Climate Change Research, Education and Outreach Activities at AIT

Transcription

1 Climate Change Research, Education and Outreach Activities at AIT The Second International Conference on Sustainability Science in Asia (ICSS-Asia) March 2-4, 2011, Hanoi, Vietnam Dr. Sangam Shrestha Assistant Professor School of Engineering and Technology (SET) Asian Institute of Technology (AIT) 1

2 Presentation Outline 1. About AIT: Fact and Figures, Recent Developments 2. Centre of Excellent on the Sustainable Development in the Context of Climate Change (SDCC) 3. Six Thematic Sub Areas of SDCC 4. Climate Change Adaptation Researches 5. Climate Change Mitigation Researches 6. New Academic Program on Climate Change and Sustainable Development (CCSD) 2

3 1. About AIT AIT mission: to develop highly qualified and committed professionals who play leading roles in the region's sustainable development and its integration into the global economy. Established in 1959, the Asian Institute of Technology (AIT) promotes technological change and sustainable development in the Asian-Pacific region through higher education, research and outreach. 3

4 Key Facts and Figures Students from 47 + Countries/Territories 17,849+ Alumni from 80 Countries/Territories (currently residing in 108 countries and territories around the world) Short-term Trainees from 70+ Countries/Territories 130 Internationally recruited Faculty from 20+ Countries 468 Research and Support Staff from about 30 Countries About 450 Sponsored Research Projects 4

5 Academic Structure School of Engineering and Technology (SET) School of Environment, Resources and Development (SERD) School of Management (SOM) AIT EXTENSION AIT CENTERS Vietnam Indonesia... 5

6 Recent Developments New AIT Charter International Intergovernmental Organization 6

7 Recent Developments AIT Research Strategy ( ) Focus on Sustainable Development in the Context of Climate Change Development of Action Plans to implement the strategy focusing on five thematic areas: (i) Vulnerability and Disaster Risk Reduction, (ii) Water and land resources management for sustainable production and consumption, (iii) Urban and rural quality of life and sustainability, (iv) Low carbon and cleaner production technologies and management, and (v) Business and innovation models for a Green Economy. 7

8 2. The Centre of Excellence on Sustainable Development in the Context of Climate Change (SDCC) AIT is positioning itself under an Institute-wide thematic research area of Sustainable Development in the Context of Climate Change, focusing on adaptation and mitigation strategies that will drive poverty reduction, reduce risk and resource consumption, and create opportunities for job creation and building sustainable livelihoods. 8

9 Objectives of SDCC Bring together thought-leaders, research groups and SDCC experts to reflect on future research, design action plans and agenda, and pool resources to face emerging issues and urgent themes in climate change adaptation and mitigation Consolidate the Institute s research efforts and partnerships by providing a platform to discuss and launched shared initiatives with like-minded stakeholders and partners Strengthen AIT s role as regional hub of knowledge and experience in research and development in sustainable development and climate change adaptation and mitigation 9

10 Broad Climate Change areas at AIT Climate Science study of vulnerable areas using GIS and RS, disaster preparedness, air quality monitoring and modeling, etc. Adaptation eg. major problem in the coastal areas and islands of Asia, urban, rural and coastal areas, etc. Mitigation renewable energy and carbon neutral economies, etc. 10

11 3. Six Thematic Sub-areas of SDCC Vulnerability and Risk Reduction Water Resources and Coastal Adaptation Urban and Rural Sustainability Low Carbon Society & Renewable Energy Technology Agriculture, Fisheries, Forestry and Landuse Cleaner Production and Waste Refinery 11

12 3. Six Thematic Sub-areas of SDCC Vulnerability and Risk Reduction Strengthening the capacity of stakeholders is a key element in disaster preparedness and vulnerability reduction. AIT commits to increasing regional capacity in disaster preparedness and adaptation even as it addresses other issues of vulnerability, including the poor s access to resources and services. Research Areas: o Disaster Risk Reduction; Droughts and Floods; Forecasting Management; Construction Site Safety; Geotechnical and Earth Resource Engineering; Remote Sensing and GIS; GIS in Disaster Preparedness 12

13 3. Six Thematic Sub-areas of SDCC Water Resources and Coastal Adaptation Institute conducts extensive work in the areas of agricultural water, coastal water, urban water, water resources, and extreme events, such as floods and droughts, and risk management within the framework of integrated water resources management.. Research Areas: o Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM); Modeling of Water Resources; Coastal Engineering and Management; Water Supply and Sanitation; Irrigation and Drainage Engineering 13

14 3. Six Thematic Sub-areas of SDCC Urban and Rural Sustainability AIT focuses on assisting stakeholders build their capacity to promote urban and rural sustainability through appropriate technology, relevant and applied research, sustainable frameworks for development and planning, informed policy making and practice applications in the region. Research Areas: o Urbanization and Peri-urban Development; Basic Infrastructure and Services for Human Settlements; Trans-local Population Mobility; Food Security; Sustainable Urban and Rural Livelihoods 14

15 3. Six Thematic Sub-areas of SDCC Low Carbon Society & Renewable Energy Technology Greenhouse gas (GHG) mitigation options (both technological and policy) and their implications for the energy resource mix, technology-mix, environmental and developmental co-benefits in terms of reduction of other pollutant emissions, is a major focus of research at AIT. Research Areas: o Renewable Energy Resources Assessment; Solar Thermal and Photovoltaic; Biomass Energy and Mitigation, Energy Efficiency; Energy Policy; Low Carbon Society Initiatives 15

16 3. Six Thematic Sub-areas of SDCC Agriculture, Fisheries, Forestry and Landuse The Asian Institute of Technology believes that comprehensive mitigation measures in the midst of growing demand for food and forest resources have to simultaneously target the agriculture and forestry sectors. Research Areas: o Sustainable Natural Resources Management; Biotechnology; Ecology; Forest Management; Farming System Analysis; Life Cycle Environmental Assessment; Carbon and Water Footprint 16

17 3. Six Thematic Sub-areas of SDCC Cleaner Production and Waste Refinery Current trends in population growth, industrialization and natural resources consumption have seen wastes and pollutants released faster than the earth can absorb them and be restored. Urban and industrial areas are affected by water pollution and by high levels of air pollution. Research Areas: o Sustainable Consumption and Production; Eco Design/Product and Manufacturing; Integrated Urban Soildwaste Management; Resource Efficient Industrial Technologies; Waste to Energy 17

18 4. Climate Change Adaptation Researches Climate Change and Adaptation to Water Scarcity : Strategies for Integrated Water and Land Use Management to Enhance the Resilience of Rural Communities in the Gangetic Basin Karnali River Basin KoshiRiver Basin 18

19 Collaborators : IGES, ICIMOD Project duration: 2011 onwards Objectives: Explore the spatio-temporal characteristics of flow regimes and water availability across the Gangetic Basin Identify characteristic features of local landuse and water management practices adopted by local communities in selected hydro-climatic, topographic and socioeconomic conditions and assess the effectiveness of such practices to ensure water supply under water scarcity scenarios Identify options to enhance the resilience of landuse and water management practices, such as through water conservation, and assess their water use efficiency and cost effectiveness Formulate a strategy to mainstream adaptation to water scarcity in landuse and water management practices 19

20 4. Climate Change Adaptation Researches Climate Change Impact and Adaptation Study for Bangkok Metropolitan Region Collaborators : Panya Consultants and World Bank Project duration: Project objectives: This projects aims to develop a comprehensive model for the local meteorological impacts of climate change as well as a thorough assessment of both the physical infrastructure and the economic and social human impacts of the Bangkok Metropolitan Region. It also aims to identify and evaluate the different adaptation options that can be developed. 20

21 4. Climate Change Adaptation Researches Climate Change Impact and Adaptation Study for Bangkok Metropolitan Region Project Activities: Establish a CC related historical knowledge base Define and evaluate the impacts of CC (from social, economic, and environmental viewpoints) Help formulate city level adaptation strategies for implementation in the short-, medium- and long-term T30 flood depth CC + Land subsidence + SLR + Storm surge Bars show number of affected people 21

22 4. Climate Change Adaptation Researches The Technology Needs Assessment (TNA) in Asia Collaborators : UNEP, GEF, UNEP Risoe Project duration: Project objectives: To identify and prioritize technologies that can contribute to mitigation and adaptation goals of the participant countries; To identify barriers hindering the acquisition, deployment, and diffusion of prioritized technologies; and To develop Technology Action Plans (TAP) to overcome the barriers and facilitate the transfer, adoption, and diffusion of selected technologies in the participant countries. 22

23 4. Climate Change Adaptation Researches Project Activities 23

24 4. Climate Change Adaptation Researches An Assessment of the Socio-economic Impacts of Flood under Climate Change Conditions in Large Coastal Cities in South and South-east Asia UNEP Water Vulnerability Assessment in South and South East Asia New Report: Freshwater Under Threat: South Asia produced by UNEP and AIT. Identifies key threats to water resources development and management, and assesses the challenges the region faces in coping with these threats 24

25 5. Climate Change Mitigation Researches The Asian Regional Research Programme in Energy, Environment and Climate (ARRPEEC) Collaborators : SIDA Project duration: 1995 onwards Project Objectives: Production of high quality policy oriented outputs in the selected areas of energy, environment and climate research. Capacity mobilization and enhancement at National Research Institute (NRI) level through project level joint activities and fellowships. Linkage of project level activities in the participating countries with national, regional and global initiatives for reducing GHG and other hazardous emissions. 25

26 The Asian Regional Research Programme on Environmental Technology (ARRPET) Collaborators : SIDA Project duration: 2001 onwards Project Objectives: ARRPET II involves 18 National Research Institutions (NRIs) from 8 Asian countries, namely, China, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Sri Lanka, Thailand, and Vietnam. Research in ARRPET II focuses on treatment and management of domestic as well as agro-based industrial wastewaters ; pressing air pollution issues relevant to the Asian developing countries ; enhancing solid waste disposal practices and landfill technology for efficient and effective solid waste management in the region; and removal of toxic and hazardous compounds from industrial discharges. 26

27 6. Masters Degree on Climate Change and Sustainable Development (CCSD) CCSD aims to provide middle and senior level managers and policy makers with an advanced knowledge and skills in climate change and sustainable development. It is designed to upgrade their skills while familiarizing them with know-how through unique continuing professional education, specifically tailored to meet the needs of the region for rapid and sustainable growth and development. 27

28 6. Masters Degree on Climate Change and Sustainable Development (CCSD) Holistic master s degree program on Climate Change and Sustainable Development (CCSD) focusing on three main areas, namely climate sciences; climate change mitigation; and adaptation and vulnerability. Certificate, Diploma, Master and Doctoral level degree programs and student can accordingly to their needs can choose one of the programs. 28

29 6. Masters Degree on Climate Change and Sustainable Development (CCSD) Required Courses Emission mitigation in the international Context: Negotiations and Reporting Climate Science and Climate Modeling Electives Energy Resources and Technologies GHG Mitigation and Energy Recovery from Waste Solar Energy Wind Energy Bioenergy for GHG Mitigation Clean Development Mechanism: Principles and Practices RETscreen for Renewable Energy Clean Coal Technologies and Carbon Sequestration Science of Climate Change and Environment Co-Benefit 29

30 6. Masters Degree on Climate Change and Sustainable Development (CCSD) Electives Climate Change, Agriculture and Food Security Climate Prediction and Early Warning System Community and Climate Adaptation Climate change and Water Resources Science of Climate Change and Environment Co-Benefit Landuse and Climate Change 30

31 Thanking you very much. For more information: