By AIT Public Affairs
28 December 2023: Officials from the Asian Institute of Technology (AIT) actively participated in COP 28, the 2023 UN Climate Change Conference held in Dubai from 30 November to 12 December 2023. Among the attendees were Prof. P. Abdul Salam, Dean of the School of Environment Resources and Development; Dr. Guilberto Borongan, Director and Head of Waste and Resource Management Cluster and Dr. Ramesh Soysa, Head of the Climate Change Cluster of AIT Regional Resource Centre for Asia and the Pacific (AIT RRC.AP), and Dr. Faiz Shah, Director of AIT Yunus Center.
COP 28 marked a significant turning point toward renewable energy and sustainable practices, with over 100 countries committing to triple global Renewable Energy Capacity and double Energy Efficiency by 2030. Moreover, more than 20 countries launched a ‘Declaration to Triple Nuclear Energy by 2050.’ The conference outcomes included the first Global Stocktake (GST), providing a comprehensive roadmap for countries to achieve net-zero goals by 2050. Key discussions also centered on expediting the adoption of zero- and low-emission technologies, including renewables, nuclear energy, and carbon capture and utilization.
Prof. Salam contributed to the conference as a member of the UN Council of Engineers for the Energy Transition (CEET), an esteemed international organization supporting the UN Secretary General’s objective of achieving net-zero emissions by 2050. CEET hosted several side events at COP 28.
Dr. Borongan and Dr. Soysa actively engaged in COP 28 through side events and an exhibition in collaboration with ICIMOD. The exhibition, held from 4 December to 6, showcased AIT and RRC.AP’s initiatives, including tools from the Ministry of the Environment, Japan, such as FloodS and S8DS Downscaler e-learnings on the Green Climate Fund-Simplified Approval Process (GCF-SAP).
In addition to the exhibition, RRC.AP conducted networking activities with stakeholders from Asia, the Pacific, and African countries. Meetings with the Ministry of the Environment, Japan (MOEJ), and the Institute for Global Environmental Strategies (IGES) took place on the COP sidelines. Dr. Faiz Shah, Director of AIT Yunus Centre, also actively participated in the conference.
A noteworthy highlight was the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between Ding Tai Co. Ltd. and AIT RRC.AP. This collaboration aims to promote the application of JW Eco-Technology, exchange technical knowledge, and provide training over one year. The partnership represents a crucial step in engaging with the private sector and showcasing Climate Change Adaptation Solutions within urban environments across ASEAN member states. Ding Tai is globally recognized for its extensive portfolio of patents, including JW Eco-Technology, excelling in urban construction, land development, and environmental research.
