Asia environmental economic researchers to boost local, quality research

PHUKET, Thailand–The Economy and Environment Program for Southeast Asia (EEPSEA) held its 2014 conference last week with dozens of researchers presenting their research proposals and findings on environmental economics topics from various Southeast Asian countries, including China.

International experts and EEPSEA partners were impressed by the dedication and relevant topics presented by the researchers in the region where they shared their research findings, insights and ideas to the improvement of current policies in their respective countries.

Although research topics range from water issues, pollution, forests and wastes, most of the studies are on climate change impacts and adaptation gap analysis; climate change impacts and economics of adaptation in coastal areas; flooding; mitigation; downscaling vulnerability mapping and adaptation planning; intra-household impacts of climate change hazards in coastal countries; and economic analysis of adaptation projects.

At the EEPSEA conference, international experts such as James Anderson of the World Bank discussed topics on aquaculture, fisheries and globalization where he challenged researchers to also focus on restoring the health of oceans and fisheries.

Dale Whittington, a professor from Manchester Institute of Innovation Research presented the hurdles along 21st century water development paths wherein he discussed the cost-benefit analysis, environmental economics and water resources planning and policy surrounding water issues.

The conference also heard Peter Cutter of the WWF Greater Mekong where he introduced InVest, an ecosystem assessment, valuation and trade-off analysis tool that can be used by the researchers in their projects.

The EEPSEA conference ended with its sustainability planning, aside from the one-on-one consultation of the researchers to senior experts and environmental economists in the region.

by IVAbano