DENR hosts international forum on sustainable management of megacities

The Philippines, led by the DENR, will host the 1st Asia-Europe Meetings (ASEM) International Forum on Sustainable Management of Megacities on May 30-31 at the Manila Hotel. The forum is organized by the Asia-Europe Environmental Technology Center (AEETC) and sponsored by the European Commission (EC). This is the first of the series of informal meetings that will afford the participants to actively participate and share experiences toward sustainable environmental management. The forum aims to bring together people looking for opportunities on how to improve the planning and management of their respective cities as well as to underline the benefits of information vis-à-vis technology and policy know-how exchange.

It also aims to provide a broad forum for the discussion of the emergent environmental problems in megacities, and the respective/integrated/aggregate practical solutions. It seeks to highlight the ‘clearing house’ role and competencies of AEETC and to formulate a policy information document that will address the common environmental problems in ASEM member countries.

Participants are expected to come from Austria, Germany, England, Vietnam, Korea, Japan, Thailand, Sweden, China, Philippines, among others. AEETC staff will also participate.

With the theme "Integrated Approach for ASEM Megacities Environmental Management-Integrated Solutions for Resource Management" the organizer has lined series of discussion and case presentation of member countries on environmental concerns prevailing in their respective countries. Six member countries will present case studies of selected areas of concerns prevailing in their respective countries, which include among others, traffic and smoke belching management, measures for resolution of carbon dioxide emissions, and approaches and trends in sustainable development.

Parallel group discussions will focus on solid waste management in megacities.

Megacities program is a priority area of AEETC. With the goal to "provide ASEM member countries with sufficient information and knowledge of the factors that determine success or failure of sustainable metropolitan governance and management within specific cultural, economic and political settings," it faces the challenge of evolving approaches and processes on urban development that can be adapted to the conditions and circumstances of society in the megacities of ASEM member countries.