Leading climate researchers and policymakers from across Southeast Asia will come together for an international symposium at Curtin University this month, to address how cities in the region can best cope with the warming climate.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The event will see attendees pool their collective knowledge to develop policies to combat urban warming, with a particular focus on sprawling cities such as Bangkok, Jakarta, Kuala Lumpur and Quezon City within the metro Manila area.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) and the Partnerships for Infrastructure initiative enlisted a research team led by Curtin and supported by Murdoch University, to investigate the relevant issues and will present their project\u2019s findings at the event.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Project lead and Curtin\u2019s School of Earth and Planetary Sciences<\/a> Director of Research, Associate Professor Ashraf Dewan<\/a>, said the aim was to collaborate across Southeast Asian countries and research areas to develop \u2018nature-based interventions\u2019 to address concerns over warming cities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThese can include measures such as improving the ratio of green surface area to buildings, the choice of materials when creating urban areas, choice of plants when landscaping and developing planning guidelines which include relevant climate information,\u201d Associate Professor Dewan said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cIncreasing science-policy-practice partnerships and fostering strong multi-stakeholder engagement is very important in managing future climate risks, building climate resilience, and achieving net zero targets.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cIf we can enhance local city governments\u2019 ability to address growing climate challenges, it will help ensure a cleaner environment for the region and more liveable urban areas.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Attendees will have the opportunity to provide feedback on the project\u2019s findings, including proposed climate actions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThe symposium will also provide insights into how we might best keep Australian cities and suburbs cool,\u201d Associate Professor Dewan said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Project Co-Lead Associate Professor Fazlul Rabbanee<\/a>, from Curtin\u2019s School of Management and Marketing<\/a>, said the event will facilitate knowledge-sharing and will showcase findings of the two-year long project on the adequacy of city climate plans for mitigating weather extremes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThe project integrates policy-practice gaps identified through panel and focus group discussions, key informant interviews of the national and local policymakers, plus earth observation and microclimatic insights and cost-benefit assessments, to co-create nature-based solutions to urban warming in the four cities.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n