June 23, 2009, Tokyo – World Bank today organized a film screening and discussion “Pricing the Andes’ Meltdown” at the World Bank Tokyo Office.  The UK Government’s Report by former World Bank Chief Economist Nick Stern advocates a one per cent investment in combating global warming to save a much bigger bill a few decades down the line. This BBC documentary goes to the Andes and finds glaciers are melting so fast that scientists say most could disappear in 25 years. But millions of people in Bolivia, Ecuador and Peru rely on these glaciers for their drinking water, agriculture and electricity – their economies will be decimated. Their experience backs the dire warning of Stern and others, but where is the investment coming from to avoid climate change-induced economic collapse, and what are the strategies?

Program:

Introduction
Mr. Kazushige Taniguchi, Special Representative for Japan, The World Bank

Film Screening
“Pricing the Andes’ Meltdown”

Comments
Mr. Walter Vergara(video comments), Lead Chemical Engineer, The World Bank
H.E. Mr. Juan Carlos Capuñay, Ambassador of Peru
Mr. Masanobu Shimada, Associate Principal Researcher, Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency
Mr. Akio Kitoh, Director, Meteorological Research Institute