OPEN SEMINAR AT THE UNIVERSITY OF TOKYO
Description:
The Open Seminar at the University of Tokyo on March 3, 2023, presented by Prof. Nophea Sasaki from the Asian Institute of Technology, explored “Baseline Emissions and Emission Reductions in Forestry Projects under a Global Standard.” This event highlighted the significant growth of the global carbon market, valued at $899 billion in 2021, and the expected rise in the voluntary carbon market to $17 billion by 2027. The seminar covered the necessity for substantial emission reductions, as emphasized by the IPCC’s 6th Assessment Report, which calls for a 43% reduction in greenhouse gases by 2030 from the 2019 baseline. Sasaki discussed various global carbon standards, such as the Verified Carbon Standard and Gold Standard, and detailed the carbon project cycle, including project design, validation, and verification processes. A case study of the Keo Seima REDD+ Project in Cambodia was presented, showcasing the project’s approach to calculating baseline emissions, emission reductions, and forest carbon monitoring. The seminar, attended by students, professionals from the
private sector, professors, and NGO representatives, underscored the importance of adopting recognized carbon standards and methodologies for global carbon credit sales, emphasizing action effectiveness for emission reduction success.
INTERNATIONAL ACADEMIC CONFERENCE ON CARBON PEAKING AND HIGH QUALITY DEVELOPMENT: THEORIES AND PRACTICES
Description:
At the International Academic Conference on Carbon Peaking and High Quality Development: Theories and Practices, hosted by the School of Economics, Jiangxi University of Finance and Economics (JUFE) in Nanchang, Jiangxi Province, China, Prof. Nophea Sasaki delivered a compelling virtual presentation titled “Towards Net-Zero Emissions on University Campuses: Nature-based and Technology-based Strategies at the Asian Institute of Technology.” The presentation emphasized the urgent need for emission reduction strategies in urban settings, particularly on university campuses, to combat the escalating challenges of air pollution, declining green spaces, and ecosystem disruption. Prof. Sasaki outlined the Asian Institute of Technology’s comprehensive approach to achieving net-zero emissions by 2030, integrating both technologybased solutions, such as solar energy installations, and nature-based solutions, including improved forest management and biochar applications. Through detailed analysis of baseline emissions, projected emission
reductions, and strategic implementation of carbon sequestration methods, the presentation highlighted AIT’s commitment to harmonizing human activities with nature and advancing sustainable urban planning. The session concluded with discussions on the scalability of these strategies to broader urban environments, underscoring the importance of adopting holistic and innovative approaches to achieve carbon neutrality and enhance urban wellness.
ERIA WORKING GROUP MEETING: “NAVIGATING THE COMPLEXITIES OF ENERGY TRANSITIONS
IN ASEAN AND EAST ASIA REGION”
Description:
At the ERIA Working Group Meeting in Bangkok on October 18-19, 2023, Prof. Nophea Sasaki delivered an insightful presentation on “Carbon Taxation and Forest Sustainability in ASEAN and East Asia: Challenges and Policy Implications.” Highlighting the dependence of ASEAN’s population on wood fuel and the forest sector’s significant carbon emissions, Prof. Sasaki advocated for carbon taxation as a crucial tool for encouraging sustainable forest management and reducing deforestation and degradation. The talk explored the effectiveness of carbon taxes across various forestry practices, emphasizing their potential to incentivize conservation, enhance carbon stocks, and promote the sustainable management of forests. By addressing the current state of carbon taxes and ETSs in the region, and offering a glimpse into the challenges and policy implications, Prof. Sasaki’s pioneering work sets a foundation for leveraging carbon taxation to achieve forest sustainability in ASEAN and East Asia, supporting the region’s transition towards sustainable environmental practices amidst urban growth and global climate change challenges.
NRM SEMINAR ‘EMPOWERING SMALL-SCALE FARMING FAMILIES: BRIDGING RESEARCH WITH SUSTAINABLE SOLUTIONS’
Description:
On October 16, 2023, Prof. Nophea Sasaki and his NRM colleagues organized in a seminar titled “Empowering Small-Scale Farming Families: Bridging Research with Sustainable Solutions,” held at AIT. The seminar aimed at students, professors, and staff, centered on marrying academic research with actionable sustainable agricultural solutions, spotlighting AIT’s Natural Resources Management (NRM) program’s pioneering research alongside ECHO’s on-the-ground efforts in uplifting farming communities globally. Prof. Sasaki elaborated on the pressing challenges posed by the triple planetary crisis—climate change, biodiversity loss, and pollution—and their impacts on agriculture. Through case studies such as Defire, Bamboost, and BiocharPals, the presentation vividly illustrated how technological innovations could significantly contribute to sustainability in farming. The seminar fostered discussions on scalable
solutions and potential collaborative ventures, aiming to enhance the resilience and sustainability of small-scale farming families across Asia and beyond. ECHO was represented by Dr. Abram Bicksler, the President/CEO of ECHO
INTERNATIONAL SEMINAR ‘CHANGES TOWARDS LOW CARBON SOCIETY IN ASIA AT CHULALONGKORN UNIVERSITY
Description:
The International Seminar ‘Changes towards Low Carbon Society in Asia’ held on December 6, 2023, at Chulalongkorn University, showcased Professor Nophea Sasaki’s insights on achieving net-zero emissions on university campuses. Focused on the Asian Institute of Technology (AIT), the seminar outlined the necessity of decarbonization, introducing AIT’s sustainability plans which aim for net-zero by 2030 through technologybased and nature-based solutions. Participants included a diverse group from the private sector, NGOs, the UN, students, and faculty members, all contributing to discussions on strategies for reducing carbon emissions. The seminar emphasized the importance of integrating academic and research activities with sustainability, highlighting initiatives like botanical gardens and solar energy installations as part of AIT’s journey towards a carbon-neutral future.
Nophea Sasaki presenting his research to the audience.
BRIDGING INNOVATIONS: EXPLORING COLLABORATIVE OPPORTUNITIES BETWEEN KIT AND NRM
Description:
At a seminar held on December 21, 2023, Prof. Nophea Sasaki engaged with students, professors of AIT, staff, and the Vice President of Kirirom Institute of Technology (KIT) to discuss “Recent Research by NRM Program: Bridging Technology with Sustainability.” The event, focusing on collaborative opportunities between KIT and AIT’s NRM program, highlighted groundbreaking work at the intersection of technology and sustainability. Prof. Sasaki shared insights into NRM’s significant achievements and rankings, stressing the urgency of addressing the triple planetary crisis through innovative solutions. The seminar showcased select projects from NRM, emphasizing improved forest management, biochar utilization, and initiatives towards achieving net-zero emissions on the AIT campus. Highlighted case studies, including ParkPals, Defire, Bamboost, and KaseChar, illustrated the practical applications of technology in enhancing sustainability. The discussion ventured into potential collaborations for tech development and expansion, aiming to leverage KIT’s technological prowess alongside NRM’s sustainability expertise. This seminar underscored the vital role of academic and research collaborations in advancing global environmental stewardship and technological innovation for a sustainable future. KIT or the Kirirom Institute of Technology was represented by Dr. Masamu Kamaga, Vice President for Global Engagement, KIT.
Questions and discussions among participants and speakers
INTERNATIONAL DAY OF FORESTS
Description:
The Natural Resources Management academic program (NRM) at the AIT’s Entrepreneurship Center hosted a highly successful Forest Video Contest in celebration of the International Day of Forests on March 21, 2023. The event, which also featured an online component, was aimed at fostering greater awareness of the crucial roles that forests play in supporting the livelihoods of over 2 billion people and maintaining healthy ecosystem functions.
The contest opened on March 1, 2023, and attracted a multitude of entries by the closing date on March 14. Participants were tasked with creating videos that showcased their creativity, originality, and deep understanding of forest ecosystems. The content was expected to reflect thoughtful consideration of the topic, incorporating personal experiences and insights. All entries were adjudicated by a panel of NRM faculty members and external experts, focusing on creativity, originality, message content, and story flow.
Masamu Kamaga, Vice President of KIT and Karma Rana, Institute Secretary of AIT
Winners were announced on March 17, 2023, through NRM’s website and Facebook page, as well as via direct email notifications. The competition featured a range of prizes, with the first prize winner receiving 3000 B and a Certificate of Recognition. Second and third places were awarded 2000 B and 1000 B respectively, along with certificates. Additionally, a Special Award and certificates of participation were given to other noteworthy entries.
The contest also included a People’s Choice Award, which engaged the public through voting on Facebook,
allowing broader interaction and engagement with the themes of forest conservation.
The Forest Video Contest effectively heightened awareness about the importance of forests, engaging an enthusiastic community of students who shared powerful messages about the importance of healthy forests for a sustainable future.
Weblink:
� https://dds.ait.ac.th/international-day-offorests-2023/
ASSESSMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES, LAND DEGRADATION, BIODIVERSITY AND CLIMATE CHANGE IMPACTS USING GEOSPATIAL TECHNOLOGIES AND BUILDING CAPACITIES
AIT Research Theme: Natural Resources
AIT Unit: Geoinformatics Center
Project Duration: 3 August 2023 to 30 November 2024
Project Sponsor/ Client: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO)
Expected Social Impact:
The project will estimate the rangelands, water resources, disaster-prone areas etc., which will help in improving livelihood and food security.
Description:
Combating land degradation and biodiversity loss by promoting sustainable rangeland management and biodiversity conservation in Afghanistan Project is a fiveyear intervention under the sponsorship of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and funded through the Global Environment Facility (GEF). This project aims to strengthen local stakeholders and communities capacity to address the environmental problems by promoting sustainable rangeland management and biodiversity conservation in these vulnerable landscapes of eastern Afghanistan. The project was launched in April 2021 and is expected to be completed by March 2026. The project has three major components:
i. Strengthening capacity of national, provincial, and local stakeholders for CBNRM and integrated landscape planning and management;
ii. Integrated management and restoration of degraded landscapes for biodiversity conservation and sustainable/regenerative rangeland management;
iii. Systematic creation and sharing of knowledge, project coordination, monitoring and evaluation (M&E), and institutional capacity development.
Activities:
⏵ Compile the baseline data for analysis
⏵ Conduct Inception workshop and finalize baseline for indicator-based assessment of natural
⏵ resources, land degradation, and biodiversity (Online)
⏵ Literature review and finalized technical approach for compilation of indicators and develop a calculation routine for the compilation of indicators
⏵ Compile and process data for indicator-based assessments
⏵ Conduct training and capacity-building activities
⏵ Prepare a natural resources and biodiversity atlas
ESTABLISHING A KNOWLEDGE HUB AND BUILDING CAPACITY ON URBAN ECOSYSTEM-BASED
AIT Research Theme: Knowledge Hub
Project Duration: 11 September 2023 to 20 May 2025
Project Sponsor/ Client: Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, Lao PDR
Project Partner: National University of Laos
Expected Social Impact: increase awareness on EbA
Description:
To support the National University of Laos to develop their capacity in the areas of curriculum development; Joint research on EBA; support to design and validate permeable paving, and Production of some communication/knowledge products/materials.
Activity
⏵ Preparation of EbA curriculum integrating engineering and ecosystem-based solutions targeting the graduate students
⏵ Conduct joint research on relevant topics on EbA including Ecosystem Services, Forest restoration in Wetland, Hydrological Modelling, Drought and Soil Erosion
⏵ Produce joint knowledge products on urban EbA
⏵ Design and demonstrate permeable pavement solutions
ADAPTATION (EBA) IN LAO PDR
