A Networking Event of the Global Covenant of Mayors for Climate and Energy Southeast Asia
Venue : United Nation Conference Centre, Bangkok, Thailand, Meeting Room G
Date & Time : Wednesday, 27 March 2019 at 12:00 – 13.15
Organizers : European Union through the IUC Asia Helpdesk
BACKGROUND
Implementing the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the Paris Agreement at local level is a key challenge for city administrations across the world. In the field of climate change, comprehensive and integrated planning at local level is now more important than ever. Cities today consume roughly two-thirds of the global primary energy supply and produce over 70% of the global energy-related CO2 emissions, making them the largest market for sustainable energy and the principal arena for climate action. However, many city administrations lack resources to develop a detailed and strategic framework for measuring, planning and monitoring reduction of CO2 emissions and adapting to climate impacts.
Against this backdrop, the European Union (EU) is supporting the implementation of the Global Covenant of Mayors for Climate and Energy (GCoM) in Asia and other regions of the world. The GCoM is an international coalition of cities and local authorities with the shared long-term vision of promoting and supporting voluntary action to combat climate change and move to a low-carbon society and climate resilient future. Support in Asia is channelled through the EU’s International Urban Cooperation (IUC) Asia programme and coordinated with the national authorities while providing space for the cities to take the lead on climate action, learn from each other and showcase their experiences.
SCOPE
The IUC Asia programme along with the GCoM South East Asia are proposing to further outreach cities specifically in the Southeast Asian region through a ninety minutes networking event at the 6th Asia Pacific Forum on Sustainable Development in Bangkok, Thailand. The event will serve as the first introduction to the GCoM and to promote activities of the GCoM for the Asia Pacific audience. During the networking event, it is foreseen that cities will have greater understanding about the GCoM and potentially grow interest to join the GCoM. A representative of the European’s Union Delegation is scheduled to open the networking event.
The focus of the networking event is to promote inclusive climate action which could drive better environmental outcomes and social and economic co-benefits—to support and enhance the coherence and effectiveness of sustainable cities development strategy and actions. The elements of the inclusive climate action are an equitable plan to benefit marginalised population groups who experience more exposure to climate hazards and with inadequate or no capacity to adapt—the poor, women, children, seniors, and the disabled.
PROGRAMME
- Opening: H.E. Mr Pirkka Tapiola, Ambassador of the European Union to Thailand (TBC)
- Presentation by GCoM Southeast Asia Secretariat: Bernadia Irawati Tjandradewi, (Secretary General, UCLG ASPAC, host of GCoM SEA)
Panel Discussion
- Inclusive Climate Action:
- Jacqueline Lam, Deputy Regional Director for East, Southeast Asia and Oceania, C40 Cities Climate Leadership Group
- Maria Adelaida Antonette M. Cea, Technical Advisor, Cities & Climate Change / Vertical Integration & Learning for Low Emission Development, UN Habitat
- European City Case: Piero Remitti, Lead Expert, IUC Asia Project
- Testimonials,
- Valerie Siambun, Vice President, Environment, Iskandar Regional Development Authority, Malaysia
- Ir Bahagia Dipl. SE, Secretary, Banda Aceh City, Indonesia
- Naga City, Philippines (TBC)
- Questions & Answers
