1st International Forum on Sustainable Future in Asia 1st NIES International Forum

2015 saw the emergence of two major international aspirations related to the environment - the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) formally adopted by the UN General Assembly in September as the new global development agenda and; the Paris Agreement at UNFCCC COP21 as global commitment to limit the temperature increase below 2° Celsius. These landmark accomplishments do not only provide impetus to national level action plans on fulfilling the commitments but also underscore the need for further actions at regional and local levels. These historic turning points unearth the imperative questions on what institutional architectures and policy frameworks can help mankind leapfrog towards the sustainable future. Nonetheless, these historic steps taken in unison calls for policy-relevant researches, highlight the exigency of knowledge networks and institutional mechanisms to support cross-boundary thinking for integrated policymaking, and signifies the demand for policies that inspire action from key stakeholders.

The "International Forum on Sustainable Future in Asia: Converting Aspirations to Actions" will explore the four pressing environmental issues in the region in order to elucidate the current efforts of researchers and policy-makers in the Asian countries, and understand the momentum in congruence with the targets under the SDGs and the Paris Agreement. The four sustainability challenges are:

• Day1
• Day2

Opening Session8:30-11:50

• Welcome Remarks
  • Prof. Kazuo Yamamoto, Vice President for Resource Development, Asian Institute of Technology
• Opening Remarks
  • Prof. Akimasa Sumi, President, National Institute for Environmental Studies
• Photo session / Coffee break9:30-10:00
• Setting the agenda: Paris Agreement: New Recurrence to “Human as part of the Nature”
  • Dr. Shuzo Nishioka, Senior Research Advisor, Institute for Global Environmental Strategies
• Setting the agenda: SDGs and Paris Agreement on Climate Change: Converting Aspirations to Actions at the Regional and National Level
  • Dr. Bindu N. Lohani, Head of Global Climate Change Practice, Centennial Group, USA
• Keynote Address
  • Low Carbon Society
    Prof. Rizaldi Boer, Executive Director, Centre for Climate Risk and Opportunity Management in Southeast Asia and Pacific, Bogor Agricultural University, Indonesia
  • Waste Management and Recycling: Waste, Climate and Sustainable Development Convergence: AIT’s Contribution Toward Sustainable Waste Management in Asia
    Dr. C. Visvanathan, Professor, School of Environment, Resources and Development, Asian Institute of Technology
• Lunch / Poster session11:50-13:20

Theme-113:20- 15:20

Developing Low Carbon Societies

• Chairperson
  Dr. Hideo Harasawa, Vice President, National Institute for Environmental Studies
• Presentations
  • 1-1: Social Monitoring and Modelling Research for Interactive Solution Design
    Prof. Tsuyoshi Fujita, Director, Center for Social and Environmental Systems Research, National Institute for Environmental Studies
  • 1-2: Academic contribution for the development of low carbon society
    Prof. Kensuke Fukushi, Integrated Research System for Sustainability Science, The University of Tokyo
  • 1-3: Low carbon technology assessment and technology transfer in selected Asian countries
    Dr. Mara Mendes, Senior Programme Specialist, Regional Resource Centre for Asia and the Pacific, Asian Institute of Technology
  • 1-4: Capacity Building for Low Carbon and Resilient Society
    Ms. Chayathorn Thanawattanadamrong, Technical Expert, Capacity Building and Outreach Office, Thailand Greenhouse Gas Management Organization
• Discussions15:00-15:20
• Coffee Break15:20-15:35

Theme-215:35- 17:15

Waste Management and Recycling

• Chairperson
  Dr. Hiroyuki Katayama, Associate Professor, Department of Urban Engineering, The University of Tokyo
• Presentations
  • 2-1: Appropriate Management of Waste Disposal Site in Southeast Asia
    Dr. Tomonori Ishigaki, Senior Researcher, Center for Material Cycles and Waste Management Research, National Institute for Environmental Studies
  • 2-2: Converting waste-into-resources in cities of Asia-Pacific: experiences from ESCAP’s regional programme on “Pro-poor and sustainable solid waste management in secondary cities and small towns”
    Mr. Joao Aleluia, Project Coordinator, Environment and Development Division, United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific
  • 2-3: Rural Domestic Solid Waste in China: A Comprehensive Analysis of Characteristics, Management and Legislation
    Dr. Niu Dongjie, Associate Professor, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Tongji University
  • 2-4: Factors on E-waste Management System in Thailand
    Mr. Thawal Saengsawang, Marketing Director, TES-AMM (Thailand) Co., Ltd.
• Discussions17:15-17:40
• Reception (Invited Guests Only)18:00

• Keynote Address9:00-10:00
  • Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services: REDD+ is a Solution for Restoring Ecosystem Services and Biodiversity
    Dr. Jitendra Vir Sharma, Indian Forest Service and Senior Fellow, The Energy and Resources Institute
  • Environmental Monitoring: Monitoring and Environmental Impact Assessment - a Tool for Improved Project Design
    Dr. Peter King, Senior Policy Advisor, Institute for Global Environmental Strategies
• Coffee break10:00-10:15

Theme-310:15- 11:55

Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services

• Chairperson
  Dr. Nobuko Saigusa, Deputy Director, Center for Global Environmental Research, National Institute for Environmental Studies
• Presentations
  • 3-1: Health Risk Monitoring and Management for Sustainable Urban Environment
    Dr. Hiroyuki Katayama, Associate Professor, Department of Urban Engineering, The University of Tokyo
  • 3-2: Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services of Communally Reserved Forests Managed by Indigenous People in a Human-modified Landscape in Borneo
    Dr. Yayoi Takeuchi, Researcher, Center for Environmental Biology and Ecosystem Studies, National Institute for Environmental Studies
  • 3-3: Enhancing Resilience to Climate and Ecosystem Changes by Combining Traditional and Modern Bio Production Systems in Rural Asia
    Dr. Geetha Mohan, Assistant Professor, Integrated Research System for Sustainability Science, The University of Tokyo
  • 3-4: Contribution of the REDD+ Scheme to Carbon Emission Reductions and Biodiversity Conservation in Southeast Asia
    Dr. Nophea Sasaki, Associate Professor, School of Environment, Resources and Development, Asian Institute of Technology
• Discussions11:55-12:20
• Lunch / Poster session12:20-13:50

Theme-413:50 – 15:05

Environmental Monitoring

• Chairperson
  Prof. Kensuke Fukushi, Integrated Research System for Sustainability Science, The University of Tokyo
• Presentations
  • 4-1: Monitoring and Detection of Carbon Cycle Change using an Integrated Observation, Modeling and Analysis System
    Dr. Nobuko Saigusa, Deputy Director, Center for Global Environmental Research, National Institute for Environmental Studies
  • 4-2: Monitoring of Atmospheric Environment in Asia
    Dr. Supat Wangwongwatana, Senior Programme Specialist, Regional Resource Centre for Asia and the Pacific, Asian Institute of Technology
  • 4-3: Geoinformatics for Environmental Information Collection, Management and Monitoring
    Dr. Lal Samarakoon, Director, GeoInformatics Centre, Asian Institute of Technology
• Discussions15:05-15:20
• Coffee Break15:20-15:40

Discussion15:40-17:20

• Panel Discussion
  Panelists

  • Prof. Kazuo Yamamoto, Vice President for Resource Development, Asian Institute of Technology
  • Prof. Tsuyoshi Fujita, Director, Center for Social and Environmental Systems Research, National Institute for Environmental Studies
  • Prof. Kensuke Fukushi, Integrated Research System for Sustainability Science, The University of Tokyo
  • Mr. Kaname Ikeda, President, Remote Sensing Technology Center of Japan
  • Prof. Rizaldi Boer, Executive Director, Centre for Climate Risk and Opportunity Management in Southeast Asia and Pacific, Bogor Agricultural University, Indonesia

  
  Moderator

  • Mr. Osamu Mizuno, Director, Regional Resource Centre for Asia and the Pacific, Asian Institute of Technology
• Open session
  • Wrap-up of the thematic sessions
  • Joint Statement and Future Prospects for the Consortium

  
  Moderator

  • Dr. Hideo Harasawa, Vice President, National Institute for Environmental Studies
• Signing of the Joint Statement
• Closing remarks
  Dr. Hideo Harasawa, Vice President, National Institute for Environmental Studies

• Opening Remarks Akimasa Sumi
  By Prof. Akimasa Sumi
• Setting the agenda: Paris Agreement: New Recurrence to "Human as part of the Nature"
  By Dr. Shuzo Nishioka
• Setting the agenda: SDGs and Paris Agreement on Climate Change: Converting Aspirations to Actions at the Regional and National Level
  By Dr. Bindu N. Lohani
  
  Current adoption of sustainable development goals (SDGs) by the UN General Assembly and the announcement of the Paris Agreement at UNFCCC COP21 calls for action towards shifting our perspective of ‘waste’ as unwanted substances to waste as ‘resources.’ Multiple number of SGDs, especially SDG #12 (‘Ensure responsible consumption and production patterns’) goal no. 6 (clean water and sanitation) and goal no. 11 (sustainable cities and communities) presents a huge scope for sustainable waste management and resource recovery activities. Similarly, the climate co-benefit of waste sector such as waste prevention, resource recovery, reuse and recycling as climate mitigation measures also open a new array of opportunities in sustainable waste management in the region.
  
  This presentation illustrates the convergence between Waste, Climate and SDGs, where SDGs cannot not be achieved without tackling climate change, and addressing climate change is must for fostering sustainable development, also waste management and recycling are key drivers to both sustainable development and tackling climate change by reducing waste related GHG emissions. This presentation concludes with highlighting how the Asian Institute of Technology (AIT) has been and can continue to work towards sustainable waste management in the region through its regular academic teaching, innovative technological and policy research, and regional networking projects.
• Low Carbon Society
  By Prof. Rizaldi Boer
  
  Avoiding the warming of above 1.5 or 2.0°C from mean of pra-industrial era, an objective agreed upon by the international community, will require that global net GHG emissions approach zero by the second half of the 21st century. This in turn will require very steep reduction of anthropogenic GHG emission in all sectors of activities. In most of ASEAN countries, the agriculture, forest and other land uses (AFOLU) still a major contributor of the emission. Globally, without mitigation effort, contribution of this sector to global emission may increase from 22% to 30% within the next 40 years. On the other hand, forest also can help slowing global warming by storing and sequestering carbon and help regulating local and regional rainfall. Forests also give benefits for millions of people not only as source of food, medicine, clean drinking water, but also for recreation, aesthetic, and spiritual needs. Unsustainable uses and mismanagement of land and forest resources actually lead to high emission but also to negatively impact development itself. It is very important for policy makers to be able to design spatial planning system that include emission reduction target along with economic planning, maintenance of watershed functions and ecological buffer. Role of science for helping policy formulation and planning is very important in this respect. This presentation will share Indonesian experience in applying science through the use of a developed tool by local governments for the integration of land-based sectoral programs and climate change mitigation policies. The tool helps the policy makers to be able to assess whether the current programs and future plans address the development problems and also contribute to reduction of emission, and to assess preconditions required for effective implementation of the action plans.
• Waste Management and Recycling: Waste, Climate and Sustainable Development Convergence: AIT's Contribution Toward Sustainable Waste Management in Asia
  By Dr. C. Visvanathan Current adoption of sustainable development goals (SDGs) by the UN General Assembly and the announcement of the Paris Agreement at UNFCCC COP21 calls for action towards shifting our perspective of 'waste' as unwanted substances to waste as 'resources.' Multiple number of SGDs, especially SDG #12 ('Ensure responsible consumption and production patterns') goal no. 6 (clean water and sanitation) and goal no. 11 (sustainable cities and communities) presents a huge scope for sustainable waste management and resource recovery activities. Similarly, the climate co-benefit of waste sector such as waste prevention, resource recovery, reuse and recycling as climate mitigation measures also open a new array of opportunities in sustainable waste management in the region. This presentation illustrates the convergence between Waste, Climate and SDGs, where SDGs cannot not be achieved without tackling climate change, and addressing climate change is must for fostering sustainable development, also waste management and recycling are key drivers to both sustainable development and tackling climate change by reducing waste related GHG emissions. This presentation concludes with highlighting how the Asian Institute of Technology (AIT) has been and can continue to work towards sustainable waste management in the region through its regular academic teaching, innovative technological and policy research, and regional networking projects.
• Presentation 1-1: Social Monitoring and Modelling Research for Interactive Solution Design
  By Prof. Tsuyoshi Fujita
  
  The low carbon movements extend in the world particularly in rapidly growing Asian cities and regions. Wide range of technologies, policy initiatives have been discussed for their planning and implementation. Since every city and region have their own characteristic features and different policy decision circumstances and backgrounds, rather than unanimous policy framework or uniform technology design, low carbon technologies and policies need to be deliberately selected, evaluated and diagnosed with objective, transparent, quantitative and scientific manner.
  
  The research project, firstly, focuses on developing integrative simulation models to design the optimal low carbon targets in the future for cities and regions as well as identifying efficient roadmaps with optimal combination of technologies and social systems. Secondly, the model results are applied into the spatial analysis based on Geographic Information Systems of cities to design suitable location patterns of land use and urban structures in a long run with designing key demonstration projects for the low carbon development. Finally, the results would be applied into implementing for eco-city panning under the interactive collaboration with public-private stakeholders. Eco-city smart monitoring systems are developed and implemented to support multi-stakeholder discussion for co-design procedures through quantification, visualization and comparison for alternative eco-city optional packages. Demonstration research projects in Fukushima, Japan, and Bogor City, Indonesia, are provided as case studies. Academic and policy outcome for integrative research challenges are identified such as strategic technology assessment and coordination for sustainable low fossil carbon society strategies, innovative monitoring system for the systematic project design and carbon credit certification are discussed.
• Presentation 1-2: Academic contribution for the development of low carbon society
  By Prof. Kensuke Fukushi
  
  The energy, environment and ecosystem (3E) Nexus initiative project is an effort to achieve the above. The Integrated Research System for Sustainability Science (IR3S), University of Tokyo with the vision of enhancing multinational research collaborations on low carbon development in Asia-Pacific countries has initiated the 3E-Nexus project. The project aims to advance mitigation actions by facilitating the diffusion of advanced low-carbon technologies, products, systems and infrastructure in line with the Japanese Joint Credit Mechanism (JCM) and other crediting mechanisms. On the other hand, the project targets capacity development activities such as kick-off meetings, workshops, trainings to understanding on the institutional and technical aspects such as GHG emission reduction projects and Measuring, Reporting and Verification (MRV) methodologies of the JCM both at government and private sectors.
• Presentation 1-3: Low carbon technology assessment and technology transfer in selected Asian countries
  By Dr. Mara Mendes
  
  The Regional Resource Centre for Asia and the Pacific (RRC.AP) of the Asian Institute of Technology (AIT) in collaboration with the Institute for Global Environmental Strategies (IGES) is conducting a project on the assessment of potential transfer of Japanese selected low carbon technologies in Thailand, Vietnam and Indonesia. The assessment includes the analysis of technical, regulatory, financial, socio-economic aspects, both in terms of challenges and opportunities to promote low-carbon technologies in targeted Asian countries. The target technologies include waste heat recovery in the cement industry; Light Emitting Diode (LED); once-through boiler; industrial heat pumps; high efficiency air compressor, micro-cogeneration, and solar photovoltaic. A wide range of stakeholders, including policy makers, users, government agencies and academia were consulted through interviews, site visits and consultation workshops held in each country. The preliminary results of the assessment will be discussed.
• Presentation 1-4: Capacity Building for Low Carbon and Resilient Society
  By Ms. Chayathorn Thanawattanadamrong
  
  Impact of climate change can now be seen all over the world whether in developed or developing countries. Southeast Asian counties, which have been experiencing rapid economic and population growth, are especially vulnerable to climate change. The ASEAN Community (AC), which will be formed in 2016, places an importance on issues of climate change and sustainable development. It is widely pointed out that one of the important tools for development and realization of low carbon and resilient society (LCRS) in the region is a capacity development of key stakeholders in the field of climate change as well as the access to information related to LCRS development. Thailand Greenhouse Gas Management Organization (Public Organization) (TGO) under the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment is a responsible agency in Thailand for climate change mitigation activities. TGO initiated the establishment of Climate Change International Technical and Training Center (CITC) with support from Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA). CITC aims to be a “one-stop technical training center” and networking platform on mitigation and adaptation for the Southeast Asian countries and other developing countries.
• Presentation 2-1: Appropriate Management of Waste Disposal Site in Southeast Asia
  By Dr. Tomonori Ishigaki
  
  Waste disposal is simple behavior of waste removal from daily life. Urban city required to develop the disposal site for the final responsibility for living standard and environmental safety. Rapid growth of development of Asian city are facing to the lack of capacity of appropriate disposal of municipal waste even though the promotion of recycling activity can reduce the amount of waste to be disposed. The presentation addresses the current study on technology development of final disposal system that consists of the engineered landfill, the leachate collection, stabilization, and treatment, and the gas management in collaboration with the study team in Thailand.
• Presentation 2-2: Converting waste-into-resources in cities of Asia-Pacific: experiences from ESCAP's regional programme on "Pro-poor and sustainable solid waste management in secondary cities and small towns"
  Mr. Joao Aleluia
  
  The presentation will focus on the experiences of the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) in supporting cities of the region in implementing “waste-to-resource” initiatives. An overview of the Integrated Resource Recovery Center model (IRRC) will be provided, in particular the lessons learned from piloting this model in cities of Bangladesh, Cambodia, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Viet Nam, which are distilled in the publication “Valuing Waste, Transforming Cities”, released by ESCAP in October 2015. The presentation will also reflect on the importance of measuring and quantifying co-benefits in the solid waste sector, especially in initiatives that lead to the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions.
• Presentation 2-3: Rural Domestic Solid Waste in China: A Comprehensive Analysis of Characteristics, Management and Legislation
  Dr. Niu Dongjie
  
  We conduct a comprehensive review of rural solid waste (RSW) in terms of characteristics, management and legislation. Survey results show that RSW generation rates range from 0.25 to 2.1 kg/capita/day in different rural villages across regions of China. Total RSW generation has been increasing, which is far higher than official data in 2014. RSW are dominated by food residue and coal ash/cinder/dust (at approximately 70%). Most of RSW are still discarded randomly without any treatment in China. With the purpose of promoting RSW management system in China, the problems and challenges are also discussed and identified, and some recommendations and expectations are proposed.
• Presentation 2-4: Factors on E-waste Management System in Thailand
  By Mr. Thawal Saengsawang
  
  Today, there are plenty of e-waste coming out every day and more every year since Digital technology comes into place in our daily life. It will create problems if not managed properly. As a recent 4G license auction with 4 billion baht, of course mobile phones will become a plenty of e-waste in the near future comparing with other WEEs. If the question is “is it a problem?”, the answer is both of “Yes” and “No”. it will not be a problem if manage properly it will be a benefit to save natural resources especially rare earth materials, no need to get from ore mine but from urban mining (from WEEE) to reduce CO2 Emission, reduce global warming. On the other hand, it will be a problem if we do not mange properly, e.g., drop into general bin without any classification, therefore what we are going to do to manage in proper process.
  
  The contents to be presented here will be look in 4 main factors called “L-U-M-P” factors according to my experience in this field for over 10 years. Many of these factors I think will affect or impact to the e-waste management system in Thailand or even to neighboring countries because of cultural similarities, for instance, consumers or producers look for get paid rather than pay, no law enforcement especially WEEE directive, people have no awareness on this etc. by these factors most are caused by stakeholders either Government sector, Producers or Importers, Users and Recyclers and they all look for their own benefit rather than for the public. So in order to be successful and achieve the sustainable management system we need to collaborate all 4 factors together; government, producer, user and recycler, as now pushing WEEE law.
• Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services: REDD+ is a Solution for Restoring Ecosystem Services and Biodiversity
  Dr. Jitendra Vir Sharma
  
  Dr. Nobuko Saigusa is currently the Deputy Director, Center for Global Environmental Research, National Institute for Environmental Studies, Japan. Her background is in micrometeorology and the terrestrial carbon cycles. She is involved in various research programs including Global Environment Monitoring (CGER/NIES), JapanFlux and AsiaFlux (Japanese and Asian monitoring networks for greenhouse gas fluxes), and JaLTER (Japan Long-Term Ecological Research Network). Her scientific interest is temporal and spatial variation of carbon and water cycles in forest ecosystems in Asia and its interactions with global climatic changes.
• Environmental Monitoring: Monitoring and Environmental Impact Assessment - a Tool for Improved Project Design
  Dr. Peter King
  
  While nearly every country has adopted environmental impact assessment (EIA), too many countries are using EIA as regulatory tool - ticking the box that an EIA has been done as a condition of project approval. Focusing more on the environmental monitoring and management plan (EMMP) attached to the EIA, ensuring that monitoring requirements are adequately funded as part of the conditions for project approval, building environmental monitoring into construction contracts and operational conditions, involving the affected population in community-based monitoring, and collecting the monitoring results in a publicly available database are essential activities to improve project design. Subsequently, the environmental monitoring data then need to be used in designing similar projects or projects in the same area.
• Presentation 3-1: Health Risk Monitoring and Management for Sustainable Urban Environment
  Dr. Hiroyuki Katayama
  
  Coliform bacteria and Escherichia coli are simple and inexpensive to enumerate, yet are not always ideal indicators because they can survive and increase in number under some natural environment condition. Enteric viruses are more tolerant than coliforms against stresses in water environment and are most often the causative agents of disease via waters.
  
  Tokyo Metropolitan Government has been trying to improve coastal water environment during and after rainfall events. As 2020 Olympic water sports is scheduled in the Odaiba seaside park, where the concentration of fecal indicators such as E.coli and enteric virus are known to increase during and after rainfall events.
  Virus contamination levels in Tokyo bay were monitored. Also, a simple treatment method to mitigate the CSO is proposed.
• Presentation 3-2: Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services of Communally Reserved Forests Managed by Indigenous People in a Human-modified Landscape in Borneo
  Dr. Yayoi Takeuchi
  
  Indigenous communities in Borneo leave forest patches within the traditional land-use system in an area of shifting cultivation to obtain ecosystem services; the forest is called as communally reserved forests (CRFs) here. In the human-modified landscape in Borneo, CRFs would be the only option for conservation of natural forest. To evaluate the conservation values of CRFs, I investigated how those forests had both social and ecological functions. From a sociological survey on CRFs, I found that the traditional definition of CRFs has changed and most CRFs had been previously disturbed. Villagers often accessed CRFs to obtain various kinds of ecosystem services, and they have increasingly recognized the value of CRFs along with the degradation of surrounding forests. From an ecological survey on tree species diversity in CRFs, I found that the tree species diversity in CRFs was high and equivalent to that of the primary forest although CRFs were fragmented and some had been disturbed in the past. The species composition between intact forests and disturbed forests in the past was also not clearly different, which indicates that past disturbance may not be intensive. Furthermore, all CRFs contained unique and endangered species, which are listed in the IUCN Red List. In conclusion, conservation of CRFs would contribute to restoring regional biodiversity and preserving ecosystem services for local communities in Borneo.
• Presentation 3-3: Enhancing Resilience to Climate and Ecosystem Changes by Combining Traditional and Modern Bio Production Systems in Rural Asia
  By Dr. Geetha Mohan
  
  This study confirms the strategies that enhancing resilience to climate and ecosystem changes by integrating modern and traditional systems in rural Asia includes Vietnam, Indonesia and Sri Lanka. However, some interventions are essential to further strengthen them, i.e., the building of a mosaic system has the potential to create a system of more resilient to climate and ecosystem changes. The Mosaic systems can help to achieve further resilient societies. A framework was developed for assessing and analyzing resilience in detail and concrete strategies to enhance resilience were formulated in accordance with case studies. The results exhibits that the field surveys and statistical analysis demonstrated that it is possible to develop strategies to adapt to climate and ecosystem changes by primarily using traditional varieties of rice crop that can adapt to climate change in combination with modern varieties of rice crop in rural Vietnam and Sri Lanka. While, this is different strategy from improving varieties on which the success of the Green Revolution was formed.
• Presentation 3-4: Contribution of the REDD+ Scheme to Carbon Emission Reductions and Biodiversity Conservation in Southeast Asia
  Dr. Nophea Sasaki
  
  Adoption of the Paris Agreement in December 2015 to limit greenhouse gas emissions provides new hope for responsible low carbon development in developed and developing countries. This adoption further strengthens the REDD+ scheme of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, which provides result-based financial incentives for reducing carbon emissions from deforestation and forest degradation, conservation of forests, sustainable management of forests, or increasing carbon stocks through forest restoration. As deforestation continued, Southeast Asia emitted 648 TgCO2 annually between 2000 and 2010 in addition to affecting 83-91% of the threatened flora and fauna species. Depending on effectiveness of the REDD+ activities, up to 80% of the above emissions can be reduced with the appropriate carbon price. Unfortunately, carbon prices in recent years were not high enough compared to revenues from clearing of forests for industrial plantations. It is obviously important that payment for other ecosystem services be considered to increase additional financial incentives from the results of biodiversity safeguarding. If well preserved, forests in Southeast Asia could regenerate US$1.4 trillion annually from payment for ecosystem services or about 29% of GDP in Japan. This report reviews the previous experiences in REDD+ activities, payment for ecosystem services, and biodiversity conservation with special reference to Southeast Asia.
• Presentation 4-1: Monitoring and Detection of Carbon Cycle Change using an Integrated Observation, Modeling and Analysis System
  By Dr. Nobuko Saigusa
  
  The Center for Global Environmental Research, National Institute for Environmental Studies has established a fundamental infrastructure for an integrated carbon observation and analysis system based on satellite, airborne, and ground-based observations, and atmospheric and terrestrial carbon cycle models. Atmospheric transport modeling and inverse modeling are being tested and improved for better utilization of reinforced observation data from the Asia-Pacific region. Regional net carbon fluxes between atmosphere and land are estimated by both "top-down” approach (with inverse models) and "bottom-up” approach (with surface flux observation network data (e.g. AsiaFlux) and terrestrial ecosystem models). Results from different methods are compared, and similarities and differences of estimated carbon budgets are discussed. Discussion will include a review of current issues for better constraints of global, continental, and regional carbon budgets, detection of carbon cycle change particularly in the Asia-Pacific, and need of future observation missions for better understanding of the global and regional carbon cycle.
• Presentation 4-2: Monitoring of Atmospheric Environment in Asia
  Dr. Supat Wangwongwatana
  
  As a result of rapid economic development in an unstainable manner, urbanization, industrialization and increasing population, Asian region, in particular in urban areas and their surroundings, has been experiencing increasing level of atmospheric pollution, in particular PM2.5 and O3, which are transboundary and can cause regional atmospheric pollution problem. They have actually caused negative impacts to human health and environment and backfiring to the economic development. Efforts have been made through several regional initiatives and programs in the last two decades to establish and carry out continuous monitoring of atmospheric environment in Asia in order to assess its state of atmospheric environment in hoping that it will lead to the implementation of mitigation actions and subsequent improvement of the state of atmospheric environment. The presentation will cover the establishment and the implementation of regional monitoring of atmospheric environment in Asia under three regional networks, namely Acid Deposition Monitoring Network in East Asia (EANET), Malé Declaration on Control and Prevention of Air Pollution and Its Likely Transboundary Effects for South Asia (Malé Declaration) and Atmospheric Brown Cloud (ABC) Program. Their most recent monitoring results will also be summarized and presented.
• Presentation 4-3: Geoinformatics for Environmental Information Collection, Management and Monitoring
  Dr. Lal Samarakoon
  
  The objective behind the SDG concept launched in 2015 was to produce a set of universally applicable goals that balances three dimensions of sustainable development; environmental, social, and economic. As these factors are interlinked, it was recognized that developments should address through an integrated approach of these three pillars. Also, it is documented that appropriate indicators need to be identified as indicators would be the backbone of monitoring progress towards the SDGs. Within the 17 SDG goals launched, over 140 indicators are being identified to measure and monitor the progress in national and global scale. Needless to say, it is an enormous challenge to collect data and information of these indicators, specifically from national level, for continuous monitoring of the progress of the goals. Geoinformatics, combining satellite imageries, GPS and GIS have greatly expanded opportunities for collection, integration, and monitoring, and analyzing various earth related phenomenon and these technologies are readily available for quantify the SDG indicators. Disaster losses, forest degradations and forest change, urbanizations and green/urban ratio, air quality, water quality, ocean status, crop area and yield estimation, desertification, climate related extreme events are some of the quantifiable data that could use to measure SDG indicators. These technologies allow affordable information as well as filling information gaps in various spatial scales. This presentation covers examples drawn from number of applications where space based technologies could apply for environmental monitoring as well as show potential to use as SDG indicators.

• Researches for sustainability of Thailand from the perspective of water-enerty nexus
  By Dr. Tomohiro Okadera
  Centre for Regional Environnmental Research, NIES
  
  Dr. Tomohiro Okadera specializes in environmental engineering and economics with especially interested in interrelationship between human activities and water ecosystems in a regional scale. He has developed the method of water inventories of Yangtze River and Tokyo-bay area by using the input-output analysis models, water footprint analysis of energy production in China and Thailand, and valuation of water ecosystems in Japan so far. Recently he attempts to apply water-energy nexus approaches to investigate implementation and adaptation of innovative energy-environmental technology systems for Asia-Pacific regions.
• Nationwide investigation of perfluorinated alkyl substances in Japan by using bivalve and dragonfly as bioindicators
  By Dr. Yoshikatus Takazawa, Ayako Kinoshita, Mitsuha Yoshikane, Atsushi Tanaka , Yasuyuko Shibata
  National Institute for Environmental Studies
  IDEA Consultants, Inc.
  
  Dr. Yoshikatsu Takazawa is a member of "Center for Environmental Measurement and Analysis" in the National Institute for Environmental Studies, Japan. The theme of his research has been the analytical method, monitoring, and environmental chemodynamics of organochlorine pesticides, perfluorinated alkyl substances and other hazardous chemicals with high priority. For several years, he has been in charge of sub-projects on "Advanced Environmental Measurement and Analysis Research Program" and "Research on Disaster Environment". His aim is to provide solutions and preventative measures for environmental issues by developing measurement procedures to contribute towards an understanding of the environment and changes in that environment.
• Exposure to Organophosphorus Flame Retardants (PRFs) through Human Breast Milk Feeding
  By Dr. Tomohiko Isobe, Shoji F. Nakayama, Joon-Woo Kim, Nguyen Minh Tue, Maricar Prudente, Pham Hung Viet, Agus Sudaryanto, Tatsuya Kunisue, Shinsuke Tanabe
  
  Dr. Tomohiko Isobe graduated and received Ph. D in Agriculture from United Graduate School of Agricultural Science, Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology in 2001. He had worked as a postdoc at National Institute for Environmental Studies (2001-2005) and Ehime University (2005-2008) and as a Faculty Member at Ehime University until 2014. He started his second career in NIES from May 2014 as a Temporal Researcher. His major is Environmental Analytical Chemistry and research interests are developing the analytical method for emerging environmental contaminants, biomonitoring of chemicals for large scale cohort study, and quality assurance and quality control of the high throughput chemical analysis. Previous research topics were analytical method and environmental behavior of alkyl phenolic compounds, comprehensive analysis of steroid estrogens and their metabolites, biomagnification and temporal trend of brominated flame retardants, and monitoring of other anthropogenic environmental contaminants. Now he is involved in National Center of the Japan Environment and Children's Study (JECS), which is the nation-wide large-scale birth cohort study. Under the JECS project, he is developing the high throughput analytical method for nicotine metabolites, POP chemicals and novel flame retardants and applying developed methods to large-scale biomonitoring.
• Risk Management of Chemical Substances in Disaster: Phased Criteria Concept
  By Dr. Yosuke Koyama, Nukiyuki Suzuki
  Centre for Environnmental Risk Research, NIES
  
  Dr. Yosuke Koyama received a Bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering in 2010 and a Master’s degree in industrial chemistry in 2012, both from Doshisha University, with his research on the characterization of nanoparticles generated from fuel cladding materials used in next generation nuclear reactor. In 2015, he obtained his Ph.D. in Environmental Engineering from Kyoto University, with his research on the exposure assessment of nanoparticles in working environment of disaster area of the Great East Japan Earthquake and toxicodynamics of inhaled nanoparticles. Since 2015, he works on the research project on “Health and Environment Risk Management Strategies in Environmental Emergency” in NIES, especially on proposal of phased criteria value in disaster. His research interests include strategic approach of chemical risk management and control. His research interests also extend to behavior of radioactive cesium contained in aerosol generated from the radioactive waste in incineration.
• The Importance of Secondary and Small Cities in the Urban Network of Mumbai Metropolitan Region
  By Dr. Sohee Minsun Kim
  Urban Environmental Management, SERD
  Asian Insittue of Techonology
  
  Dr. Sohee Minsun Kim is an Assistant Professor in Urban Environmental Management Program at Asian Institute of Technology (AIT) in Bangkok, Thailand. Her current focus of research is on the assessment and policy development for sustainable (peri-)urban land use and livelihood.
  A native of South Korea, Dr. Kim holds a Bachelor’s degree in Architecture and Landscape Design from Tama Art University in Japan, a Master’s degree and a PhD in Urban Engineering from the University of Tokyo. Prior to joining AIT, she has participated in various research projects on integrated planning system in metropolitan region, slum upgrading and community empowerment throughout her academic and professional career at the University of Tokyo, Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS) in India, United Nations University – Institute for Sustainability and Peace, and National Graduate Institute for Policy Studies in Japan.
• Actions for Sustainable Waste Management in Achieving 2030 Sustainable Development Goals
  By Guilberto Borongan
  Coordinator and Programme Specialist
  Regional Resource Centre for Asia and the Pacific (RRC.AP)
  Asian Insittue of Techonology
  
  
  Waste management is high on the national and international agenda due to severe negative impacts on environment, lack of resources to effectively manage waste, and loss of resources which could be saved and/or recovered through proper waste management based on the waste hierarchy, circular economy and 3R approach (reduce, reuse and recycle). Giving importance and priority at national and local level on waste management and 3R; to support developing Asian countries in achieving the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) targets to enable the environment sector and other relevant sectors to identify, justify, address and intervene with policies and actions that will prevent and reduce the negative impact on environment and health, energy and material security as well as boosting economic activities, while at the same time alleviating poverty. RRC.AP is providing technical support on national and local capacity for waste management through: scientific information, action-oriented policy, awareness raising, pilot demonstrations, infrastructure and technology, trainings for enhancement of capacity and partnership. Waste management activities include: National and City Waste Management Strategies; Academic Curriculum on Holistic Waste, Climate and Clean Air Coalition (CCAC) – Municipal Waste Management Initiative (CCAC-MSWI) projects in 5 Southeast cities assessments to mitigate short-lived climate pollutants; ASEAN End-of-Life Vehicle (ELV) Recycling project and UNIDO Partnerships for Action on Green Economy (PAGE) for Industrial Waste Inventory in Mongolia.
• Carbon Emission Reductions through the Introduction of Improved Cookstoves and Cattle Mosquito Nets - A Case Study in Forest-depentent Community
  By Dr.Nophea Sasaki, Somanta Chan, Hiroshi Ninomiya
  
  Dr. Nophea Sasaki is an Associate Professor of Natural Resources Management at School of Environment, Resources and Development, Asian Institute of Technology (AIT). Dr. Sasaki has worked on REDD+ scheme, development of forest carbon accounting systems, biodiversity conservation, and low-carbon development projects. Prior to joining AIT in January 2016, Dr. Sasaki was an Associate Professor at the Graduate School of Applied Informatics, University of Hyogo in Japan. He was a postdoc in forestry-carbon cycling modeling at the Max Planck Institute of Meteorology, a Bullard Fellow in advanced forest research at Harvard University, and a visiting scientist at Adelaide University. He is recognized for his research achievements in sustainable management of forests, carbon retention, and result-based financial compensation. He served as global expert panel on REDD+, forest management, and biodiversity conservation and advisor for a special REDD+ Promotion Project of the Forestry and Forest Products Research Institute in Japan. He has organized several regional training workshops on carbon accounting and carbon trading systems to government officials from ASEAN member states. Dr. Sasaki has a PhD degree majoring in forest management from Gifu University, Japan.
• Evaluating the Adoption of Sound Material Cycle Society in Thailand: A Case Study of Local-Based Waste Management Practies
  By Ms. Laksiri Chomchuen and Vilas Nitivattananon
  Asian Insittue of Techonology
  
  Ms. Laksiri Chomchuen currently is a PhD candidate in Urban Environmental Management from AIT. She holds a Master degree in Regional and Rural Development Planning from Asian Institute of Technology, and a Bachelor degree in Social Work from Thammasat University, Thailand. She was recently working as an International Consultant for the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UN ESCAP), under the regional programme entitled ‘Pro poor and Sustainable Solid Waste Management in Secondary Cities and Small Town’ in 2014-2015. She also took a leading role in regional development projects and academic research. She worked as a Research Analyst for the PTT Public Company Limited under the Cooperated Social Responsibility Division (CSR) in 2012-2014. Prior to that, she was a Social Researcher cum Program Coordinator for AIT on the specialized areas of urban environmental management application projects, evaluation of solid waste management program, community and local initiatives development, and gender equality empowerment during 2007-2011.
• Climate Change Adaptation and Urban Coastal Development in Developing Countries of Southeast Asia
  By Mr. Nurrohman Wijaya, Vilas Nitivattananon
  Urban Environmental Management, SERD
  Asian Insittue of Technology
  
  Mr. Nurrohman Wijaya was born in Bandung City, Indonesia. Currently, he is a PhD student in Urban Environmental Management (UEM), School of Environment, Resources and Development (SERD) at the Asian Institute of Technology (AIT), Thailand. His current research is on climate change adaptation and sustainable urban development. He obtained his bachelor’s degree in the field of Urban and Regional Planning from the Institute of Technology Bandung (ITB), Indonesia in 2004, and completed his master’s degree in the field of UEM from AIT, Thailand in 2010. He had worked as a research associate in AIT, and an urban planner in various Indonesia’s sub-national and government agencies. His research interests mainly focuses in the area of urban planning, infrastructure planning, urban environmental management, sustainable urban development, and climate change adaptation.

• 1st International Forum on Sustainable Future in Asia-Converting Aspirations to Actions-
  January 27 - 28, 2016, at Asian Institute of Technology, Thailand