By AIT Public Affairs
16 September 2024 – The Asian Institute of Technology’s (AIT) School of Environment, Resources, and Development (SERD) and School of Engineering and Technology (SET) actively participated in the 6th Greater Mekong Subregion (GMS) Environment Ministers’ Meeting (EMM-6), held from September 10 – 13, 2024 in Cambodia. The event, organized by Cambodia’s Ministry of Environment in collaboration with the Asian Development Bank (ADB), served as a platform for regional leaders to discuss climate action and environmental sustainability.
The AIT delegation included Prof. P. Abdul Salam, Dean of SERD; Prof. Sangam Shrestha, Dean of SET; and Dr. Sushil Himanshu, Assistant Professor in the Agricultural Systems and Engineering (ASE) program. They were accompanied by Ms. Sarina Pradhan Thapa from SERD and Ms. Alistina Shrestha from SET.
Speaking as a panelist in the session “Facilitating Low Carbon Transition,” Prof. Salam emphasized the urgent priorities and research needs in the GMS to accelerate the shift towards low-carbon economies and highlighted the importance of academic contributions to climate resilience.
Prof. Salam also participated in the “Development Partner Roundtable,” where he reinforced AIT’s commitment to addressing environmental sustainability, climate change, and regional development challenges. He highlighted the need for enhanced data sharing, integrated planning, and stronger coordination mechanisms for effective regional cooperation.
Dr. Himanshu participated as a panelist in a session on “Deploying Digital Technologies for Climate Action and Environmental Sustainability.” He stressed the significance of integrating digital tools, such as remote sensing, IoT sensors, and AI, for making data-driven decisions in climate action and resource management. He emphasized the transformative potential of these technologies and shared insights from the ADB-supported AFAS project, demonstrating effective climate solutions through collaboration.
During the EMM-6, AIT’s SERD and SET demonstrated their expertise and showcased projects in several areas, including agriculture, green freight, low-carbon transition, water resource management, digital technologies, smart agriculture, Climate-smart Landscapes, and plastic pollution. The event emphasized cross-cutting themes such as gender equality and integrating digital technologies in environmental protection.
The Deans also met with H.E. Chann Sinath, Secretary of State at Cambodia’s Ministry of Water Resources and Meteorology (MOWRAM). The meeting focused on AIT’s role in water resource management and human resource development for Cambodia’s National Water Resources Data Management Center (NWRDMC) and the Water Resources Information System (WRIS). The AIT delegation reaffirmed AIT’s commitment to building regional partnerships for sustainable water management in Cambodia. Dr. Divas Bahadur Basnyat, an AIT alumnus, also attended the meeting.
AIT’s participation in EMM-6 underscores its dedication to advancing regional cooperation and sustainable development across the GMS.
