Bangkok--31 Jul--Asian Institute of Technology
The Asian Institute of Technology (AIT) will partner with the Government of France to stage an international scientific conference next year in Thailand, as a prelude to the COP 21 World Forum on Climate Change to be held in December 2015 in Paris, France.
AIT President Worsak Kanok-Nukulchai confirmed last week that AIT will co-organize and host a regional conference on science and climate change in Bangkok which will be co-funded by French Cooperation. The event is expected to take place in mid-year and will be focused on ASEAN countries and other countries in the region.
Mr. André de Bussy, France’s Regional Counsellor for Development in ASEAN based at the French Embassy in Jakarta, Indonesia, led a six-member delegation of French officials to AIT on July 25 to discuss preliminary details for cooperation on the event with the AIT President and senior institute officials. The initiative is seen as a springboard for developing new partnerships and long term friendship, officials said.
The global COP 21 forum hosted by France offers hope to the world on tackling climate change, explained Mr. de Bussy, indicating that a goal of the Bangkok conference would be to enhance the participation of ASEAN scientists and policy-makers at the crucial Paris meeting.
Informing that Germany and the United Kingdom have agreed to participate, and that UNDP, UNEP and UNESCO were confirmed as event partners, Mr. de Bussy emphasized that the conference will be positioned as a European and Asia event, rather than a solely French initiative.
“We are interested to create a major platform or bridge for dialogue between regional scientific solution finders and mid to high level government representatives and decision-makers to the COP 21 forum,” he said. “The conference will build on existing networks and can be the start of an important new network, which AIT can play a key role.”
Both sides agreed to set up an international steering committee to include diplomatic representatives, ASEAN Secretariat, and UN agencies. A task force made up of AIT, IRD and CIRAD will also guide overall planning. “Let’s be ambitious,” Mr. de Bussy enjoined AIT officials.
Emphasis will be placed on garnering high level visibility, and President Worsak informed that AIT could assist in attracting a well-known keynote speaker to headline the conference. Creative public communications and media outreach will also be of high importance to influencing public opinion and assisting advocacy efforts, Mr. de Bussy explained.
At the first planning meeting, Mr. de Bussy was accompanied by Ms. Philomène Robin, Technical Assistant, UNESCO, Jakarta; Dr. Jacques Berger, Representative for Thailand and India, Institut de recherché pour le developpement (IRD); Mr. François Robinne, Director, Research Institute of Contemporary Southeast Asia (IRASEC); Ms. Marine de Molinier, Scientific and Higher Education Cooperation, Embassy of France, Bangkok; and Ms. Paola Clerino, Project Officer, AFD-French Development Agency, Bangkok.
AIT was represented at the meeting by Prof. Kanchana Kanchanasut, Vice President, Research; Prof. Voratas Kachitvichyanukul, Interim Dean, School of Engineering and Technology; Prof. C. Visvanathan, Interim Dean, School of Environment, Resources and Development; Dr. Jonathan Shaw, Director, AIT Extension; Prof. M.S. Babel, Director, Center for Sustainable Development in the Context of Climate Change; Prof. Nitin K. Tripathi, Director of Special Degree Programs, and Mr. Shawn Kelly, Senior Media Specialist, Media and Communications Unit.