Scene Setter for Coastal Resilience

Coastal Resilience. Massive investment at scale is needed in both nature and transformational adaptation to build the resilience of Asia and the Pacific’s critical coastal and marine ecosystems, communities, cities, and island nations to climate and disaster-related shocks and stresses. Nature-based solutions such as the protection and restoration of coral reefs, mangrove forests, wetlands, and sandy beaches, enhance ecosystem resilience and the protection of coastal cities and communities while providing multiple economic, societal, and climate mitigation co-benefits.

Scene Setter for Plastic-free Oceans

Plastic waste and pollution are urgent issues for Asia and the Pacific and the health of its ecosystems and communities. Over 80% of all marine plastic pollution comes from Asia, while Pacific island countries are exposed to ocean currents that accumulate large volumes of marine litter that eventually washes up on their shores. Countries are developing strategies to reduce plastic pollution by addressing waste mismanagement, reducing marine debris, and enabling a transition to a circular plastics economy.

Katinka Weinberger

Katinka Weinberger is the Chief of Environment and Development Policy Section (EDPS) in UNESCAP. As Chief of EDPS, she is responsible for planning, coordinating, directing, and implementing ESCAP’s work program in the area of environment, especially on climate change, water and oceans and provides leadership in formulating and coordinating ESCAP’s response to the 2030 Agenda.

Andrew Jones

Andrew Jones is currently a Divisional Director within the Pacific Community (SPC), the principal scientific and technical organization in the Pacific region. Andrew shapes the strategic direction of SPC’s Geoscience, Energy and Maritime (GEM) Division by overseeing and ensuring provision of high quality scientific, technical and policy support for activities across a range of sectors including Resources, Energy, Oceans, Maritime, Water and Sanitation, Disaster Reduction and Climate Change.

Ian Jones

Dr. Ian Jones is a lake physicist with more than twenty years’ experience researching lakes, oceans and the atmosphere. He works at the University of Stirling, UK, and specializes in using automated high-frequency data collection and numerical modeling to study the impact physical processes have on all aspects of lake ecology. His recent interests include the effects floating solar panels have on water body ecosystems and the potential for obtaining heat energy from lakes using heat pumps.