Researchers from the School of Environmental Science and Management (SESAM), University of the Philippines at Los Baños, together with the delegates from other member states of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) participated in the Forum on Urban Resilience to Climate Change and Disaster Risk Reduction Management Strategies held in Plaza Del Norte Convention Center, Laoag, Ilocos Norte, Philippines, last December 5-6, 2017.

Over 150 research and development experts from Southeast Asian countries attended the conference which provided a timely and fruitful discussion to attain urban resilience to climate change and disaster risks within the region

Dr. Felino Lansigan, Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Environmental Science and Management (JESAM), together with other plenary speakers, delivered lectures on climate change impact assessment tools and methodologies, urban resilience and green growth strategies, and institutional structures, policies and programs.

Representing SESAM, Dr. Marisa Sobremisana, who discussed her poster entitled “Exploring the Potential of Waste-to-Energy under a No Incineration Policy”, while Research Associates Vince Ray Escarcha, Ryan Cristil Real and Glenn Oca presented the papers entitled “A Review of the Integration of Disaster Risk Reduction and Climate Change Adaptation in the Environmental Impact Statements of Public Infrastructure Projects in the Philippines; Urban Planning under Climate Change: A Policy Framework on Urban Agriculture as Climate Change Adaptation Strategy in Santa Rosa City, Philippines; and Sustainable Water Use of Residential and Commercial Buildings through Water Footprint Accounting”, respectively.

The event was hosted by the Ecosystems Research and Development Bureau of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (ERDB-DENR), in collaboration with the ASEAN National Organizing Council under the Office of the President, and the provincial government of Ilocos Norte. (VR Escarcha, RC Real, GM Oca)