Managing Carbon Cycle Linkage to Livelihood in HKH Region

Abstract

The ratchet effects of global climate change make all countries and regions vulnerable. It is believed that if countries/regions are not involved in climate change mitigation initiatives, they may be overwhelmed by ‘climate flood’, and their citizens may be victims of climate change. The HKH, as the biggest, poorest mountain area in the world, faces a big challenge, and efforts should be made to understand the status of the HKH and to develop a blueprint for mitigating climate change. This chapter integrates several components including: (1) the carbon management status of the HKH region and the urgent need for livelihood improvement and research and development linked with climate issues; (2) the framework for evaluating the level and mode of carbon compensation; (3) the strategy of sharing benefits from carbon management with indigenous people in the HKH region; and (4) the options for carbon management in HKH over future decades. Finally, this chapter provides a short summary of the contents and purpose of this book.