JFIT Sustainability Insight #25: Knowledge Networks and Harnessing Resilience Against Disasters (2020)
Prof. Shahbaz Khan, Director of UNESCO Regional Science Bureau for Asia and the Pacific, invited Prof. Yuichi Ono, International Research Institute of Disaster Science (IRIDeS), Tohoku University, Sendai, Japan, and Dr. Markus Buchhorn, General Manager of the Asia Pacific Advanced Network (APAN) as guests.
Resilience is an ability to bounce back to the original state when society receives external stress, according to Prof. Ono. This term was introduced to communities at the 2nd World Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction (WCDRR) and has been recognized as a key concept until now. Dr. Buchhorn introduced the role of the Asia Pacific Advanced Network (APAN), which provides support to build human networks of researchers and educators built on physical/ICT infrastructure. He considers it is important for research and education networks to be resilient in order to collect and distribute information in times of disaster.
Disaster can be averted or mitigated through knowledge sharing. Dr. Buchhorn indicated that the major issue for disaster is the lack of information. Prof. Ono has been addressing this issue through his initiative on the “Global Centre for Disaster Statistics” which was established in cooperation with UNDP and Fujitsu to help the government to understand the impact of disasters better. Another initiative is the “World BOSAI Forum” which links local lessons learned and cultures in tsunami-affected Tohoku to the world.
COVID 19 has been adversely impacted on the achievement of targets in the “Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015-2030”. Yet, Dr. Buchhorn indicated that COVID 19 also triggered the willingness of communities to share data on an unprecedented scale. The guests advised UNESCO and JFIT to support the identification of local issues in which the knowledge networks can help as well as networking of disaster museums.
JFIT Sustainability Insight #23: Responsible Science Communication for Evidence-Based Decision Making (2020)
Prof. Shahbaz Khan, Director of UNESCO Regional Science Bureau for Asia and the Pacific, invited Prof. Della Grace Bacaltos, Professor 6 Davao del Sur State College, Digos City, Philippines, and Prof Joan Leach, Director of Australian National Centre for the Public Awareness of Science, Australian National University College of Science, Australia.
Prof. Leach explained three key components of responsible science communication being inclusive, recognizing the importance of negotiating knowledge, and being operated for the public good. The science community should take more responsibility for science communication particularly dedicated science communicators which should be nurtured. She emphasized the importance of multi-faceted negotiation, which involves communicating science to the community and vice versa. In the Australian National Centre for the Public Awareness of Science, cultural practices of science communication across the world are respected to generate the most effective ways for science communication and reaching out to communities in addition to research and education.
Prof Bacaltos introduced her experience working with local communities as part of her voluntary work for HELP Davao Network. She agreed with the points Prof Leach raised, saying that negotiation was an integral part of building common understanding among academia, policymakers, and community members. For building good trust among all stakeholders, the network has been organizing consultation meetings and making persistent efforts to translate scientific knowledge into easily understandable materials. The network successfully engaged government in changing the zoning and introducing the SDGs scorecard into their project evaluation.
As for recommendations to JFIT and UNESCO, guests proposed organizing the training for science communication and ensuring the project’s long-term sustainability to have enough time to bring impact.
JFIT Sustainability Insight #21: From Water Management to Water Economy (2020)
Prof. Shahbaz Khan, Director of UNESCO Regional Science Bureau for Asia and the Pacific, invited Dr. Mochammad Amron, Executive Director of Indonesian Water Partnership, Indonesia, and Prof Naseer Gillani, Chair of Development Finance of IHRO, Pakistan, to explore how we shift from water management to water economy.
The panelists explored existing linkages between water management and the economy in their society. Among other industries, agriculture, which benefits from water, is important for the Indonesia and Pakistan’s economies. According to Dr. Amron, there must be an enabling environment supported by law. When he explained the cost of water in Indonesia, he stressed that water should not be owned but permitted to use so that all people can benefit from water.
Dr. Naseer explained the evolution of water recognition in Global Agendas. SDGs, for the first time, created a goal dedicated to water – SDG 6, and the goal is designed to be achieved at the national level and the global level. In his working’s experiences with various political parties, it is important to build understanding among all stakeholders involved. He explained the success in the flood management project implemented in Pakistan with UNESCO supported by MOFA and JICA, which mobilized international experts and funds for building local people’s capacity. In the future, he expects to have a project which designs a business model in the field of water.
JFIT Sustainability Insight #19: Youth Leaders for Climate Change Resilience (2020)
Prof. Shahbaz Khan, Director of UNESCO Regional Science Bureau for Asia and the Pacific, invited Dr. Amanda Katili Niode, Manager of The Climate Reality Project Indonesia, who has been supporting youth in this field, and Ms. Saraswati Siahaan, Activists of Youth for Climate Change, Indonesia, who was selected as the winner of Youth Leadership Camp for Climate Change in 2017.
Prof Khan inquired Dr. Katili about her understanding of Climate Resilience. She answered that Climate Resilience is the ability for human and nonhuman systems to withstand and respond to Climate Change at all levels. This resilience concept can bridge the conceptual gap between mitigation and adaptation. As manager of The Climate Reality Project Indonesia, where 500 Climate Reality Leaders came from different backgrounds actively advocates Climate Change issues, her focus is on awareness raising of decision makers and younger generations.
Ms. Saraswati was motivated to work on Climate Change issues when she participated in UNESCO’s “Youth Leadership for Climate Change”. That experience opened her door to join the community called “Youth for Climate Change Indonesia” and study in Australia. She concerns limited awareness of Climate Change issues and lack of engagement atthe local community level. The participants of the camp successfully maintain their networks. The speakers consider the success of the Youth camp was due to the strategic design of the discussions: the organizers grouped participants so that they can easily express themselves; passionate mentors were involved in supporting and inspiring each student group.
At the end of the session, Dr. Katili delivered her message: International, interdisciplinary, intergenerational can bring better results. She recommended UNESCO to run more youth leadership programs at UNESCO sites, and connect youth in Asia Pacific with Japanese counterparts. Ms. Saraswati also suggested such Youth Camp to be held every year, and the financial and political support will be provided to youth.
JFIT Sustainability Insight #17: Pathways for Realising Water Security Across Borders (2020)
Prof. Shahbaz Khan, Director of UNESCO Regional Science Bureau for Asia and the Pacific, requested speakers to share their perspectives on key terms. Mr Shinsuke Ota, Vice President Honorary, International Commission on Irrigation and Drainage (ICID) described the concept of the Integrated Water Resource Management (IWRM) in simple key word – “Gross Basin Happiness”. Dr Narayanan followed that Water and Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) is also an element which contribute to Gross Basin Happiness, and thus these concepts should be dealt holistic manner.
Dr Ota was involved in the development of IWRM guideline in 2009, responding to the need to translate the concept of IWRM into the advice for implementation. In the guideline, IWRM was introduced as a cooperative approach which brings stakeholders with different interests, and an open-ended process that evolves helicoidally over time. He addressed IWRM implementations in Tokyo which were implemented in response to water shortages and hazard mitigation.
Dr Narayanan emphasized the importance of bridging the telescope and microscope, by referring IWRM as telescope and WASH as microscope. He also shared his view on the governance and emphasized the importance to carefully analyze the applicability of the approach by taking socio-economic contexts of the areas into account for different players across Asia and the Pacific share their knowledge.
For attaining better water security, speakers recommended: involving more individuals and help them acquiring understanding of IWRM; building capacity of institutions and individual professionals; developing good institutional governance with including relevant government organizations.
JFIT Sustainability Insight #15: Ecohydrology a Transdisciplinary Tool for Water Security (2020)
Prof. Shahbaz Khan, Director of UNESCO Regional Science Bureau for Asia and the Pacific, invited two eminent professors in the field of ecohydrology: Prof Ignasius Sutapa, Executive Director of Asia Pacific Centre for Ecohydrology (APCE), Indonesia, and Prof Maciej Zalewski, Director of the UNESCO European Regional Centre for Ecohydrology of the Polish Academy of Sciences.
The speakers shared how they came across the ecohydrology field, while Prof Sutapa originally started his career as a chemical engineer and Prof Zalewski as an ecological scientist. Bringing sciences to solve the problem was important beyond the boundaries of disciplines. It was important to use the systems approach to understand the function of complex ecosystems, which are at the juncture of hydrology and sustainability science.
Ecohydrology solutions are not universal, rather they need to be adjusted to local ecosystems and cultures. Prof Sutapa introduced how the ecohydrology concept was brought to Indonesia and applied in the local context in Cibinong. According to Prof Zalewski, the Ecotone project under UNESCO MAB programme brought an opportunity to apply the scientific knowledge to the management of sites with different contexts. It is crucial to learn from the cases in different countries and regions through the networks and raise awareness at all levels of government and communities.
JFIT Sustainability Insight #13 Nexus between nature based solutions and ecosystem services (2020)
The guests of 13th session have extensive experiences in the field of environmental assessment, conservation and restoration. Mr Kamran Yousaf, Country Manager, National Engineering Services Pakistan (NESPAK) Doha Office, is an engineer who have over 20 years of progressive experience in the environment and resettlement. Dr. Leah Barclay,President of Australian Forum for Acoustic Ecology and Lecturer at the University of the Sunshine Coast, works at the intersection of art, science and technology especially through the recording and disseminating the soundscapes.
Mr Kamran Yousaf introduced how the nature-based solutions have been recognized and gained significance attention over time among engineering community. Advantages of the nature-based solutions includes cost-efficiency, long-term sustainability, and better involvement of community. He also introduced the engagement with community through the example of river environment assessment and restoration project in Northern Iran.
From Dr Leah Barclay’s perspective, the nature-based solution is a restoration of ecosystem, which benefits for both ecosystem and human well-being, and essential part of this is to understand the nature deeply supported by inter-disciplinary research, citizen science, and engaging with indigenous knowledge. One of the powerful ways to understand nature is to listen to the environment, of which she provided specific examples through her project through the case of Cat Ba Biosphere Reserve (BR) in Viet Nam and BRs in Australia.
The discussion also explored possibility to use the sound recording in evaluating the improvement of environment over the course of environmental restoration project such as the project introduced by Mr. Yousaf. According to Dr. Barclay, soundscape recording and live streaming tools are easily available with affordable price.
At the end of the session, Prof. Shahbaz Khan, Director of UNESCO Regional Science Bureau for Asia and the Pacific reiterated that applying systems approach and understanding the function of the nexus – in this session development/engineering and ecological science – are important. He called for collective efforts in continuous learning of eco-systems, understanding community’s perspective, and providing support in educating professionals, e.g., through the Education for Sustainable Development (ESD).
JFIT Sustainability Insight #11: Crossing Disciplines to Reduce Water Inequalities (2020)
At the 11th session of this webinar series, we invited Prof. Jeff Camkin, Adjunct Professor at the University of Western Australia’s Institute of Agriculture and the International Water Centre and Griffith University, Australia, and Prof. Soontak Lee, Distinguished Professor of Yeungnam University, Korea, President of International Hydrologic Environmental Society (IHES), and Governor of World Water Council (WWC).
Prof. Shahbaz Khan, the Director of UNESCO Regional Science Bureau for Asia and the Pacific, started the session by requesting the guests to provide their perspectives on water inequality issues. Prof. Lee referred to SDG 10 and SDG 6, indicating that water inequality is one of the various inequality issues, and is created by lack of available water, good management, investment, and political awareness. Prof. Camkin indicated that “equity” is a better term than “equality” to be used in this context. Although both terms promote fairness, “equity” achieves it through supporting people differently depending on their needs. Governments are tasked to facilitate water equity for all to ensure basic human rights.
With looking back at the history of IHP activities in the region, Prof Lee explained that IHP 8 selected water security as a central issue, considering its wider scope than water scarcity. Prof. Camkin stressed that governments are responsible for ensuring good governance, but governance is for all people. Multi-disciplinary approach, consideration of various types of knowledge, and the participation of all relevant stakeholders are introduced as key elements for successful governance.
The question remains as to how we can ensure water security and investment in water in the post-pandemic world. Professors responded that the IHP programme has to develop cooperative actions, utilize the networks which were developed and maintained by JFIT and other support, and assist local transformation by looking at the issues through the local lens.
JFIT Sustainability Insight #9: Evidence Base for Environmental Justice and Sustainability (2020)
This session invited two guests to provide different perspectives on the issue of sustainability. Prof. Donna Craig from Western Sydney University, Australia, introduced the concept of environmental justice from the perspective of law. Prof. Roman Jashenko, Director General of Institute of Zoology CS MES RK, Chairman of the MAB National Committee, Kazakhstan explained the evidence-based approach applied at Biosphere Reserves.
According to Prof. Craig, “just sustainability” concept focuses on social justice, economic well-being, and environmental stewardship while creating sustainable communities able to facilitate global changes. She further explained the importance of indigenous knowledge for environmental sustainability by referring to some of her experiences working with an indigenous community.
Prof. Jashenko mentioned that biodiversity conservation is linked to various international obligations which request countries to provide scientific data regarding the state of ecosystems. He introduced the ecosystem data collection and use in Kazakhstan, for example, they are currently working on the identification of alien species. Behind the success of establishing an increased number of Biosphere Reserves in Kazakhstan, he mentioned that the key is the good understanding and appreciation of the Biosphere Reserves’ function among government and community, which is to serve as a model area where harmonizes human and nature.
Both speakers indicated that legal frameworks should be further studied so that they can be contextualized to each site, and this study can be carried out by involving experts from law, science, and other relevant areas.
Prof. Shahbaz Khan, Director of UNESCO Jakarta, underlined that both concepts, environmental justice and the evidence from ecological biodiversity, will play an important role as we move forward in this difficult time of COVID 19.
JFIT Sustainability Insight #7: Post Covid Climate Justice - Reaching the Unreachable (2020)
At the 7th session of the Sustainability Insight series, Prof. Shahbaz Khan, Director of UNESCO Jakarta, invited Dr. Ram Boojh to share his view on the definition of Climate Justice and who are the unreachable, with including examples from the past projects at Biosphere Reserves in Maldives, UNESCO Biotechnology School supported by JFIT, and activities at his NGO.
According to Dr. Boojh, the Climate Justice provides the basis for an ethical, social, and cultural dimensions for the Climate Crisis rather than seeing the issue as purely environmental or physical nature. Both the current COVID 19 pandemic and the Climate Change are the emergencies, yet we need to pay attention to such dimensions to address those issues with leaving no one behind.
Dr Boojh is an environment and sustainability professional with rich and varied experience of over 40 years working with the government, university system, civil society and the United Nations including UNESCO. In his view, further effort is needed to promote partnership among UN agencies, government, university, NGOs and civil society organization to provide impetus to promote nature positive education, practices, and opportunities for capacity building.
JFIT Sustainability Insight #5:Investments in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) for SDGs (2020)
We invited Prof Dr Manzoor Hussain Soomro, President of Economic Cooperation Organization (ECOSF), Islamabad, Pakistan. ECOSF aims to promote science and technology research with and end goal to raise socio-economic standing of 10 Member States (Afghanistan, Azerbaijan, Islamic Republic of Iran, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Tajikistan, Turkey, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan).
Prof Soomro and Prof Shahbaz Khan, Director of UNESCO Jakarta, revisited the definition of the STEM, Education for Sustainable Development (ESD), and Inquiry-based science education (IBSE) and relationship among them. In Prof Soomro’s view, STEM subjects are the important topics for ESD, and the IBSE is a key approach in teaching the STEM subject. IBSE allows children the opportunity to explore “hands-on”, to experiment, to ask questions and to develop responses based on reasoning. Therefore, all three elements are synergistic and important for all levels of society members and all genders.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, the most significant challenge for ECOSF is the lack of stable broadband. Unstable internet connection has been affecting the IBSE program and online teacher training. He highlighted it is important for the government to invest in ICT infrastructure to support the delivery of education.
They also explored the ideal level of investment in STEM. On average, ECO countries spend 0.3% of GDP on research and development, which is much less than most developed economies. Prof Soomro recommended all part of society must invest to STEM, and acceptable and minimum levels of investment as 1 % of GDP.
JFIT Sustainability Insight #4 Building Bridges for Inclusive Water Futures (2020)
Prof. Susana Neto, President of the Portuguese Water Resources Association and adjunct professor at Lisbon University, Griffith University and Westin University, was invited as a guest speaker.
When inquired by Prof. Shahbaz Khan, Director of UNESCO Office in Jakarta and Regional Bureau, on the implementation of the South-South Cooperation, Prof. Neto emphasized on the significance of a holistic cooperation that is not limited to countries grouped in a specific geographical region. She clarified that such cooperation should be supported and enriched globally, as the issues would affect the whole of human societies, especially during the time of COVID-19 and the following New Normal. She also mentioned on the benefits of the Malaysia-UNESCO Cooperation Programme in giving support and solidarity to the South-South Cooperation, which can be replicated in another modality.
Prof. Neto also emphasized on the need to have all relevant stakeholders’ input in identifying the complexity of the problem and producing the solution for issues on water governance. She further emphasized that the stakeholders need not be limited to certain groups, but it should encompass the society involved, from all levels.
JFIT Sustainability Insight #3 Building Capacity Challenges in Small island Developing States (2020)
Moderated by Prof. Shahbaz Khan, Director of UNESCO Office in Jakarta and Regional Bureau for Science, in this session, Ms. Salote shared the experience in customizing the ECCE framework developed from the MUCP programme to suit the needs of the ECCE curriculum in Fiji. Ms. Salote also highlighted the significance of ECCE and how Fiji embraces ECCE to create leaps in progress of education. She also elaborated the challenges and culture of the Pacific Islands.
Concerning COVID-19, Ms. Salote shared how the crisis has transformed the educational ecosystem, with the virtual learning environment beginning to take the place of conventional classes. As a final note, Ms. Salote stressed on how international cooperation help the students in Fiji become more familiar with more countries of the world.
JFIT Sustainability Insight #2: Fostering Partnerships for Managing Water-Related Disasters (2020)
As a guest of the second session, we invited Prof. Kuniyoshi Takeuchi, a long-time contributor to the UNESCO IHP programme in the Asia Pacific region.
Prof. Shahbaz Khan, Director of UNESCO Office in Jakarta and Regional Bureau for Science invited Prof. Kuniyoshi Takeuchi, Professor Emeritus of Yamanashi University to share his story of the early days of the UNESCO International Hydrological Programme Regional Steering Committee (IHP-RSC) and the achievement of IHP-RSC. Prof. Takeuchi introduced Catalogue of Rivers and Catalogue of Hydrologic Analysis (CHA) as important products of the IHP-RSC, which strengthened the national and regional collaboration throughout the process and earned international recognition among the IHP community.
In addition, Prof. Takeuchi emphasized the value of the trans-disciplinary approach, which should be practical, transparent, and engaged by stakeholders at different levels of governance in his view. He expects the UNESCO Jakarta, IHP, and JFIT to take a leading role in promoting a trans-disciplinary approach.
JFIT Sustainability Insight #1: Sustainability in the New Normal (2020)
The First Sustainability Insight event was launched on Monday, 22 June 2020 featuring Prof. Shahbaz Khan, Director of UNESCO Regional Science Bureau for Asia and the Pacific as moderator and Prof. Dato. Dr. Mazlin Bin Mokhtar, Director of LESTARI – University Kebangsaan Malaysia as guest speaker.
Presenting the Sustainability in the New Normal as the topic, this event was broadcasted through the Zoom webinar and Facebook live and joined by more than 2000 participants from 20 countries.