Provisional Programme
| 09:30 | Morning Coffee and Networking | Lotus Ballroom Foyer |
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SESSION ONE PUTTING SUSTAINAIBLITY INTO GEAR IN THE ASIA PACIFIC REGION 10:30 – 13:30 hrs Setting the Scene |
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| 10:30 |
Introduction (Moderators) Shereen ZorbaExecutive Secretary, UNSPBF Prof. Buddhi MarambeUniversity of Peradeniya |
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| 10:34 |
Words of Inspiration Nimal PereraSustainable Consumption and Production Forum, Sri Lanka |
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| 10:38 |
Welcoming Remarks Dechen TseringUN Environment Programme Regional Director, Asia-Pacific |
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| 10:44 |
Opening Address H.E. Naseer AhamedMinister of Environment, Sri Lanka |
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| 10:50 |
Pathways to Strengthening the Science-Policy-Business Interface for a Resilient Future Andrea HinwoodChief Scientist, UN Environment Programme |
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| 10:56 |
Asia-Pacific at Cross-roads: Towards Just and Equitable Green Transformations Sangmin NamDirector of Environment and Development, Economic and Social Commission for Asia Pacific (ESCAP) |
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| 11:02 |
Open Floor |
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Regulatory Frameworks, Policies, Incentives: Are We on Track? The Policy-Business Debate |
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| 11:10
(6 min per speaker) |
Building Policy Cohesion and Opportunity for an Equitable and Robust Green Technology Transformation in Asia Pacific – Private Sector Perspective GUIDING QUESTIONS · How cohesive are sustainability policies impacting your business at the country level, but also across the region and internationally? What is the impact of that? · What suites of policies need to be put in place or integrated to empower sustainable businesses? · What are the policy imperatives that need to be in place to encourage international companies set shop in countries in Asia Pacific? · What are the barriers and the key pathways to doing better? Keerthi GunawardanePresident, Federation of Chambers of Commerce and Industries, Sri Lanka Tora LeiflandHead of Public Affairs, Volvo Group Annupa AhiVice President, Public Affairs, TOMRA Systems ASA Chathumin GunarathneCountry Director, Deloitte Amanthi PereraGeneral Manager, Social Sustainability, MAS Capital Dan Pathomvanich,CEO, NR Instant Produce Sachith BalageDirector – Group Supply Chain, Hela Apparel Holdings |
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| 11:52 |
Open Floor |
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| 12:00
(6 min per speaker) |
Building Policy Cohesion and Opportunity for Sustainable Business – Government Perspective GUIDING QUESTIONS · To what extent are government policies built to empower green structural transformation? · What are the key barriers for policy cohesion and empowerment? · Response to key issues raised by industry, so far? · What is the ask from the business sector, finance institutions and other relevant players to empower government action? Tereapii Maki KavanaAssociate Minister for National Environment Services, The Cook Islands Haibun NaharDeputy Minister of Environment, Forests and Climate Change, Bangladesh Anil JasingheSecretary, Ministry of Environment, Sri Lanka |
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| 12:18 |
Open Floor |
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Financing Equitable Green Growth in a Changing Environment |
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| 12:25
(5 min per speaker) |
Pathways to Overcome Challenges and Build Opportunity through Financing– Discussion GUIDING QUESTIONS · To what extent are financial institutions prioritizing green investments over traditional ventures to promote equitable growth? · How can public and private financing be balanced to achieve the most equitable outcomes in green growth? · In the context of equitable green growth, does the focus on short-term economic gains hinder long-term environmental sustainability? · How can nations ensure that financing for green growth doesn’t exacerbate existing socio-economic inequalities? · Does the current global financial system support or hinder the transition to equitable green growth? Kok Kee LimSenior VP, Government Engagement, Asia Pacific, Mastercard Anoop PoddarSenior Managing Director of Investment, Eversource Capital, India Sushara VidyasagaraChief, Investment Banking, Commercial Bank of Ceylon Nalin KarunathilakaVice President, Sustainability, DFCC Bank |
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| 12:45 |
Open Floor |
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Understanding Climate Risk for Enterprises: Economic and Social Impact – Discussion |
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| 12:55
(5 min per speaker) |
GUIDING QUESTIONS · What is the impact on communities and economies when enterprises are not prepared to face climate risk? · How can data-driven tools help us understand and quantify the looming climate risks for enterprises in the Asia-Pacific region? And how does that translate into action? · How well do enterprises in the region mitigate climate risks? What is the role of policy? · Considering the vast and diverse nature of the Asia-Pacific region, how can we ensure that strategies and solutions are both universally applicable and regionally specific? Amal DharmapriyaExecutive VP, Softlogic Insurance Vositha WijenayakeExecutive Director, SLYCAN Trust Rashmi BomiriyaCOO and Chief Digital Officer, RS Metrics Touasi TiwokDirector, Ministry of Climate, Environment, Energy and Disaster Management, Vanuatu |
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| 13:15 |
Open Floor |
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| 13:30 |
LUNCH BREAK |
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SESSION TWO HARNESSING THE POWER OF SUSTAINABLE INFRASTRUCTURE FOR AN EQUITABLE AND RESILIENT FUTURE 14:30 – 17:30 hrs |
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| 14:30 |
The State of Sustainable Infrastructure Investment in the Asia Pacific Region: Where We Are and Where We need to Be Erik BerglofChief Economist, Chief Economist, Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) |
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| 14:36 |
Q&A |
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| 14:42
(5 min per speaker) |
Public Private Partnership Pathways: Challenges and Opportunities R. SamarathungaPresidential Advisor, Sri Lanka Erik BerglofChief Economist, Chief Economist, Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) |
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| 14:52
(6 min per speaker) |
Setting Shop in Asia Pacific: Sustainable Infrastructure as Barrier and Opportunity GUIDING QUESTIONS · What are the infrastructure factors that impact foreign direct investment decisions and expansion of multinational companies in the Asia Pacific region? · How do specific socio-political and economic dynamics of the Asia-Pacific nations, such as regulatory environments or trade policies, influence a multinational company’s decision to invest? · Considering the rapid technological advancements and digital adoption in Asia-Pacific countries like South Korea and Singapore, how are FDI decisions impacted by the technological readiness of the host nation? · Given the intricate web of partnerships, supply chains, and competitive landscapes in the Asia-Pacific, how does a company navigate these factors when determining investment scales and locations? · With increasing global emphasis on sustainable practices and corporate responsibility, how has your company’s approach to FDI in the Asia-Pacific been influenced by the region’s environmental and social challenges, and can you provide examples of adaptive strategies? Tora LeiflandHead of Public Affairs, Volvo Group Chathumin GunarathneCountry Director, Deloitte Kok Kee LimSenior VP, Government Engagement, Asia Pacific, Mastercard |
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| 15:10 |
Open Floor |
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| 15:16
(5 min per speaker) |
The Future of Energy Transitions – Discussion · What are the projected energy needs of the Asia-Pacific region in the next decade, and how can sustainable energy transitions meet these demands while ensuring environmental conservation? · What are the main drivers pushing the Asia-Pacific region towards sustainable energy transitions, given its diverse economic and geopolitical landscape? · How equipped is the Asia-Pacific region in terms of technology and infrastructure to embrace a sustainable energy future? · How are regional policies and regulatory frameworks facilitating or hindering the shift towards sustainable energy sources? · Given the unique vulnerability of Pacific Islands and SIDs to climate change, what are the barriers to sustainable energy transitions at scale? And where do opportunities lie? Chathumin GunarathneCountry Director, Deloitte H.E. Vann MonyneathSecretary General, National Council for Sustainable Development, Ministry of Environment, Cambodia Nimal PereraSustainable Consumption and Production Forum, Sri Lanka Zhen DaiChairman, Naas/NewLink, China Loshan PalayangodaCountry Manager Sri Lanka, Forbes Marshall |
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| 15:41 |
Open Floor |
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| 15:50
(6 min per speaker) |
The Journey towards Digital Infrastructure & Transformation Kok Kee LimSenior VP, Government Engagement, Asia Pacific, Mastercard Brian SathianathanFounder, Chief Digital Officer, Iterate.ai |
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| 16:02
(6 min per speaker) |
Building Strong Foundations for Circular Economy Infrastructure in Asia-Pacific Annupa AhiVice President, Public Affairs, TOMRA Systems ASA Thusitha SugathapalaSenior Lecturer, University of Moratuwa, Sri Lanka Rohitha SilvaVP, Federation of Chambers of Commerce and Industry, Sri Lanka |
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| 16:20 |
Open Floor |
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| 16:26
(5 min per speaker) |
Value-driven Development Cooperation : Understanding Barriers and Opportunities for Sustainable Infrastructure in the Asia Pacific Region — Discussion Buddika HapuarachchiLead, Climate and Environment, UN Development Programme (UNDP) Morgan RohelProject Manager, EU Green Recovery Facility Sonali SellamuttuCountry Representative, Global Green Growth Institute |
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| 16:46 |
Open Floor |
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| 16:55
(5 min per speaker) |
Concluding Remarks Ø Small Island Developing States Tereapii Maki KavanaAssociate Minister for National Environment Services, The Cook Islands Ø Civil Society Meena BigliCore Associate, Women Organizing for Change in Agriculture and Natural Resources Management, India Ø Youth Rubina AdhikariAsia Pacific, Youth Group |
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| 17:10 – 17:30 |
Open Floor and Closing |
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