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.