WTUC Parallel Session 1.1 Interdisciplinary Research Initiatives; Environment, Social and Governance for Planetary Health

Wednesday 2 October 2024
14:00 – 16:00
Persada Convention Centre

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Planetary Health: ‘Alliances for Diplomacy: Harnessing University Collaborations for Planetary Health’

Sub-themes in focus – sharing global perspectives:  Interdisciplinary Research Initiatives; Environment, Social and Governance for Planetary Health

What: Round Table Discussion: Parallel Session

Overview:  In these sessions we will explore the sub-themes for the Congress through a range of short presentations leading into round table discussions. 

Each parallel session will have a Chair to facilitate the discussion and we hope the conversations might spark areas for future WTUN collaboration and workstream developments. 

Chair:Assoc. Prof. Sr. Gs.  Dr. Nurul Hazrina binti Idris, University Technology Malaysia

Speakers:

• Mr Camar Ameril, Assistant Professor, Mindanao State University
• Professor Engobo Emeseh, Head of School of Law, University of Bradford
• Dr Kasemsan Manomaiphiboon, Lecturer, The Joint Graduate School of Energy and Environment, King Mongkut’s University of Technology Thonburi
• Prof. Ir. Ts. Dr. Mohd Fadhil bin Md. Din, Professor,  University Technology Malaysia

Joining Details: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/83813813577?pwd=VM02XYGPVxBpelJX2vCKaebwYh3Yab.1

• Meeting ID: 838 1381 3577
• Passcode: 397711

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Mr Camar Ameril

‘One Health Interdisciplinary Strategies to Combat Antimicrobial Resistance for Planetary Health: Integrative Approaches from Community to Ecosystem’

The escalating threat of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) poses significant challenges to public health, agriculture, and environmental sustainability, necessitating an interdisciplinary response. Our research program, “Inter-Regional Network through One Health Approach to Combat Antimicrobial Resistance,” leverages the One Health framework to foster collaboration across diverse disciplines and sectors. This program encompasses six interrelated projects targeting critical aspects of AMR within various socio-economic and socio-cultural contexts, combining pure and applied sciences and policy research. Project 1 investigates the sociocultural dimensions of AMR within communities and conducts surveillance of multidrug-resistant ESKAPE pathogens in hospital settings, emphasizing the role of human behavior in managing AMR. Project 2 focuses on the water-fish-human nexus, mapping antibiotic-resistant bacteria using a One Health approach to develop strategies for reducing AMR transmission. Project 3 explores the propagation of AMR in soil environments to improve sustainable agricultural practices. Project 4 addresses AMR in livestock and aquaculture, combining surveillance, social dimension analysis, and policy review to mitigate resistance in swine, poultry, and aquaculture farms. Project 5 conducts a multi-dimensional analysis of food-associated antibiotic resistance in the Philippines, assessing resistance in the food supply chain. Project 6 explores cutting-edge biotechnological strategies to combat AMR, aiming to develop innovative interventions. By combining these diverse projects under the One Health paradigm, our program aims to comprehensively understand AMR’s multifaceted nature and develop holistic, evidence-based solutions. This research significantly contributes to the global fight against AMR, addressing unique challenges and opportunities within the country while striving to protect planetary health.

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Professor Engobo Emeseh

‘Education for Sustainable Development: Imperative and Challenges for Higher Education Institutions’

The Environmental, Social and Governance framework has emerged as a set of standards to measure the impact of businesses on the environment and society. Implementing ESG requires competent practitioners. Education for sustainable development (ESD) is one of the key pillars of the global sustainable development agenda which will help address the competence gap in ESG practitioners. ESD, which encompasses formal and informal education, seeks to achieve transformative changes at all levels to engender planetary health. ESD implementation requires integrating diverse perspectives and communities of practice. In this regard, universities are uniquely positioned to adopt a holistic approach to incorporate sustainability in their operations, curriculum, research and wider engagement activities. This will require a move away from traditional siloed disciplinary approaches that is better suited to addressing the complex development challenges in the Anthropocene. This paper explores the imperative and challenges for future-proofing the higher education curriculum within the context of ESD. 

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Dr Kasemsan Manomaiphiboon

‘Urban air quality in Greater Bangkok from an academic viewpoint: Status, recent progress, and challenges’

Greater Bangkok (GBK) represents one of the largest urban agglomerations in Southeast Asia. Like many large cities, air pollution is often a significant issue. GBK is known to encounter high levels of fine particulate matter (PM2.5) and also ozone (O3) but to a lesser degree, caused by emissions from various sources. Unfavorable weather conditions may worsen air quality, causing pollutants to accumulate and stay harmful for an extended period. New stricter safe limits of PM2.5 has been recently issued by the Thai government, following the guideline of the World Health Organization (WHO) for better health protection. Public awareness of health impacts has increased in Thailand with time due to substantial efforts made on air quality monitoring, health advisories, and exposure reduction measures. Nevertheless, challenges still exist, requiring local and regional cooperation to mitigate the problem, with a focus on emission reduction in the on-road transport, industries, and agriculture (due to biomass burning) sectors. From an academic viewpoint, this talk aims to share relevant information and offer thoughts related to the issue, underlining a continued need of improved science with clarity for better policy making and air quality management, and an opportunity to jointly view air quality,  climate change, and clean energy more closely.

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Prof. Ir. Ts. Dr. Mohd Fadhil bin Md. Din

‘Sustainability Practices & Navigating Towards ESF Campus Transformation’

ESG is becoming crucial factors in accessing the fundamental core values of higher education, especially in the new challenges of core business of learning and research outcomes. This sharing experience examines the integration of sustainability practices and ESG principles within educational institutions, focusing on the actual transformation of campus environments and its ecosystem, which misaligned with the current concept for Planetary Health education. It outlines a strategic approach for institutions to assess their current sustainability status, develop actionable ESG strategies, and implement effective practices to enhance their key elements of environmental,  operational budget and social impacts. Key components include integrating the frameworks of SDG and sustainability in evaluating energy usage, waste management, and resource conservation, alongside fostering community engagement through educational initiatives and participatory governance. The values of integration also highlights the importance of monitoring progress and transparently reporting outcomes to ensure accountability and continuous improvement. Challenges such as funding and resistance to change are addressed, along with opportunities for innovation. Through case studies and best practices, the ESG transformation in higher education aims to provide a comprehensive framework for institutions seeking to lead in future needs and expectation.

Join the session