Staff reporter
LAOAG CITY—In a gathering of
environmental researchers and scientists across Southeast Asia, they presented
various technologies, strategies and innovations in a three-day forum to rise
above the challenges of climate change particularly in urban cities.
Organized by the Ecosystems
Research and Development Bureau (ERDB) of the Department of Environment and
Natural Resources, the forum hopes to develop a holistic approach and come up
with a resolution or agreement towards achieving urban resilience to climate
change and disaster risks.
On December 5, 2017,
Environment Secretary Roy Cimatu urged member states of the ASEAN to focus on
building sustainable cities and urban areas.
In the past 10 years, Mr.
Cimatu noted that ASEAN countries became highly vulnerable to the effects of
climate change as they are now experiencing more frequent extreme weather
events such as floods, droughts, heatwaves and rising sea levels.
In a study conducted by World
Bank, it identified the Philippines as early as 2009 as under the top list of
most vulnerable countries to storms, with Vietnam as the second most vulnerable
to rising sea levels, and Thailand and Vietnam among those threatened by
flooding.
In 2006, the Global Climate
Risk Index of GermanWatch listed four out of the 10 ASEAN countries—Myanmar,
Vietnam, Thailand and Philippines—as among the 10 nations most affected by
climate change from 1995 to 2014 based on annual averages.
Citing the vulnerability of
ASEAN countries to climate change, he underscored the need for a proactive
policy and action for urban resilience.
He noted that pursuing urban
resiliency has become an urgent agenda for all nation as experts expect the
world’s urban population to balloon to 2.5 billion by 2050.
Ilocos Norte governor Ma.
Imelda Josefa “Imee” R. Marcos said Ilocos Norte is lucky as the venue of the
forum.
“We are happy to showcase our
efforts in renewable energy as well as the development of community-owned
renewable production. We are also
pleased to showcase our green wall and the effort to create reforestation as a
genuine community livelihood,” the governor said citing Ilocos residents are
also eager to learn about the excellent water conservation efforts being
practiced by other ASEAN member countries.
“While there’s [still] much
to [do], through our exchanges for the next few days, we hope to explore more
ideas that will tackle innovative approaches for sustaining urbanization that
reflect the inclusiveness of development and the adverse consequences of
climate change,” said Dr. Henry Adornado, director of DENR-ERDB in his message
to the delegates attending the forum on December 5-7 at the Plaza del Norte,
this city.
Following the opening
ceremonies on December 5, 2017, plenary sessions immediately took off which
include topics on climate change impact assessment, green growth strategies,
policies, and disaster risk reduction management strategies.
The forum also opened an
exhibit on urban resilience to guest and visitors at the convention lobby.
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