2023.12.10 Sun.

10:30 - 11:45

Promoting Early Warning Systems for Minimizing and Addressing Loss & Damage: How to accelerate EWS in Asia Pacific countries?

Organizer

Ministry of the Environment, Japan

Seminar abstract

Abstract

With increasing international attention on loss and damage related to climate change, the Japanese government announced a "Assistance Package by the Government of Japan for Averting, Minimizing and Addressing Loss and Damage" at COP27. As such, the Ministry of the Environment, Japan has actively promoted the introduction of Early Warning Systems (EWS) in Asia-Pacific countries. With the goal of introducing EWS in more than half of the ASEAN countries by 2025, Japan launched the EWS Initiative and established a public-private partnership council in June 2023. This initiative aims to promote the establishment of EWS by deploying the advanced services and technologies of the Japanese private sector while taking into account the situation and needs of each country. This side event will showcase the progress of the initiative and discuss with various stakeholders the business potential and future prospects of EWS technology, particularly in light of the current situation in the Asia-Pacific region.

Program

Introduction & Housekeeping

Nagisa Shiiba Institute for Global Environmental Strategies

Operning Remark

Yutaka Matsuzawa Vice-Minister for Global Environmental Affairs, Ministry of the Environment, Japan

Japan’s EWS Initiative

Ayuko Kobayakawa Director for International Climate Change Adaptation Planning, Climate Change Adaptation Office, Global Environment Bureau. MOEJ

Challanges and Opportunities on EWS/ Loss & Damage in Thailand

Teerapong Laopongpith Environmental Official, Climate Change Management and Coordination Division, Office of Natural Resources and Environmental Policy and Planning (ONEP)

Private-initiated EWS practices-1

Tomoko Suzuki Corporate Officer　Corporate Chief Researcher Research & Development Group, Hitachi, Ltd.

Private-initiated EWS practices-2

Daisuke Abe Managing Executive Officer,Service Operation and Development, Weathernews Inc.

Panel Discussion

Moderator: Animesh Kumar Head, United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR) Office in Bonn

Speakers

In-person

• Yutaka Matsuzawa / Ministry of the Environment, Japan Vice-Minister for Global Environmental Affairs
• Ayuko Kobayakawa / Ministry of the Environment, Japan Director of International Climate Change Adaptation Planning, Climate Change Adaptation Office, Global Environment Bureau
• Teerapong Laopongpith / Department of Climate change and Environment (DCCE), Thailand Director of Climate risk assessment section, Climate Change Adaptation Division
• Tomoko Suzuki / Hitachi, Ltd. Corporate Officer, Corporate Chief Researcher of Research & Development Group
• Daisuke Abe / Weathernews Inc Managing Executive Officer of Service Operation and Development
• Le-Anne Roper / United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR) Office in Bonn Programme Management Officer

Online

• VO Van Hoa / Vietnam Meteorological and Hydrological Administration (VNMHA) Director of Northern Delta and Midland Regional Hydro-Meteorological Center

Related Links

• IGES event page: Presentation materials and archive video (Limited viewing until the end of March 2024) from the seminar are available on the website.
• EARLY WARNING SYSTEM INITIATIVE

Session Summary

With increasing international attention on loss and damage related to climate change, the Ministry of the Environment, Japan (MoEJ) has actively promoted the introduction of Early Warning Systems (EWS) in Asia-Pacific countries. This side event showcased the progress of Japan's EWS initiative and discussed with various stakeholders the business potential and future prospects of EWS technology, particularly in light of the current situation in the Asia-Pacific region. In the opening remarks, Mr. Yutaka Matsuzawa, Vice-Minister for Global Environmental Affairs of MoEJ emphasized the demand for loss and damage countermeasures alongside mitigation and adaptation given the worsening climate change impacts around the world, and expressed his expectation that this event will promote the EWS and provide opportunities for the Asia-Pacific region to become more resilient to climate change. Ms. Ayuko Kobayakawa from the MoEJ introduced the progress of Japan's Initiative to promote the Development of EWS through public-private partnerships, as well as relevant initiatives including "Japan’s Assistance Package to Promote Investments for Global Actions Toward the Achievement of the Paris Agreement Goals" and "G7 Inventory on Climate Disaster Risk Reduction, Response and Recovery". Mr. Teerapong Laopongpith from the Thai government introduced the progress of the development of EWS guidelines in their National Adaptation Plan, and the adoption of a new system to deliver alerts to citizens through mobile messages. Dr Vo Van Hoa from the Vietnamese government introduced efforts to improve risk knowledge for the community and highlighted the collaboration with Japan in promoting EWS. Dr. Tomoko Suzuki from Hitachi, Ltd. introduced flood risk simulation tools developed as part of Hitachi's climate change adaptation efforts, including DioVISTA for use in Japan, and FloodS for use by government officials in other countries. Mr. Daisuke Abe from Weathernews, Inc. gave an overview of their efforts in weather analysis and forecasting, risk communication, and warning services, as well as the promotion of cooperation in the region, including Thailand, Vietnam, and Indonesia. In a panel discussion moderated by Mr Le-Anne Roper of UNDRR, the speakers engaged in a lively discussion about the challenges and opportunities in further promoting EWS.

Message and Results

The event was able to identify priority challenges in responding to loss and damage in the Asia-Pacific region, particularly through EWS, and send a message that cooperation between governments and the private sector is critical to resolving these challenges. It is important to promote public-private partnerships through dialogues like this event in connecting the cutting-edge technology and experience of the private sector to priority issues related to loss and damage in the Asia-Pacific region.