Conference looks at impact of environmental economics research in Southeast Asia

Having been in existence for 16 years, supporting capacity-building in environmental and resource economics in Southeast Asia, EEPSEA has given out close to 250 research grants and organized about 50 training courses for more than 1,100 individuals. Key research project areas include agro-environmental policy, water and forest protection, climate change adaptation, biodiversity, inland and coastal water areas and solid waste management, among others.

In its Impact Conference 2010, EEPSEA, a program supported by the International Development Research Centre of Canada (IDRC), the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (SiDA) and the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA), will showcase the impact of studies it has supported as well as the career growth of researchers it has supported and trained. A total of 40 research impact studies, will be presented at the conference by the researchers themselves.

Senior officials from the Ministry of Environment and Ministry of Education of Vietnam will also attend the Opening Ceremony.

According to Richard Fuchs, Regional Director for IDRC’s Southeast and East Asia Ooffice, the skills and perspectives of environmental economics represent a very important fusion of approaches for helping public policy manage and adapt with compelling issues in the region such as climate change.

“ This conference will help to underscore how far this fusion of skills has come in our region over the last 16 years and how they have already had an important impact on decision-making in Southeast Asia,” Fuchs explained.

Experts from the region, USA, and Canada will speak at the conference’s plenary sessions. These sessions will discuss aspects of the world economy and international development, the role of environmental economics research in pollution control, the use of economic instruments in National Resources and Environmental Management in Southeast Asia, state of environmental economics in education and other environmental economics issues affecting the region.

“It is a good time now to assess how EEPSEA’s support has made a difference over the years and what lies ahead” said Herminia Francisco, Director of EEPSEA. “The conference will particularly reveal how research has had a significant policy and academic influence in Vietnam”, she added.

Notes to editors:

As an output of the Conference, an Impact Report will be produced as a sequel to the 1993-1998 and 1993-2000 EEPSEA Impact Reports.

About IDRC – www.idrc.ca
IDRC supports research in developing countries to promote growth and development. IDRC also encourages sharing this knowledge with policymakers, other researchers, and communities around the world. The result is innovative, lasting local solutions that aim to bring choice and change to those who need it most.

About EEPSEA – www.eepsea.org

Established in 1993, EEPSEA supports training and research in environmental & resource economics. It uses a networking approach to provide financial and technical support to researchers in Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, the Philippines, Vietnam, Cambodia, Lao PDR, China and Papua New Guinea. Its goal is to strengthen local capacity for the economic analysis of environmental problems so that researchers can provide sound advice to policymakers.

For more information, please contact:

Dr. Herminia Francisco
Director
Economy and Environment Program for Southeast Asia (EEPSEA)
c/o IDRC, 22 Cross Street
#02-55, South Bridge Court
Singapore 048421
Fax: 65 6438 4844
Tel: 65 6438 7877
Tel: 65 6439 6882 (Direct)
E-mail: hfrancisco@idrc.org.sg
Website: http://www.eepsea.org
Ms Vivien Chiam
Partnership and Communications Manager
International Development Research Centre
Regional Office for Southeast and East Asia
Singapore
Email: vchiam@idrc.org.sg
Tel: +65 6594-3709 +65 9760-6821