Research at AIT Sustainable Development in the context of Climate Change

Research at AIT Sustainable development in the context of Climate Change I. Overview AIT has been involved in Technological and Developmental research of relevance to the region from its inception. Sustainable development of the region has been at the core of major projects carried out in various parts of Asia.

Research at AIT Sustainable development in the context of Climate Change I. Overview (contd) Human problems today are global, and we therefore have an international perspective in all our activities. Research in higher education is not only about increasing competency within some discrete knowledge fields. It is also about cultural differences as a source of potential for creation, innovation, critical thinking and development.

Research at AIT Sustainable development in the context of Climate Change I. Overview(Contd) Research oriented towards the sustainable development of the region, strengthening the knowledge, development and business capacity of the region, and supporting communities and their economic development and integration into the global economy. More than 2000 graduate students carrying out research projects supervised by over 200 highly qualified and experienced faculty advisors 458 projects that are currently being conducted (Dec 2008) with a total budget of 1.8 Billion Thai Baht Bath staffed by 1,000 research and support personnel from 30 countries. 70% of this on value are in developmental projects

Research at AIT Sustainable development in the context of Climate Change I. Overview AIT is striving for a distinct profile in certain strong niche areas. Maintaining a societal perspective on science, researchers at AIT produce knowledge for practical application with high relevance, utility and economic impacts. The Institute and its staff is integrated with the agenda and desires of the stakeholders

Research at AIT Sustainable development in the context of Climate Change Relevant Research Work in high tech areas and with local agents and developmental agencies Some examples

Wetlands Alliance The Wetlands Alliance is a process of regional collaboration to strengthen local-level capacity for sustainable, poverty focused wetlands management. Aims to improve the livelihoods and food security of the region’s rural and peri-urban poor based on improved management of wetlands and water/aquatic resources. It is on these resources the poorest people in the region depend most. The Alliance currently engages over 30 partner organizations in the Lower Mekong Basin region. At the provincial and district level, local partners develop and implement the work and are the direct beneficiaries of the capacity development efforts supported by the regional partners. The complementary strengths of the different partners offers a regional pool of knowledge and expertise. Research at AIT Sustainable development in the context of Climate Change

Wetlands Alliance The Alliance is currently operating in eight geographic locations in four countries. The Alliance consists of regional partners Coastal Resources Institute (CORIN) of Prince of Songkhla University, World Fish Center (WorldFish), World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) and Over 30 local partners or Local Change Agents or LCAs. Research at AIT Sustainable development in the context of Climate Change

Research at AIT Sustainable development in the context of Climate Change High Tech Areas Robotics and Sensor Networks for Intelligent Environment Industrial Robot application development using sensor fusion and knowledge acquisition. Automation System Simulation and System Integration Intelligent Automation : System integration for building complete automation systems Development of a prototype for domestic autonomous mobile robot system using wireless LAN ASIC, MEMS design

Research at AIT Sustainable development in the context of Climate Change High Tech Areas (contd) MECHATRONICS, MICRELECTRONICS and NANOTECHNOLOGY Among the first Master level courses in these specialized areas Industrial collaboration and specialized professional programs in these areas The Center of Excellence in Nanotechnology is jointly supported by Thailand's Nanotechnology Center (NANOTEC) to cultivate and foster Multidisciplinary activities including research and education in the applications of Nanotechnology in the developing world. Research includes application of nano particles, which is suitable for addressing developmental issues

Research at AIT Sustainable development in the context of Climate Change Thematic knowledge area in Strategy Development Plan of Institute “SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT IN THE CONTEXT OF CLIMATE CHANGE” Based on : Considerable experience in the region Working in the area of sustainable development for more than 2 decades Consolidating this research for Climate Change under broader umbrella of Sustainable Development to create niche for ourselves. A core critical mass of faculty and staff strength in the thematic area which has been endorsed by various donor agencies and stake holders

Research at AIT Sustainable development in the context of Climate Change Broad Climate Change areas at AIT Climate Science – study of vulnerable areas using GIS and RS, disaster preparedness, air quality monitoring and modeling, etc. Adaptation – eg. major problem in the coastal areas and islands of Asia, urban, rural and coastal areas, etc. Mitigation – renewable energy and carbon neutral economies, etc.

Research at AIT Sustainable development in the context of Climate Change II. Current Researches related to Climate 1. ARRPEEC The Asian Regional Research Programme in Energy, Environment and Climate (ARRPEEC) was organized as a regional network involving a number of national research institutes (NRIs) from several countries of Asia. ARRPEEC funded by SIDA and co- ordinated by the Asian Institute of Technology (AIT). And started in This program was implemented in response to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).

Research at AIT Sustainable development in the context of Climate Change II. Current Researches 1.. ARRPEEC MAIN OBJECTIVES Production of high quality policy oriented outputs in the selected areas of energy, environment and climate research. Capacity mobilization and enhancement at National Research Institute (NRI) level through project level joint activities and fellowships. Linkage of project level activities in the participating countries with national, regional and global initiatives for reducing GHG and other hazardous emissions. Dissemination of results of the programme among policy personnel with a view to creating an impact on policy making.

Research at AIT Sustainable development in the context of Climate Change II. Current Researches 1. ARRPEEC Involved four regional research projects, namely: 1)Biomass Energy in Asia: Assessment and Strategy Formulation; 2)Small and Medium Scale Industries in Asia: Energy, Environment and Climate Interrelation; 3)Strategies for Promotion of Energy Efficient and Cleaner Technologies in the Urban Transport System; and, 4)Strategies for Promotion of Energy Efficient and Cleaner Technologies in the Power Sector. ARRPEEC Phase III involved 22 NRIs representing seven Asian countries

Research at AIT Sustainable development in the context of Climate Change II. Current Research 2. ARRPET The Asian Regional Research Programme on Environmental Technology (ARRPET) ARRPET involves 18 National Research Institutions (NRIs) from 8 Asian countries, namely, China, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Sri Lanka, Thailand, and Vietnam. The issues covered include wastewater, air pollution, solid and hazardous wastes. Experience will be used for the development of waste refineries

Research at AIT Sustainable development in the context of Climate Change II. Current Researches 3. CIDA SEA-UEMA Southeast Asia Urban Environmental Management Applications (SEA-UEMA) Project Project Goal and Purpose Goal To improve urban environmental conditions in SEA region. To attain improved implementation and sharing of sound UEM policies and good practices. Project Focus 1. Water and Sanitation 2. Solid Waste 3. Air Pollution With Gender Equality as the Cross-cutting Theme Number of projects in the areas of sustainable cities and Climate change

Research at AIT Sustainable development in the context of Climate Change II. Current Researches 3. CIDA SEA-UEMA Southeast Asia Urban Environmental Management Applications (SEA-UEMA) Project Major Activities in the new consolidation phase: » Awarding targeted scholarships to partner institutions – capacity building » Implementation of Flagship Projects » Identification of country nodes in target countries to develop and strengthen national networks, and conduct local training and disseminate lesson learned and good practices » Identification of anchor institutions in target countries to do policy campaign on identified focal policy issues » Strengthen integration of gender equality in UEM policies and practices Geographic Coverage: Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Philippines, Thailand, Timor-Leste, and Vietnam

Research at AIT Sustainable development in the context of Climate Change II. Current Researches 4. WATER RESOURCES One of the earliest programs at AIT Extensive work in the region in the area of integrated water recourses management and integrated coastal zone management Research projects An Assessment of the Socio-economic Impacts of Flood under Climate Change Conditions in Large Coastal Cities in South and South-east Asia Sediment Management in South and Southeast Asia Climate Change impact and Adaptation Study for Bangkok Metropolitan region UNEP Water Vulnerability Assessment in South and South East Asia New Report: “Freshwater Under Threat: South Asia” produced by UNEP and AIT. Identifies key threats to water resources development and management, and assesses the challenges the region faces in coping with these threats

Research at AIT Sustainable development in the context of Climate Change II. Current Researches 6. DISASTER MANAGEMENT & MITIGATION Recent intense occurrences of natural disasters all over the earth leading to massive loss of life and destruction of infrastructure have grabbed the attention of the world Receiving attention is disaster risk management–-the know-how to prepare for such disasters and to reduce their effects. AIT and its partner institutions are determined to contribute more toward bringing this know-how to disaster managers and engineers. A new academic program was designed to instill the necessary interdisciplinary capacities to manage and minimize the effects of disasters in people on the front-lines of disaster response and preparedness.

Research at AIT Sustainable development in the context of Climate Change II. Current Researches 6. DISASTER MANAGEMENT & MITIGATION The partners and collaborators of this program are: Asian Disaster Preparedness Center (ADPC) National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), USA International Institute for Geo-information Science and Earth Observation (ITC), the Netherlands International Center for Urban Safety Engineering (ICUS), The University of Tokyo, Japan University of Washington Extension (UWE), International Tsunami Training Institute (ITTI), USA

Research at AIT Sustainable development in the context of Climate Change II. Current Researches 6. DISASTER MANAGEMENT & MITIGATION The partners and collaborators of this program are: Coastal Resources Center (CRC), University of Rhode Island, USA Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), Japan United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UNOCHA), Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific, Bangkok Disaster Prevention Research Institute (DPRI), Kyoto University, Japan

Research at AIT Sustainable development in the context of Climate Change II. Current Researches 6. DISASTER MANAGEMENT & MITIGATION AIT's Habitech Center assists in Post-Tsunami reconstruction work The Habitech Center of the School of Engineering and Technology (SET), AIT, is carrying out the construction of 56 houses in the Baan Nam Khem Village of the Phangna Province. Habitech Center is responsible for the design, training, construction, and supervision of the housing implementation for the EU-ASIA PRO ECO II B Post-Tsunami Project. USAID, AIT launch community learning center in Ranong as part of tsunami recovery

Research at AIT Sustainable development in the context of Climate Change II. Current Researches 6. RETREATING GLACIERS Monitoring Imja Glacier Lake: Himalayan glacier monitoring project with Field Server AIT and partners organizations have successfully setup Field-Servers (FS) - Internet Field Observation Robots at Imja Glacier Lake located at an altitude of 5,000m in the Mount Everest region of the Himalayas in Nepal. The lake was identified as being one of the potentially most dangerous glacial lakes in danger of bursting out and creating a Glacier Lake Outburst Flood (GLOF). The Field Servers and data collection infrastructure will form part of a Glacial Lake Outburst Flood Monitoring and Early Warning System.

Research at AIT Sustainable development in the context of Climate Change III. Future Plans RESEARCH GAPS IN CLIMATE CHANGE Climate Adaptation in Asia: Knowledge Gaps and Research Issues in South East Asia Project on “Adapting to Climate Change in Asia: Identifying Critical Knowledge Gaps” supported through the Joint DFID-IDRC Regional consultation to assess regional priorities, capabilities and research gaps on climate change and poverty reduction in Asia

Research at AIT Sustainable development in the context of Climate Change III. Future Plans Universities for Harmonious Cities: Urban Development Knowledge Network in Asia A research Cooperation of SIDA and AIT Objectives: To utilize City and University linkages to generate knowledge and build effective public action through research and education in the domain of Urban Development. Project Components: Urban Development Research Component Capacity Building education and training component Asia wide Inter country and North South Exchange Study Teaching collaboration and dissemination of research Outputs.

Research at AIT Sustainable development in the context of Climate Change III. Future Plans Strategies towards a Low Carbon Economy and their Sustainable Development Implications Research Objectives The overall objective of the proposed study is to analyze the least cost strategies for GHG emission mitigation in major ASEAN countries, namely Thailand and Vietnamand Their implications in the sustainable development in these countries during the long term planning horizon of Expected Outputs Provide major insights to policy makers in the study countries identify the least cost strategies for GHG mitigation in the countries Determine major abatement options identify and the levels of co-benefits (or sustainable development benefits) of the GHG mitigation strategies.

Research at AIT Sustainable development in the context of Climate Change III. Future Plans Risk assessment, vulnerability and adaptation Renewable energy and carbon economy Water resources and management Urban and rural sustainability ICT4D Bio resources and food security Institute wide sub-groups under the broad area of SD in the context of climate

Research at AIT Sustainable development in the context of Climate Change III. Research Strengths in Thematic knowledge area Inter-cross disciplinary Technology Socio-economic aspects Managerial aspects Policy development. Public sector Private sector Development agencies Government consultations. Intimate knowledge of region Strong network of collaborators and partners

Research at AIT Sustainable development in the context of Climate Change III. Future Plans INITIATIVES IN THE PIPE LINE 1.Dedicated post doctoral to strengthen research groups by young post doctoral fellows 2.Internal seed support to form close interdisciplinary teams 3.Start Masters course in Climate Change 4.Restart course in Integrated coastal zone management (ICTZM) and start program in climate change – looking for support 5.Networking and partnership meeting with partners and donor agencies June

Research at AIT Sustainable development in the context of Climate Change Thank you for your attention Contact for more information: Prof. Sudip K. Rakshit Asian Institute of Technology PO Box 4 Klong Luang Pathumthani Thailand