VOTE FOR TUBBATAHA, ST. PAUL SUBTERRANEAN PARK, AND CHOCOLATE HILLS

Please vote to the Tubbataha Reefs Marine Park, St. Paul Subterranean Park, and Bohol's Chocolate Hills as one of the New Seven Wonders of the World being undertaken by UNESCO. Take time to visit http://www.new7wonders.com/

ASIA-EUROPE WORKSHOP: "TOWARDS THE DEVELOPMENT OF TEACHING PROGRAM FOR HIGHER EDUCATION IN ENVIRONMENTAL GOVERNANCE"

The Workshop will be held on 22-25 October 2008 back-to-back with two other conferences under the umbrella theme: "Governance in a Triptych: Environment, Migration, and Peace and Order." The objectives are the same except for the date. The co-sponsor is the Eastern Regional Organization for Public Administration (EROPA). This blogspot will update you with the details, but you may also wish to visit EROPA's website at http://www.eropa.org.ph/

Good news! This blogger and his international partners were awarded a grant by the Asia-Europe Foundation to hold an Asia-Europe Workshop entitled, "Towards the Development of Teaching Program for Higher Education in Environmental Governance." It is to be held in the Philippines and will be organized by the U.P. National College of Public Administration and Governance (U.P.-NCPAG) on 22-25 October 2008.

Environmental governance experts from Europe and Asia will meet in Manila for this workshop. Interested parties are welcome to join. Please e-mail this blogger at efloranoy@yahoo.com for more information. We are also in need of sponsors.

Confirmed participants and papers are as follows (as of this writing):

· Day 1 (28 May 2008): Session 1: The Imperatives for “Environmental Governance” in Europe and Asia

1. “The Environmental Sustainability of the Southeast Asian Region” – Dr. Ebinezer R. Florano (University of the Philippines, Philippines)

2. "The EU: a Model for Regional Environmental Law and Cooperation?" - Dr. Jonas Ebbesson (Stockholm University, Sweden)

· Day 1 (28 May 2008): Session 2: The Role of the Academe in Environmental Governance: European and Asian Experiences.

1. “Environmental Governance” – Dr. Ebinezer R. Florano (University of the Philippines, Philippines)

2. “Environmental Governance: Critical for Sustainability” – former Philippine Environment and Natural Resources Secretary Elisea Gozun (Philippines)

3. "Relative Roles of Academe, NGOs and Private Consultancies in Environmental Governance - a case study of Air Quality Management in the UK and Europe" – Dr. Tim Chatterton (University of the West of England, UK)

4. "Transdisciplinary Academic Institutions Concerning Environmental Norms and Actions" – Dr. Jonas Ebbesson (Stockholm University, Sweden)

· Day 2 (29 May 2008): Session 3: Governance of the Commons: Earth, Water, and Air.

1. “Integrated Approach to Adaptation to Climate Change: Case Studies from Europe and Asia” – Dr. Faizal Parish (Global Environment Centre, Malaysia)

2. "The Preservation of Biodiversity at a Global Scale: Links Between Development Aid, Revenue and Conservation Efforts" – Dr. Sophie Thoyer (Ecole Nationale Supérieure d'Agronomie de Montpellier , Montpellier, France)

3. “Public Participation in Water Governance” – Dr. Jona Razzaque (University of the West of England, UK)

4. “Developments in the Earth System and the Need and Prospects for Multilevel Global Governance” – Dr. Gerd Winter (University of Bremen, Germany)

· Day 2 (29 May 2008): Session 4: Environmental Governance: Local, National, and International/Global Levels

1. “Public Participation in Environmental Governance in China: Some Comments on Recent Development of the Environmental Impact Assessment Law" – Dr. Qin Tianbao (Wuhan University, China)

2. “Environmental Governance in ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations): A Study at a Regional Level” – Dr. Koh Kheng-Lian (National University of Singapore, Singapore)

3. “Implementation of the ASEAN Peatland Management Initiative and Strategy 2006-2020” - Dr. Faizal Parish (Global Environment Centre, Malaysia)

4. "The Importance of National-Local Frameworks in Environmental Governance" – Dr. Tim Chatterton (University of the West of England, UK)

5. “Development of Participatory Environmental Governance in Europe and Asia” - Dr. Jona Razzaque (University of the West of England, UK)

6. "Economic Incentives for Environmental Governance in China" – Dr. Li Guangbing (Wuhan University, China)

7. “Environmental Conditions and Environmental Governance in Europe:
Challenges and Responses in Historical Perspective” – Dr. Gerd Winter (University of Bremen, Germany)

The concept paper for this workshop is below:

I. Introduction to the Topic and Scientific Objectives

European and Asian countries share one thing in common, though at different point in time - problems associated with environmental degradation. However, the former has already learned its lessons after reaping the whirlwind of environment-related problems, e.g., acid rain, Mediterranean Sea pollution, etc., for the pursuit of progress and industrialization. On the other hand, many developing countries in Asia (and even developed ones) are said to be following the same potentially environmentally-destructive pathways their European counterparts took in the past, all in the name of economic development. This situation in Asia is aggravated by the reality that some neighboring countries do not see eye-to-eye for regional environmental cooperation due to political and/or historical misunderstandings.^[1] Environmental problem-solving in the Asian region is made complex by differences in economic, political and cultural conditions. A challenge for the region is to develop governance mechanisms that can address both regional and global environmental problems. Although there are a number of regional organizations (e.g., Association of Southeast Asian Nations, and South Asia Association for Regional Cooperation) and initiatives by the United Nations Development Programme, United Nations Environment Programme, and the Institute for Global Environmental Strategies, there is no initiative to develop a university curriculum on environmental governance.

Europe has so much to offer to Asia in terms of sharing the knowledge, expertise, and skills in Environment Governance which it has developed over the last 30 years. These are evident in the large number of legislative measures of the European Union and its member-states which are said to be broad in scope, extensive in detail, and often stringent in effect.[2] Hence, Europe, as one community represented by the EU, has acquired credibility as an international environmental actor in its own right. EU is also acknowledged for its various contributions to global environmental governance, especially on the issue of climate change.[3] However, there is an increasing observation that “Europe has shifted its ecological burden onto other countries while safeguarding more of its own ecological resources.”^[4] If Europe continues with this, it may erase all the gains and respect its environmental leadership has reaped from the world.

Both continents experiences on preventing, monitoring, and mitigating the effects of environmental degradation could serve as an opportunity for inter-regional environmental cooperation. It is said that Europe has the opportunity to forge “eco-innovation” in partnership with Asian countries.^[5] For example, to help both continents achieve Target 9 of Goal 7 of the Millennium Development Goals which call for the integration of the principles of sustainable development into country policies and program and reverse the loss of environmental resources (where most European and Asian countries failed), it was pointed out by a report in the Asia-Europe Environment Forum Conference in 2005 that inter-regional cooperation, coordination, and partnership between Europe and Asia should be initiated. The cooperation should center on organization and management system, institutional capacity, and tools and methodologies in implementing the MDG in both continents.^[6]

Academicians from various disciplines, especially those whose expertise is “Environmental Governance,” from the two continents have the potential to forge Asia-Europe inter-regional environmental cooperation. Given their expertise, knowledge, and skills, they could assist government policy- and decision-makers formulate and implement environmentally-sustainable development strategies. However, given the wide geographical, cultural, socio-economic, and political differences among the countries of the two continents, Environmental Governance scholars have to meet not only to get the state of the environment of Europe and Asia in situ, but draw up Environmental Governance curricula and establish inter-regional network. A growing critical mass of scholars, practitioners, and policy analysts that will be produced by the university programs on Environmental Governance would provide sustainable supply of environmental policy experts in, and for the benefit of, both continents.

To achieve the objectives mentioned above, the holding of an international experts’ workshop on Environmental Governance curriculum development is proposed. The overall aim of the project is to enhance the relationship of Higher Education Institutions (HEI) in Asia and Europe to strengthen graduate curricular programs on Environmental Governance based on the sharing of best practices among participating countries. With this aim, the project will promote and develop curricula on Environmental Governance - both as a discipline in itself and as a part of other disciplines in Asian and European academic institutions. The underlying theme of these courses will focus on environmental sustainability and poverty reduction within the context of intense economic development. These courses will enable students to learn about the environmental, ecological and economic aspects of governance in Europe and Asia - leading to a stronger relationship between these two continents. The curriculum will develop an academic network and facilitate increased access to knowledge and high quality teaching materials. The network and the publication will directly benefit the university teachers and students of the participating countries, and ultimately the people working on Environmental Governance within these countries. The exchange of experience and knowledge gained in this project will enable participants to develop similar courses in their own academic institutions. In the end, the workshop will raise awareness of environmental issues and contribute to the development of strong Environmental Governance in Europe and Asia. Almost all/All of the socio-economic development plans of the participating countries highlight the importance of an improved governance framework as a mean for achieving sustainable development in these countries.

The specific aim of the multi-disciplinary network of participating countries is to bring together several multidisciplinary themes, examine the practices of Environmental Governance in Europe and Asia, and provide a holistic view of Environmental Governance. The foremost concrete objective is to support the participating countries in developing a curriculum on Environmental Governance; and build a multi-disciplinary network of academics. The expected results of the project include: forge a consensus to create a curriculum on Environmental Governance; and create a regional network of academics between Europe and Asia. With this aim, the experts’ workshop will:

(i) Identify topics or areas which could be incorporated as parts of a curricular program with both European and Asian influence and up-to-date knowledge on environmental governance; and

(ii) Create a network of faculty specialists with multi-disciplinary backgrounds from partner universities in Asia, supported by European partners, in order to build a broad knowledge base at the academic level.

---

^[1] Dr. Bernhard Köppen (2005), “Workshop Report: Cross-Border Environmental Protection in Central Europe and Northeast Asia,” Asia Europe Environment Forum Conference 2005 <> 12 January 2006.

[2] See Albert Weale et al. (2002), Environmental Governance in Europe: An Ever Closer Ecological Union? (Oxford: Oxford University Press).

[3] See John Vogler (2005), “The European Contribution to Global Environmental Governance,” International Affairs, 81 (4): 835-845.

^[4] Gorm Dige (2005), “How Europe and the world interact – the demand for environmental resources,” Asia Europe Environment Forum Conference 2005 <> 12 January 2006.

^[5] Ibid.

[6] Asia-Europe Environment Forum Conference Secretariat (2005), “Workshop Concept - 1/3 of our Planet: What can Asia and Europe do for Sustainable Development?” Asia Europe Environment Forum 2005 <> 12 January 2006.

BLOGGERS, UNITE (FOR THE ENVIRONMENT)!

Bloggers band together to write on the environment
By Erwin Oliva
INQUIRER.net
Last updated 02:33pm (Mla time) 08/20/2007

MANILA, Philippines – Bloggers around the world have been invited to join a mass blog effort for one day about one topic, starting with the environment.

"On October 15th, bloggers around the web will unite to put a single important issue on everyone's mind--the environment. Every blogger will post about the environment in their way and relating to their own topic. Our aim is to get everyone talking towards a better future," the organizers behind the Blog Action Day announced on their blog.

At this writing, the call has attracted 1,358 blogs, the organizers said.

Top bloggers have already signed up first for this call to action, including Lifehack, Copyblogger, Get Rich Slowly, The Simple Dollar, Zen Habits, among others.

Organizers said there are three ways to take part: post an entry in one's blog relating to the environment on Blog Action Day; donate a day's earnings to an environmental charity; and promote Blog Action Day around the web.

The organizers said participating bloggers should post on an issue of their own choice pertaining to the environment. "For example, a blog about money might write about how to save around the home by using environmentally friendly ideas. Similarly a blog about politics might examine what weight environmental policy holds in the political arena," the organizers added.

Posts need not to have any specific agenda but should relate to the larger issue in whatever way suits the blogger and his or her readership, they said.

"Our aim is not to promote one particular viewpoint, only to push the issue to the table for discussion," they added.

The environment was selected as 2007's theme "both for the clarity of its importance and the undeniable urgency that issues like global warming and pollution have," the organizers said.

GOOD NEWS FROM THE U.P.-NCPAG

It seems that my PA 191 course on "Multilevel Environmental Governance" last 2nd semester AY 2006-2008 paid off. In that course, my students and I discussed global warming in the context of global environmental governance and International Environmental Law. We discussed at length the UNFCCC and its Kyoto Protocol, and the Clean Development Mechanism. Then, we zeroed in on how Jatropha curcas, a.k.a. Tuba-Tuba, could help reduce global warming. The materials about Tuba-Tuba came from my students' research at the Philippine Forest Corporation (thanks to its President, Mr. Jun Lozada, for the assistance), and from my another PA 191 ("Intro to Environmental Governance") course offered in an earlier semester.

I shared my collected data to an undergraduate student who went to China , together with two graduate students, to participate in an international competition (see First Youth Innovation Competition on Global Governance). In fairness, they studied very well the materials and worked very hard to bag the "Most Valuable Project" award. It so happened that the final question in the competition was about how the youth could help reduce global warming. Below is a clipping about the winning of these students taken from the Boild Green Bananas column of Prof. Leonor "Liling" Magtolis Briones which appeared in the 31 July 2007 issue of Business Mirror:

Good news from the UP NCPAG

Three students from National College of Public Administration and Governance (NCPAG) honored their college and university when they were sent as delegates to the First Youth Innovation Competition on Global Governance held in Fudan University in Shanghai, China, from July 10 to 14.

Diona Aquino, a graduate student, and undergraduates Paolo Ante and Ador Torneo were coached by NCPAG faculty member Dr. Ebbie Florano.

The team, headed by Aquino, won the Most Valuable Project Award. The NCPAG team was sponsored by the United Nations Development Program.

The competition involved 70 participants from 15 countries, including the United States, Germany and India. The topic of the contest was: How to create a global cooperative system to control greenhouse-gas emissions?

Congratulations are in order. Now to implement the proposed system….

http://www.businessmirror.com.ph/07312007/opinion02.html

"ENVIRONMENTAL GOVERNANCE" EXPLAINED

The following is an essay of my student in Public Administration 191: "Good Environmental Governance." I asked my students to discuss their understanding of my definition of "Environmental Governance." I find Mr. Marco delos Reyes' essay acceptable. As I promised in the class, I will post on my website the best essay (so far; but there are still missing elements).

ENVIRONMENTAL GOVERNANCE

Marco M. de los Reyes


This part will be restored once my students have submitted their essays.

FILIPINO INVENTION STOPS GLOBAL WARMING

Filipino invention stops global warming

Saturday, May 26 2007 @ 11:11 AM BST
http://news.balita.ph/html/article.php/20070526111108758

Features

A Filipino invention may yet be the answer to stop global warming.

Roberto V. Celis, 74, said it took him 14 years to develop his invention called "Hydrogasifier" using water as supplemental fuel for all kinds of internal combustion engines that use gasoline, diesel, natural gas, hybrid or bio-fuel, eliminating deadly pollutants from spreading into the atmosphere.

"It utilizes the hot exhaust gases from the engine to dissociate water into hydrogen and oxygen gases that are immediately introduced into the combustion chamber to completely burn the fuel," Celis said in an exclusive interview with the Philippines News Agency in his shop in Marikina City.

Celis said that when he perfected the development of the "Hydrogasifier" as an anti-pollution device, it turned out also as an engine enhancer, increasing power of the vehicle and at the same time cutting down fuel consumption.

"It was just marvelous and I was surprised to this unexpected bonus to my invention which would benefit the Filipinos and the whole world," he said.

"Fuel saved from gas or diesel is from 30 to 50 percent and that is a lot of savings," he added.

Using the "Hydrogasifier" would save the Philippines some US$ 2-billion of fuel annually, he said.

Celis said that carbon emission is near zero during a series of laboratory tests by the Land Transportation Office (LTO) "that makes this device a potential carbon eliminator to prevent global warming that's threatening man's health."

To prove his invention works perfectly, Celis installed the device to test its effectiveness in a Ceres Liner Bus, a Jeep Star Bus, and jeepney operated by Ryan Transport Services, all based in Bacolod City last March and came up with the following results: the 174 horsepower (Hp) of the Ceres Bus increased to 199 Hp, while emission from 9.6K down to 0.21K, cutting down emission by 94 percent;

The Jeep Star Bus from 137Hp to 144.83 Hp and from 9.9K to 2.29K or emission reduction by 76 percent; and

The Ryan jeepney from 83 Hp to 87 Hp and from 9.9K to 0.82K or a reduction by 90 percent of its emission.

A Pajero installed with "Hydrogasifier" saved fuel by 40 percent in city driving, and by as much as 87 percent in highway driving, Celis said.

He said a 1994 Toyoto Corolla car using the device saved fuel by 50 percent in highway driving and up to 30 percent in city driving.

"It is my humble contribution to the world in containing global warming which is threatening man's existence," Celis said.

"I do believe that my invention can contribute greatly in conserving energy and reduce global warming in response to the 1997 Kyoto Protocol on Climate Change, wherein the World Bank will pay us US$ 20 per ton on carbon emission reduction," he said.

The 74-year old Filipino inventor said that the "Hydrogasifier" does not only save motor vehicle owners with lots of money due to less fuel consumption but also complies the Clean Air Act of 2003.

Celis also said that the success of his invention will "generate employment for our people and earn foreign exchange from exporting the device."

Job generation is one of the main concerns of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo before she ends her term in 2010.

Celis appealed to the Philippine government to extend financial assistance in the filing of international patent "for this important invention to guarantee the Philippines of exclusivity in manufacturing this Filipino technology."

He said his invention can also be installed in factories to control pollution.

"The ultimate solution to stop global warming is now here in the Philippines," Celis said.

He said that vehicles using the device are like trees, which helps lower carbon emission in the environment, as these release only 6.5 percent to 7.6 percent oxygen from the tail pipe to make cities clean and healthful. (PNA)

-- This email has been scanned by the Balita server.

MY ASOER3 STORY: PROLOGUE

Finally, I already received copies (Executive Summary and the book in CD) of the Third ASEAN State of the Environment Report 2006 (ASOER 3) this month (May 2007) straight from the Environment Unit of the ASEAN Secretariat. I thought it was not going to be published anymore because I finished the initial drafts of its 12 chapters in March 2006. But I am going ahead of my story.

I was informed in April 2005 by the Environment Unit of the ASEAN Secretariat that they have considered me to write the draft of ASOER3. I was then attending the rehearsal for the graduation ceremonies of the university when I got the call. I was thrilled no end at the opportunity - not everybody is given the chance to write the state of environment of the region (Southeast Asia) which includes ten countries, namely: Brunei, Cambodia, Laos, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Viet Nam (I wrote the names of these countries in alphabetical order without thinking anymore after writing them many times during my stint at the Secretariat). I thought that the experience would help me broaden and deepen my experience on Environmental Governance, a field I am pioneering in my college.

Against the advice of colleagues at the university (I wouldn’t give details for everybody’s peace), off I went to Jakarta. The Secretariat provided me housing arrangement, etc. The staff were very friendly. However, once I got settled, the gravity of my task sunk to me.

I was told that the first two ASOERs were written and published under extremely difficult circumstances. I would not go into details but I was informed that the writers for the first ASOERs were not able to finish the drafts satisfactorily, i.e., incomplete or not good enough. Second, I learned that I am the only writer tasked to do the first drafts of the 12 chapters. The staff would only provide me the data and I have to do everything, i.e., writing, processing and analyzing data, constructing graphs, etc. I thought it was advantageous because I have complete control in writing ALL the chapters. However, as the deadline was approaching, I was assisted by an Indonesian staff, Ms. Endang Habsari. She helped me construct the graphs and encode texts.

I stayed in Jakarta for six months from May to November 2005. I was allowed to finish the remaining chapters in the Philippines because I had to start teaching again in my college in November. I am thankful to the Environment Unit for trusting me to finish the remaining chapters in the Philippines until February 2006.

Writing ASOER3 was extremely difficult but fulfilling for an academic like me. I had to stay late at night at the Secretariat sometimes up to 11 p.m. or work whole Saturday or half of Sunday to do my task. Luckily, my training as PhD student prepared me for the task. Back at the International Christian University in Tokyo, I had almost the same schedule (to write my voluminous dissertation). To keep myself from being bored, I regularly went to the gym and heard mass at a Catholic church in Jakarta every Sunday. It was also my 6-month stint in Jakarta that I learned that Indonesians and Filipinos are almost the same, culturally. In Jakarta, many Indonesians thought that I was one of them – in taxi, mall, gym, grocery, convenience store, bus, etc. I also made friends with lots of ASEAN Secretariat multi-cultural staff – Indonesians, Filipinos, Singaporeans, Malaysians, Cambodians, etc. I met high-ranking Filipino officials of the Secretariat like Deputy Secretary-General Wilfrido Villacorta. I was even invited to a Filipino gathering in his condo unit in Jakarta. My job also gave me the opportunity to attend an ASEAN meeting (the Task Force for the Preparation of ASOER3) in Penang, Malaysia where I had the chance to experience first hand mild haze (the topic of my dissertation) on air and on ground which flew all the way from Indonesia (must have followed me).

I enjoyed my stay in Jakarta tremendously while writing ASOER3. Wish I could write ASOER4 in 2008 or 2009.