Prominent figures will discuss the outcomes of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) 17th Conference of the Parties (COP17) in Durban and the issues beyond. Focus will be on two key issues: how to increase the ambition level of mitigation efforts to hold the global average temperature rise below 2 degrees Celsius; and how to address the issue of equity and common but differentiated responsibility and respective capability (CBDR/RC).

This session gives an update on domestic climate actions in major economies and discusses how each country can contribute to collective action toward achieving the 2 degrees Celsius target. Experts from China, India, Indonesia, Japan and Germany are invited to provide their insights.

This session introduces a smart community developed in the Higashida area of Kitakyushu City, Japan and the city’s approaches in extending support to develop similar models in Surabaya, Indonesia and Putrajaya, Malaysia in cooperation with the Government of Japan. This session discusses the constraints and challenges in disseminating similar approaches in terms of legal, institutional and technical aspects with a focus on links with the national grid, and the potential of a city-to-city cooperation modality to promote these activities.
- Outline PDF(153KB)

This session will discuss the creation and delivery of innovative financial services, such as microfinance, to build resilience to natural disasters. Lessons will be drawn from the experiences of Asian developing countries as well as Japan. Global damage caused by natural disasters continues to increase rapidly, mainly driven by climate change. The rural poor in developing countries are particularly vulnerable to such disasters. However, as the tsunami and earthquake of March 2011 in east Japan reminded us, even technologically advanced countries are vulnerable to natural disasters, and the concept of resilience is equally as important for them as it is for developing countries.

Rio+20 held in June 2012 has promoted discussion on sustainable development in the 21st century context, and revitalised global commitments. Outcomes on green economy, institutional framework for sustainable development, framework for action and follow-up, means of implementation have numerous implications for sustainable development governance at all levels (global, regional, national and local). This session will have a view on how sustainable development governance would be strengthened at the global level, and discuss what kind of implications such a global movement will bring to Asia and the Pacific, particularly in terms of strengthening regional governance for sustainable development, and overall economies and social development.

Several processes related to IFSD were set in motion at Rio+20, including creating a High Level Political Forum for Sustainable Development to replace the Commission on Sustainable Development(CSD), strengthening the United Nations Environment Programme, and a process to determine the functions of a High Level Representative for Future Generations. To ensure that these processes can deliver, actions at the global intergovernmental levels, is not enough, actions at regional, national and local levels are also necessary, as well as in sectors and by actors not traditionally associated with the sustainability agenda. Contributing to the idea of ‘bringing the Rio+20 outcomes home’, this session will emphasise implications in Asia and discuss which institutional changes are needed at regional, national and local levels, as well as how to integrate different economic sectors.

MRV (Measurement, Reporting, and Verification) of greenhouse gases (GHG) is essential to establish a low-carbon society. This session will discuss options and issues related to methodological and institutional frameworks for MRV of GHG emissions as well as emissions reduction, based on good practices and lessons learned from both developed and developing countries. It will explore how to establish effective methodologies and implementing institutions in Asia in the post-2012 climate regime from technical and political aspect.

The session will discuss how a community of practice can evolve and facilitate knowledge management and agenda setting for sustainable development and aim to identify key elements for the successful conduct of a community of practice. How can information and knowledge be shared and managed among a number of practitioners in promoting sustainable development? Are there any key elements for success?
- Introduction: Ms. Jihyun Kim, IGES Regional Centre, Bangkok PDF(1.7MB)
- A quick in-room survey on community of practice with audience PDF(646KB)

Of the thirteen posters presented, three posters were awarded by the poster selection committee.