed or addressed in isolation. Climate change will affect both water resource systems and the risk of climate related disasters. Degradation and depletion of water resources already represents one of the greatest challenges facing development, poverty alleviation and environmental protection in many parts of the world. Changes in climate will exacerbate such challenges. Increases in the intensity/frequency of extreme events such as floods, droughts and storms are also projected to occur as a consequence of climate change. Already over 70% of disasters are related to climatic events. As global warming proceeds, extreme events capable of causing disaster will also increase. Such extreme events and other natural hazards are, as the “Hyogo Framework for Action 2005-2015: Building the resilience of nations and communities to disasters” (http://www.unisdr.org/eng/hfa/hfa.htm) recognizes, already a major factor contributing to poverty and vulnerability in many regions and among many populations.