Engr. Rhoda M. Noble from the Mines and Geosciences Bureau attended the "2nd Asia-Pacific Business Forum: Korean Carbon Capture Utilization and Storage (CCUS) Technology for Climate Change," organized by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), Coordinating Committee for Geoscience Programmes in East and Southeast Asia, Korea Institute of Geoscience and Mineral Resources (KIGAM) and Korea-Thailand Chamber of Commerce.
The 2nd Asia-Pacific Business Forum's objective was to develop the cooperation networks between industries, universities, institutes and businesses of Korea and developing countries in the Asia-Pacific. It also aimed to generate technical cooperation, education and technology transfer by utilizing the international climate change funds.
During the forum, one of the key topics discussed was the application of the KIGAM's, newly developed CCUS technologies which would be beneficial in addressing climate change. KIGAM is a leading research institute in the field of geosciences, has put great efforts in developing and commercializing carbon utilization technologies using industrial by-products.
The Philippines, Papua New Guinea, Vietnam, Myanmar, Thailand, Laos, India, Indonesia, Malaysia and Cambodia participated in the forum and presented their respective reports. Engr. Noble, Chief Mine Environmental Management Section (MEMS) of the Mine Safety, Environment and Social Development Division (MSESDD) of the Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB), presented a paper entitled "Bio-offsetting in a Mine-affected Area in the Philippines."
Twenty one (21) technical papers from the current research reports of other countries such as Australia, Japan, United States of America, Thailand and Korea were also presented. The papers were about the reduction of carbon dioxide using advanced technologies to deal with climate change and the promotion of environmental protection by using geosciences and environmental technologies of other developing countries in the Asia-Pacific Region.
The Forum was a follow-up to the "Paris Agreement" during the 2015 United Nations Climate Change Conference, where the participating countries committed to limit the rise of global temperatures to 1.5 degrees Celsius, compared to pre-industrial levels.
The 2nd Asia-Pacific Business Forum was held in Bangkok, Thailand on March 7 – 8, 2016.
By: Mine Safety, Environment and Social Development Division
Engr. Noble presenting her paper on "Bio-offsetting in a Mine-affected Area in the Philippines"
Countries who participated in the Forum