15:30hrs SGT
Organiser
In partnership with
In Support of
December 11th, 2020 marked the Paris Agreement’s fifth anniversary. While the world remains dangerously behind schedule in slowing down the catastrophic impacts of climate change, recent years have seen incremental—yet, insufficient--progress towards climate action.
As it has cast a spotlight on the terrible impacts of humanity’s neglect of nature, the Covid-19 pandemic has also accelerated much-needed decarbonisation of economic activities.
Amid the pandemic, some local government units (LGUs) have demonstrated major progress in advancing low-carbon development, building resilience, and driving impactful climate action. While the progress has been significant, many more LGUs can be engaged to champion the climate fight.
Last year, Quezon City joined only 88 cities worldwide that earned an A score from global carbon disclosure non-profit, CDP. An A score means Quezon City has a publicly disclosed city-wide emissions inventory and reductions target, and a published climate action plan. It also means that the city has completed a climate risk and vulnerability assessment and put in place a clearly laid out climate adaptation plan.
Elsewhere in Southeast Asia, a region where a massive up to US$ 350 billion pandemic-related stimulus has been channelled, governments have the perfect opportunity to hit the reset button and recalibrate economic development set on a more sustainable, climate resilient path.
Local chief executives are uniquely positioned to start a new chapter in their LGUs’ socio-economic recovery. In various Southeast Asian cities where up to 100 more million people are estimated to move from the countryside by 2030, experts are proposing governments to capture the Covid-linked green recovery momentum to incentivise green infrastructure projects, such as improving pedestrian and bike lanes, electrifying public transport, and promoting energy-efficient buildings.
This a by-invitation only event for Local Government Units in the Philippines.
Please write to ping.manongdo@eco-business.com to join.
Global South Diversity Lead; Regional Director for East, Southeast Asia and Oceania
Milag San Jose- Ballesteros serves as the Regional Director for East, Southeast Asia and Oceania at C40. In this role, she is responsible for engaging and supporting C40 member cities in the region as well as facilitating collaboration between cities across the global C40 network. Central to this is working with C40 cities across the region towards ambitious commitments and transformative actions to address climate change.
Milag has more than 20 years experience working on environmental governance and policy, natural resources management and sustainable development. Prior to joining C40, Milag served as Regional Environmental Governance Specialist with the Environmental Cooperation-Asia (ECO-Asia) program of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), where she led programmatic partnerships between national and sub-national environmental agencies, and provided technical support to pilot initiatives covering topics including urban environmental issues, compliance and enforcement mechanisms, climate co-benefits and public participation. In this capacity, she worked with 16 countries across Asia and coordinated engagements with various organizations and partners including the US Environmental Protection Agency, the World Bank, Asian Development Bank and the UN Environment Programme.
Prior to this, she previously served as a Senior Program Officer with the US-Asia Environmental Partnership promoting clean technology, and as Executive Director of the Philippine member of Friends of the Earth International. A native of Manila, Philippines, she has been based in Singapore since 2008.
Programme/Project Manager Transport, Infrastructure and Innovation, Coventry City Council
Shamala Evans is an experienced Senior Civil Engineer and Project Manager, possessing a breadth and depth of technical knowledge underpinned by strong academic learning and a demonstrable track record of success in the design and implementation of challenging, complex and wide-ranging infrastructure projects.
Her experience includes (1) Innovation projects in zero emission, electrification, battery storage off-grid solutions; (2) Local Transport Plans, including Network Efficiency Schemes, Waste Management Schemes; (3) Traffic Management, including traffic calming measures; (4) General roadworks, including road geometry; and (5) Regeneration, public realm and urban environment schemes.
British Ambassador to the Philippines
National President, Union of Local Authorities of the Philippines
Presently, the Provincial Governor of Quirino; The National Chairman, League of Provinces of the Philippines (LPP); and The National President, Union of Local Authorities of the Philippines (ULAP)
Governor Dakila Carlo "Dax" Cua has served for 9 years as Congressman, 6 years as Vice Governor, and 3 years as Governor -- exemplifying broad experience in both the executive and legislative functions. In Congress, he served as the Chairman of House Committees on Ecology, and Ways and Means as well as Senior Vice Chairperson of House Committees on Appropriations, Economic Affairs and Constitutional Amendments. He also served as a Member for the Majority on Energy, Information and Communications Technology, among others. Throughout his career in public service, he has focused on improving the quality of life of Filipinos. He prioritizes health and education to allow Filipinos to participate in economic activities; infrastructure to move goods and services; and agriculture and livelihood to increase household income.
Due to his exemplary contributions, he received various awards and achievements which includes Gawad KKK – Outstanding Youth of the Philippines Award; Most Outstanding Vice Governor of the Philippines, among others.
Quezon City Mayor
National President, Union of Local Authorities of the Philippines
COP26 Regional Ambassador for Asia/ Pacific and South Asia
Partnerships Manager, Southeast Asia; Country Manager, Philippines, Eco-Business
Climate Change Commission Vice Chairperson and Executive Director
Global South Diversity Lead; Regional Director for East, Southeast Asia and Oceania
Programme/Project Manager Transport, Infrastructure and Innovation, Coventry City Council
CEO, Positive Energy Ltd
Quezon City Mayor
Political Counsellor, British Embassy Manila
