Bridging the gap between public perception and policy

The study found that while climate change is acknowledged as a significant issue, it often takes a backseat to other environmental concerns like air pollution and water scarcity. This highlights the need for effective communication strategies that emphasize the interconnection of these challenges and the role of renewable energy in addressing them.

Solar shines, biomass struggles

Solar energy emerged as the most preferred renewable source across the region, while biomass faced significant public resistance due to concerns about environmental impact. This emphasizes the importance of targeted education campaigns to dispel misconceptions about different renewable energy technologies and promote understanding of their environmental and social benefits.

Collaborative research across Southeast Asia

The research involved a collaborative effort among researchers from various institutions across Southeast Asia, including those are from EEPSEA. This collaborative approach facilitated a comprehensive understanding of public perceptions and preferences across diverse urban contexts within the region.

Recommendations for policymakers

The study offers several key recommendations for policymakers:

• Invest in public awareness: Implement comprehensive public awareness campaigns that highlight the link between climate change and other environmental issues, and the benefits of a transition to renewable energy.
• Targeted education: Develop targeted education programs to improve public understanding of the benefits of different renewable energy technologies, including those beyond solar.
• Address equity: Ensure that the costs and benefits of the energy transition are distributed equitably across society.
• Leverage solar potential: Continue to leverage the existing high public perception of solar energy to accelerate its deployment.
• Promote modern bio-energy: Focus research and policy on modern bio-energy technologies to mitigate negative perceptions of bio-energy.

Looking ahead

This research provides a valuable foundation for informed policy-making and public engagement in Southeast Asia’s energy transition. By understanding public perceptions and addressing knowledge gaps, policymakers can create a more inclusive and sustainable energy future for the region.

Bài viết Public Perception Key to Renewable Energy Success in Southeast Asia đã xuất hiện đầu tiên vào ngày EEPSEA Partnership.

Summer School on Environmental Valuation using Discrete Choice Experiment

Date: June 10 – June 14, 2024

Location: UEH University, Ho Chi Minh city, Viet Nam

University of Economics Ho Chi Minh City (UEH), the Economy and Environment Partnership for Southeast Asia (EEPSEA) and the Environment for Development (EfD) center in Vietnam are proud to announce the upcoming Summer School on “Environmental Valuation using Discrete Choice Experiment: Strategies for Sustainable Development in Southeast Asia“. This intensive 5-day program aims to equip early-career researchers with the necessary skills and knowledge to address pressing environmental challenges in Southeast Asia through the application of Discrete Choice Experiments (DCEs).

Background

In Southeast Asia, climate change and rapid industrialization imperil ecosystems and vital natural resources, essential for agricultural economies and sustaining millions. Addressing these challenges prompts urgent questions for research and policy. With resource constraints, prioritizing adaptation measures becomes crucial, necessitating techniques to assess costs and benefits for the development of effective and fair strategies.

The objective of this Summer School extends beyond addressing environmental concerns; it serves as a platform for equipping participants with versatile tools applicable across diverse disciplines. Discrete Choice Experiments (DCEs) are introduced as a methodology and tool to measure preferences and trade-offs concerning climate, environmental, and resource factors in a Southeast Asian context. Participants will delve into the theoretical underpinnings of DCEs, learn the practical steps to conduct Choice Experiments, explore advanced econometric models, and understand the limitations of the DCE approach.

Beyond environmental domains, the course underscores the broader applicability of DCEs in various disciplines, including marketing, public policy, health, and development. Initially applied to transportation and environmental valuation, choice models have evolved into widely utilized analytical methods, shaping decisions in consumer behavior, investment strategies, and individual choice behavior across numerous sectors.

This Summer School provides an invaluable opportunity for early-career researchers in Southeast Asia to engage with experts, exchange knowledge, and showcase their own research endeavors. The course is based completely on R open access software but also some features of the survey platform Survey Engine is shown.

Objectives

Upon completion of the course, participants are expected to be able to

• Understand the theoretical foundations of DCEs.
• Learn practical techniques for designing and conducting DCEs tailored to climate change adaptation in Southeast Asia.
• Explore advanced econometric models for analyzing discrete choice data.
• Interpret results for informed policymaking in the region’s environmental framework.
• Apply to various studies including marketing, health, public policy and development.

Resource Persons

• Prof. Petr Mariel, University of the Basque Country, Spain
• Dr. Juergen Meyerhoff, Berlin School of Economics and Law, Germany
• Prof. Sven Anders, University of Alberta, Canada

Petr Mariel holds the position of Full Professor at the Department of Quantitative Methods at the University of the Basque Country UPV/EHU in Bilbao, Spain. He delivers both introductory and advanced master courses in quantitative methods to students specializing in Economics. Professor Mariel’s pedagogy predominantly relies on simulation techniques, utilizing the open-source programming language and statistical computing environment, R (https://www.r-project.org/). In his research pursuits, Prof. Mariel focuses on discrete choice modelling, primarily in the realm of environmental valuation. However, his expertise extends to areas such as health economics, public policy, and urban economics. He boasts a prolific publication record in esteemed academic journals and has also provided consultancy services to both public and private sector entities.

Juergen Meyerhoff holds the esteemed position of Senior Researcher at HWR Berlin, where his multifaceted role encompasses project leadership, public policy consultation, and editorial responsibilities for specialized journals in the realms of environmental and ecological economics. With a rich and illustrious research background, Dr. Meyerhoff has made substantial contributions to numerous research initiatives and has been a key figure in the publication of scientific works of significance. His extensive involvement in projects and publications has been particularly notable within the framework of the European Union’s Sixth and Seventh Framework Programs, where his expertise has been instrumental in advancing the understanding and discourse surrounding pressing environmental and ecological issues.

Sven Anders is a Professor of Resource Economics at the University of Alberta, Canada. His research focuses on the economics of agriculture and energy transition that seeks to advance our understanding of individuals’ decision-making on complex, policy-relevant topics. Using survey and experimental methods his work provides insights into consumer and producer behavior that helps advance markets, policy, and welfare outcomes. Through his research, Prof. Anders takes a keen interest in the many relationships between energy transition, agriculture, and the environment under changing climatic conditions. Prof. Anders teaches courses in the field of agricultural economics, food systems and marketing economics at both bachelor and Master levels.

Who Should Participate

The summer school is tailored for early career researchers interested in learning about the foundations of DCEs methods, their practical design, and application in the field to assess questions of valuating environmental goods and services. While economists are the primary audience, students and researchers from diverse disciplines with interests in the application of survey-based experimental methods are encouraged to apply. A basic understanding of economic theory and methodology is essential for participation.

To facilitate an effective learning environment, participants should have at least a minimum working knowledge of the statistical (open access) software package R. Basic R tutorial material will be provided to participants prior to the course. Participants are expected to familiarize themselves with this material prior to the start of the summer school. They are also expected to bring their own laptop, as well as a charging cable and an extension cord.

This course is hosted by UEH University. The training package, including training materials, coffee-breaks and lunches, will be sponsored by the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida) through EEPSEA and EfD-Vietnam while participants should make their own travel, meal and accommodation arrangements.

Application Process

To apply, please submit the following documents at https://sites.google.com/eepsea.org/choice-experiment-workshop/apply

1. CV (including academic background and relevant experience).
2. A brief statement of interest (max. 300 words) outlining your research interests and how participation in the summer school will benefit your career goals.
3. A research idea which DCE could be applicable [optional].

Deadline for Applications: 07 April 2024

To allow for individualized feedback and a low student-to-teacher ratio, the number of participants is limited to 30, ensuring an immersive and interactive learning experience. They are expected to bring their own laptop, as well as a charging cable and an extension cord. Upon completion of the course, participants are also expected to submit a concept note with a draft design of a Discrete Choice Experiment (DCE). This submission will serve as a practical application of the knowledge and skills acquired during the program.

For inquiries and further details, please contact the course coordinator, Mr. Nhan Le (nhan.le@eepsea.org | +84-8-6776-3853).

Join us in this unique opportunity to engage with experts, exchange knowledge, and contribute to sustainable development in Southeast Asia through rigorous research and policy action. Apply now and be part of shaping a greener, more resilient future for the region.

Bài viết Summer School on Discrete Choice Experiment đã xuất hiện đầu tiên vào ngày EEPSEA Partnership.

Participants at the EEPSEA Annual Meeting 2023

In his opening remarks, Dr. Pham Khanh Nam celebrated EEPSEA’s 30-year journey as a pioneering network nurturing environmental and development economics research in Southeast Asia. The conference theme “Charting a Transformative Path: Advancing Sustainable Futures in Southeast Asia” reflected EEPSEA’s goal of fostering transformative discussions and collaborative action towards a greener, cleaner, and more inclusive development in the region.

Dr. Pham Khanh Nam, EEPSEA Director, delivered the welcome remark

The meeting started with two thought-provoking keynote presentations that set the tone for the discussions. The first keynote was delivered by Dr. Ian Coxhead from IDE-JETRO and the University of Wisconsin-Madison, titled “Will you take my (s)crap? Waste havens in the global plastic waste trade.” Dr. Coxhead examined the implications of China’s 2018 ban on plastic waste imports. His research revealed a “waste haven” pattern where plastic waste trade shifted environmental burden to poorer countries with lax environmental regulations. He warned that the increase in plastic waste exports to countries with poor waste management systems could exacerbate the global plastic pollution crisis.

Dr. Ian Coxhead presented his keynote speech about waste havens in the global plastic waste trade

The second keynote was presented by Dr. Lesly Goh, the World Bank Group Senior Technology Advisor. Her presentation, “Designing an innovation ecosystem with multi-stakeholder partnership for carbon sequestration in Southeast Asia,” highlighted the importance of agriculture in Southeast Asia’s economy and its impact on food security. Dr. Goh discussed opportunities from digital technologies to overcome challenges in the global food system like inefficiency, information gaps, and climate change. She advocated for a digital transformation of agri-food systems leveraging technologies to increase farmer incomes, enhance sustainability, and improve nutrition.

Dr. Lesly Goh shared her experience about the opportunities from digital technologies to overcome challenges in the global food system

The parallel sessions allowed for in-depth exploration of diverse topics critical to the region’s sustainable development. Key areas covered included agricultural practices and climate change adaptation, renewable energy adoption, air quality and emission management, environmental management, green production and consumption patterns, climate vulnerability assessments, adaptation strategies, fisheries and aquaculture management, natural capital accounting, economic valuation of ecosystem services, community participation in environmental issues, and socioeconomic impacts assessments.

A presentation at the parallel session

A dedicated World Café discussion facilitated interactive dialogue on developing regional research agendas, integrating gender perspectives in environmental economics research, strengthening research capacity, and enhancing policy impact.

A presentation at the parallel session

Throughout the meeting, participants engaged in vibrant discussions, shared insights, and explored potential collaborations. Networking opportunities allowed researchers, practitioners, and policymakers to establish new connections and strengthen existing partnerships.

Dr. Pham Khanh Nam reviewed the 5 year operation of the EEPSEA Partnership

In the closing remarks, Dr. Nam summarized EEPSEA’s five-year operations supported by Sida funding and the Executive members together expressed the organization’s commitment to working towards self-sufficiency while seeking additional sources to sustain and grow the network.

The EEPSEA Executive Members thanked the network member for their involvement and contribution to the EEPSEA Partnership

The EEPSEA Annual Meeting 2023 served as a platform for collective reflection on the partnership’s achievements, lessons learned, and future strategic directions. By bringing together diverse stakeholders, the event fostered transdisciplinary approaches, promoted knowledge exchange, and drove up the collaborative efforts towards a greener, more resilient, and inclusive development pathway for Southeast Asia.

Together toward a greener, cleaner and inclusive development in the Southeast Asia

Bài viết EEPSEA Annual Meeting 2023: Charting a Transformative Path – Advancing Sustainable Futures in Southeast Asia đã xuất hiện đầu tiên vào ngày EEPSEA Partnership.

Prof. Almas Heshmati gave the instruction on how to measure the Circular Economy Index

Workshop content and outcomes

Day 1 commenced with an overview of circular economy concepts, contrasting them with the traditional linear “take-make-waste” model. Participants learned to compute the multidimensional Circular Economy Index, a tool to measure how well a country/region is transitioning towards circularity across various sectors. The Environmental Performance Index (EPI), which ranks countries on environmental health and ecosystem vitality, was also covered in depth.

The second day, they were focused on two other indices – the (Sustainable) Development Infrastructure Index and the Environmental Efficiency Index. While the former evaluates a nation’s readiness to achieve the UN Sustainable Development Goals, the latter quantifies how productively ecological resources are utilized to drive economic growth. Integrating theory with practical applications, discussions revolved around analyzing Southeast Asia’s current circular economy performance using these indices and identifying major barriers, enablers, and best practices.

Through interactive sessions, case studies, and hands-on exercises, participants learned to calculate the indices, interpret results, and formulate data-driven circular economy roadmaps tailored to their local contexts. Sharing perspectives from different countries enriched the cross-learnings.

A discussion with participant

Participant testimonials

Kanittha Tambunlertchai from Thailand, part of her nation’s circular economy task force, stated: “This workshop enhanced my expertise in quantifying the circular transition. The knowledge will be invaluable as we finetune Thailand’s national circular economy action plan.”

Pham Anh Huyen from Vietnam’s Institute of Strategy and Policy on Natural Resources and Environment added: “The methodologies and measurement frameworks covered will allow us to develop a more robust, scientifically-grounded circular economy strategy with clear targets and monitoring mechanisms for Vietnam.”

A discussion with participant

Two PhD scholars from Korea and one from India also attended, keen on incorporating circular economy principles into their research.

Participants in the training course

The workshop concluded with participants receiving certificates with a comprehensive circular economy toolbox to drive sustainability initiatives through an interdisciplinary, data-driven approach in their home countries. Most were also presenters at the 2023 International Conference on Economics, Law and Government, which focused on Accelerating Inclusive Green Transition in Developing Countries, which the UEH University organized following the EEPSEA workshop.

Bài viết Workshop on Measurement and Implementation of Circular Economy in Southeast Asia đã xuất hiện đầu tiên vào ngày EEPSEA Partnership.

We cordially invite submissions of theoretical and empirical papers across interdisciplinary areas of environmental and natural resource economics for the 2023 Annual Meeting of the Economy & Environment Partnership for Southeast Asia (EEPSEA). Join us in Ho Chi Minh City from October 27 to 28, 2023.

Objectives

EEPSEA Annual Meeting 2023 aims to foster networking among researchers to facilitate knowledge sharing and future collaborations. Additionally, this would be a chance to evaluate the achievements of the EEPSEA Partnership over the past period, shape its future direction, collectively craft a research agenda for the next phase of development, and enhance collaborative research connections among participants.

Focus

Explore transdisciplinary approaches to green and digital transitions, adaptation, mitigation, and strategies for a cleaner, greener and inclusive development in Southeast Asia. Topics include policy instruments, future scenarios, transition management, international cooperation, and regimes.

• Interdisciplinary approach for environmental and resource management
• Economics of climate change: Damage assessment and adaptation options
• Designing behavioral economics tools for green growth strategy: Greening forestry sector, renewable energy, greening consumption.
• Coastal and marine resources conservation for climate change resilience and poverty reduction
• Urban poor and the environment: Industrial pollution, ecosystem and human health impact, resilience, policy instruments and institutional changes.
• Green energy for sustainable development
• Environmental transboundary problems in Southeast Asia

Participants

• Researchers with papers to be presented at the meeting
• EEPSEA researchers and alumni
• International organizations

Important Dates

• Abstract Submission Deadline: September 27, 2023
• Notification of Abstract Acceptance: September 30, 2023
• Full/Working Paper Submission Deadline: October 15, 2023
• Conference Dates: October 27-28, 2023

Sponsorship

Thanks to the generous support from Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida), the participation of accepted applicants will be fully sponsored. The EEPSEA Partnership will cover round-trip travel expenses to Vietnam, accommodation, and meal allowance.

How to Submit

Submit your abstract/paper and CV online, via the following country or subregion lines:

• Indonesia: https://eepseapartners.org/2023-meeting-indonesia
• Malaysia: https://eepseapartners.org/2023-meeting-malaysia
• Philippines: https://eepseapartners.org/2023-meeting-philippines
• Vietnam: https://eepseapartners.org/2023-meeting-vietnam
• Lower Mekong Subregion (Cambodia, Lao PDR, Myanmar, Thailand): https://eepseapartners.org/2023-meeting-lms

Contact

• EEI Indonesia: Dr. Arief Anshory Yusuf
• EEA Malaysia: Dr. Awang Noor Abd Ghani
• EEG Philippines: Dr. Gem B. Castillo
• EEI Vietnam: Dr. Bui Dung The
• EEI LMS: Dr. Phumsitth Mahasuweerachai

Don’t miss this opportunity to contribute to sustainable development in Southeast Asia. We look forward to your valuable contributions and participation in this transformative event. For more information and updates, please visit https://eepseapartners.org or contact EEI Director of your country or subregion.

Download the call for paper

Abstract template

Bài viết Call for papers – EEPSEA Annual Meeting 2023 đã xuất hiện đầu tiên vào ngày EEPSEA Partnership.

Training Workshop on Measurement and Implementation of Circular Economy in Southeast Asia

The Economy and Environment Partnership for Southeast Asia (EEPSEA) is pleased to announce a Regional Training Workshop on measurement and implementation of Circular Economy in Southeast Asia, to be held in conjunction with the International Conference on Economics, Law, and Government (ELG 2023) at the University of Economics Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. This workshop is designed to provide researchers from Southeast Asian countries with valuable training and knowledge to enhance their understanding of circular economy and improve their research capabilities in the field.

DESCRIPTION

Dates

• Training workshop: 26-27 September 2023
• ELG Conference: 28-29 September 2023

Venue

University of Economics Ho Chi Minh City (279 Nguyen Tri Phuong, District 10, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam)

LEARNING OBJECTIVES

• Understand the fundamentals of circular economy: Provide participants with an overview of the principles, concepts, key drivers of the circular economy model, and development of circular economy-based business models.
• Familiarize participants with circular economy measurement frameworks: Introduce participants to various methodologies, metrics, and tools used for measuring the performance and impact of circular economy initiatives.
• Develop knowledge on key circular economy indicators: Identify and discuss key indicators that help assess the progress and effectiveness of circular economy strategies, such as resource efficiency, solid waste reduction, wastewater treatment, material recycling, and eco-design.
• Learn about circular economy case studies, business models and best practices: Examine successful circular economy projects and initiatives implemented in Southeast Asia and other regions, highlighting the lessons learned and best practices for development of measurement and evaluation standards.

RESOURCE PERSON

Almas Heshmati

Almas Heshmati is Professor of Economics at Jönköping University. He was Research Fellow at the World Institute for Development Economics Research (WIDER), The United Nations University during 2001-2004. From 1998 until 2001, he was an Associate Professor of Economics at the Stockholm School of Economics. He has a Ph.D. degree from the University of Gothenburg (1994), where he held a Senior Researcher position until 1998. His research interests include applied microeconomics, globalization, efficiency, productivity, and growth with application to manufacturing and services, environmental economics, and well-being. In addition to more than 200 scientific journal articles he has published books on EU Lisbon Process, Global Inequality, East Asian Manufacturing, Chinese Economy, Technology Transfer, Information Technology, Water Resources, Landmines, Power Generation, Renewable Energy, Development Economics, World Values, Poverty, well-being, and Economic Growth.

Owning a H-index of 56 with 15484 citations, Prof. Heshmati is among the top 1% global economists, according to IDEAS and REPEC’s list.

COURSE OUTLINE

• Overview of the principles, concepts, and key drivers of the circular economy model.
• Development of circular economy-based business models.
• Applications of circular economy at different levels in South-East Asia.
• Measurement and evaluation standards in assessment of circular economy.
• Computations of multidimensional index of circular economy index.
• Measurement of progress and effectiveness of circular economy strategies.
• Development of best circular economy practices, policies, and programs.
• Comparative analysis of best practices for development, measurement, and evaluation standards for circular economy.

HOW TO APPLY

Eligibility Criteria

1. Applicants must be researchers or academics whose nationals of the following Southeast Asian countries: Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Thailand, and Vietnam.
2. Applicants should have a research paper that aligns with the themes of the ELG Conference 2023 and will be presented at the conference.
3. Applicants must hold at least a master’s degree with some basic knowledge in economics.

Benefits

Thanks to the generous support from Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida), the course participation of accepted applicants will be fully sponsored. In addition to networking opportunities with renowned experts and researchers in the field, the EEPSEA Partnership will cover:

• Full coverage of travel expenses (economy class) to and from the workshop location.
• Accommodation for the duration of the workshop and the conference.
• Meal allowance and refreshments during the workshop and conference.
• The ELG Conference fee
• Training materials and resources.

Application Requirements

Interested researchers who meet the eligibility criteria are invited to submit their applications for the training workshop. The application should include the following documents:

1. Completed application form (online).
2. Curriculum vitae (CV) or resume highlighting relevant research experience.
3. Research paper abstract/summary that will be presented at the ELG conference.
4. A brief statement explaining how the workshop will contribute to the applicant’s research and career development.

Please prepare and submit your application online at https://eepseapartners.org/training-courses/regional-training-courses/application/ or https://airtable.com/shrZgHIaUu52XhLQc no later than 30 July 2023.

Selection Process

Applications will be evaluated based on the following criteria:

• Relevance of the research paper to the themes of the ELG conference.
• Potential impact of the workshop on the applicant’s research and career development.
• Geographical and gender diversity.

Successful applicants will be personally notified via email by 15 August 2023 and provided with further details regarding workshop logistics and participation in the ELG conference.

Note: Participants are required to commit to attending the full duration of the workshop and presenting their research paper at the ELG conference.

For inquiries or further information, please contact Mr. Le Thanh Nhan, the Research and Communication Coordinator via email nhan.le@eepsea.org

We look forward to receiving your applications and welcoming you to this Training Workshop on Circular Economy and the ELG Conference 2023.

Please feel free to circulate the call among your network. Download EEPSEA Call for Applications Training on Circular Economy

Bài viết Training on Measurement and Implementation of Circular Economy in Southeast Asia đã xuất hiện đầu tiên vào ngày EEPSEA Partnership.

Special Issue on “Digital media data in environment and development economics”

Submission Deadline: 31 January 2024

Environment and Development Economics seeks to publish a special issue on digital media data in environment and development economics. The issue will be guest edited by Andrea Ghermandi, David Katz and Maria L. Loureiro.

Over the past decade user-generated digital content has become an important source of insight into human-environment interactions. Such data—coming from different sources including social networking sites, online ratings and reviews, (micro-)blogging platforms, media sharing services, sports and recreation apps, cellphone network data and more—can offer a unique perspective into people’s perceptions and experiences of the natural environment. Applications in the field of environmental and development economics have focused mainly on integrating user-generated content within established non-market valuation techniques. Applications in lower-income countries are especially lacking, despite the great potential of these new data sources to provide high-volume, relatively easily accessible and scalable findings.

This special issue aims to extend the understanding of the potential applications and new insights that can be generated through the analysis of user-generated content in economic assessments. This call is open to both theoretical and applied empirical contributions which provide novel insights into all aspects related to the uptake of user-generated content within environmental and development economics, with an emphasis on applications in low-income countries. These include, but are not limited to: (1) the integration into non-market valuation techniques; (2) improving understanding of consumer preferences and behavior; (3) the exploration of potential limitations of these new data sources (e.g., from lack of representativeness of the sampled users or data scarcity for specific areas and populations as a consequence of digital divides); and (4) the investigation of the ethical aspects (e.g., privacy protection) related to the analysis of user-generated content in economic studies.

Submission Guidelines: Papers should be submitted by 31 January 2024 at the latest. Early submissions are encouraged and will be processed immediately. Papers will undergo the normal refereeing process. The quality of the paper and the extent to which it fits the focus of the special issue are the criteria for acceptance.

Submissions should be made online at: https://mc.manuscriptcentral.com/ede. During the first step of the submission process, in the “Special Issue” field, authors should select “Digital media”. Authors should also indicate in their cover letter that the manuscript is for the “Digital media data in environment and development economics” Special Issue. 

For more details, visit our site. Instructions for contributors can be found here. For further information, authors should contact the Guest Editors at the emails below.

Bài viết Call for papers: Digital media data in environment and development economics đã xuất hiện đầu tiên vào ngày EEPSEA Partnership.

The session featured three talks covering various aspects of Asia’s inclusive carbon transition. Dr. Nguyen Quang from Vietnam presented a policy review of developing countries in Asia and discussed multiple strategies, such as carbon pricing, renewable energy, and sustainable agriculture, which could help achieve low-carbon development. Dr. Phumsith Mahasuweerachai from the Economy and Environment Institute of Lower Mekong Subregion (EEI-LMS) analyzed the GHG emissions and livelihood impacts of different rice practices in Thailand and suggested ways to make the benefits of greener agriculture more visible. Dr. Gem Castillo of the Economy and Environment Group Philippines shared his experience co-creating a climate governance model with local stakeholders in Iriga City and highlighted the challenges and opportunities for strengthening community resilience.

After the talks, Ms. Haidy Ear-Dupuy, the head of the ADB’s Civil Society Unit, gave the ADB’s reflections and perspectives on the presentations. She spoke highly of the quality of the session and the compelling evidence presented in the talks. Overall, the session was successful in fostering dialogue and knowledge-sharing among participants. It provided a foundation for further discussion, network-building, and collaborations to advance research and policy agendas. “The session highlighted the importance of considering the social and economic impacts of carbon transition policies on vulnerable communities and engaging with local communities in designing and implementing climate policies,” said Haidy Ear-Dupuy.

Bài viết EEPSEA shares insights on inclusive carbon transition at the ADB meeting đã xuất hiện đầu tiên vào ngày EEPSEA Partnership.

Policy briefs are a key tool to present research and recommendations to a non-specialized audience. They serve as a vehicle for providing evidence-based policy advice to help readers make informed decisions.

A strong policy brief distills research findings in plain language and draws clear links to policy initiatives. The best policy briefs are clear and concise stand-alone documents that focus on a single topic.

Planning your policy brief

Purpose, audience, content, and structure are the vital elements of an influential policy brief.

Purpose

A policy brief should inform readers of a particular issue, suggest possible policy options, and make recommendations. Be upfront about your purpose from the start, maintain a laser focus on your direction, and link every paragraph back to your purpose. Given the conciseness of most policy briefs, do not discuss tangential information. A convincing policy brief should communicate the urgency of the issue and focus on the benefits and advantages of following your policy advice.

Tips:

• Write out your purpose before drafting a brief, refer to it often, and ensure that everything you write serves that purpose.
• The intention of policy briefs is to offer your readers advice on how to solve a specific problem, so stay focused on this target alone.

Audience

Policy briefs should be accessible and targeted to a specific audience. Before you begin writing, establish whom your prospective readers are, their interest in and level of knowledge of the subject, the information they will need to make a decision, and how open they are to your recommendations.

Content

A policy brief should be clear, succinct, and focus on a single topic.

Tips:

• Do not exceed 1,500 words or two pages in length. Define the purpose of your policy brief up front.
• Include only essential information. Avoid tangents or being overly descriptive about methodology.
• Clearly identify the salient points that support your goal.
• Draft a new purpose-driven policy brief instead of summarizing or cutting down an existing report.
• Use plain language.

Structure

The structure should lead the reader from problem to solution. Clearly structure your policy brief before you start writing and use section headings to guide your content. Be clear about your policy recommendations and how they are supported by evidence.

The structure should be audience-specific and reflect each audience’s interests. For example, a focus on evidence is relevant for researchers, but a government official may value brevity and clear analysis of policy impacts.

Tip:

• Some typical section headings are summary, context, analysis/discussion, considerations, conclusion/recommendation.

Policy brief template

There is no one-size-fits-all approach to writing policy briefs because the topic and audience will shape each one. However, effective policy briefs tend to contain the same key elements and therefore have similar structures: an executive summary, an introduction, an overview of the research or problem, an examination of the findings, and a concluding section that explains the policy recommendations and implications of the research.

Review the elements of an effective structure (in detail below) before writing your policy brief. Examples drawn from IDRC’s GrOW policy briefs are included throughout to help you gain a better understanding of layout and the content requirements of each section.

Executive summary

Every policy brief should open with a short summary. This overview should be engaging and help busy readers quickly understand your argument. Most summaries take the form of a short paragraph or two, but some authors prefer to structure theirs as a few bullet points. Regardless of which style you choose, an effective executive summary should condense the essence of the brief down to a few sentences.

Tips:

• The executive summary should always appear on the cover of the brief or at the top of the first page so that it is the first thing a reader will see.
• It can be helpful to write the executive summary last because you will gain clarity on its content as you draft the other sections.

Increasing women’s support for democracy in Africa includes both a written overview and a bulleted list of key results (an executive summary does not need to include both, but each is effective). The overview provides a brief summary of the research while the key results present the findings at a glance.

Introduction

The introduction should set up the rest of the document and clearly convey your argument. In one or two paragraphs, define why you are writing the brief and express the urgency and importance of the topic to your audience. A good introduction should contain all of the relevant information for your argument. Describe the key questions of your analysis and your conclusions. The goal is to leave your readers with a clear sense of what your research is about while enticing them to continue reading.

”What’s at Stake?”, the introduction for Increasing women’s support for democracy in Africa, vividly presents the issues and relevance of the research in only a few short paragraphs. A succinct summary of the brief’s goals gives the reader a firm understanding of the shape of the rest of the paper.

Research overview

This is one of the most important sections of the brief because it explains the reasoning behind your policy recommendations. In effect, this section describes the problem that your policy recommendations intend to solve.

Provide a summary of the facts to describe the issues, contexts, and research methods. Focus on two main elements: the research approach and the research results.

• Research approach: explain how the study was conducted, who conducted it, how the data was collected, and any other relevant background information.
• Research results: paint a general picture of the research findings before moving on to the specifics.

Present the results in a way that lends them to your analysis and argument, but do not interpret them yet. By the end of this section, the reader should have a firm understanding of the research and be primed for your argument. The goal is to take them on a journey that ends with them seeing the facts from your perspective.

Tips:

• Avoid jargon and overly technical language.
• Focus on highlighting the benefits and opportunities stemming from the research.

​The research overview (entitled “Research approach”) in Reducing child marriage and increasing girls’ schooling in Bangladesh provides an explanation of the research methodology without becoming mired in too much detail. The author favours simple language and a straightforward overview of the numbers instead of using jargon or complex statistics. The research results are discussed in the following section, an effective choice for research that requires a good deal of data analysis to contextualize the findings.

Discussion/analysis of research findings

This section should interpret the data in a way that is accessible and clearly connected to your policy advice. Express ideas using active language and strong assertions. The goal is to be convincing, but ensure that your analysis is balanced and defensible. Explain the findings and limitations of the research clearly and comprehensively. For example, if the original hypothesis was abandoned, explain why.

Tip:

• Express research findings in terms of how they relate to concrete realities (instead of theoretical abstractions) so the reader will have a clear idea of the potential effects of policy initiatives.

The “Key findings” section of How to grow women-owned businesses provides a brief overview of the findings before breaking down the results. Each research finding is presented independently and with clear headings. Even if a reader only skims the document, the headings provide a general understanding of the research findings. The graphics in this section quickly convey information from the research findings and they help to visually break up the text on the page.

Conclusion and recommendation

This final section of the policy brief should detail the actions recommended by the research findings. Draw the link for your readers between the research findings and your recommendations. Use persuasive language to present your recommendations, but ensure that all arguments are rooted firmly and clearly in evidence produced by the research. You want your readers to be completely convinced that yours is the best advice.

Examine the implications and the recommendations produced by the research. Implications are the effects that the research could have in the future. They are a soft but persuasive approach to describe the potential consequences of particular policies. This is a good opportunity to provide an overview of policy alternatives by presenting your reader with the full range of policy options.

Follow up the implications with your recommendations. Beyond being descriptive, your recommendations should act as a call to action by stating precise, relevant, credible, and feasible next steps. It may strengthen your argument to demonstrate why other policies are not as effective as your recommendations.

Tip:

• Think of the conclusion as a mirror to your introduction: you are once again providing an overview of your argument, but this time you are underlining its strength rather than introducing it.

”Lessons for policy and practice”, the conclusion of Unpaid care and women’s empowerment: Lessons from research and practice, presents a series of broad policy recommendations that are clearly linked back to the research. Each recommendation has its own section and heading to make them easy to identify and understand.

Designing your policy brief

A policy brief should be convincing and interesting to read. The design and presentation of your brief are important considerations and can help keep the reader engaged. Use compelling titles and headings, sidebars featuring interesting details, bulleted lists to summarize your points, and graphics such as charts and images.

Titles and headings

A title should act as a reference point for readers and entice them to read the brief. A good policy brief should also include sub-titles or headings to break up the text and draw the reader’s attention to the main topic of each section. Using verbs can make headings more dynamic, while phrasing them as questions can spark a reader’s curiosity. The best titles contain relevant information without being too long or cumbersome.

Sidebars

Sidebars add greater depth to the main discussion and hook a reader’s attention. An effective sidebar should be short, descriptive, engaging, and action-oriented. The goal is to add extra detail and depth to help the reader understand and engage with the topic. Sidebars also visually break up the brief and make the document easier to read. Sidebars, like all other content in the policy brief, should advance the main argument.

Lists

Lists are an effective and visually interesting way to simplify dense content. They are useful for highlighting important information because they draw the reader’s eye. Lists should be no longer than five to seven bullet points (if lists are too short they may seem pointless, if they are too long they may be daunting). Each bullet point should express complete thoughts (avoid using bullet points that are only one or two words in length).

Graphics

Visuals are easily one of the best ways to make policy briefs more interesting for readers. Choose effective visuals for the type of information you would like to communicate. For example, pie charts and bar graphs are preferable to data tables to illustrate findings. Include captions for photos and other visuals that explain the content to the reader. Every visual should serve a purpose and help to illustrate your argument.

Revising your policy brief

Once the policy brief has been drafted, reflect once again on its purpose, audience, content, and structure. Will your brief help to achieve your goals? Test it by trying to explain it in a twenty-second elevator pitch and assessing what information stands out. Revise the brief to make it as user-friendly as possible by removing jargon and statistics that make it less approachable. Ask a colleague with no prior knowledge of the issue to read the brief and provide feedback. What points do they draw from it, and do they match your intentions?

Using your policy brief

A good policy brief can play double duty by standing on its own or as an effective accompaniment to a presentation. Tailor any accompanying visual presentation to your brief by focusing only on the key points and answering important questions. Your audience can refer to the document when needed, so avoid repeating all of the brief’s text in your presentation. When distributing your policy brief, it is often a good idea to develop a short question-and-answer package and a section for further reading.

Source: How to write a policy brief (IDRC)

Bài viết How to write a policy brief đã xuất hiện đầu tiên vào ngày EEPSEA Partnership.

A hybrid conference with about 100 scholars came to Ho Chi Minh city to participate in the congress while others join virtually

The congress is a forum for scholars to discuss in-depth not only carbon emission but also important topics such as biodiversity, water quality, waste management, and environmental and sustainable development. A special session was devoted to an in-depth discussion for universities (University College London, University of Economics Ho Chi Minh City, Waseda University and Australian National University) to share their strategies and action programs toward carbon neutrality, building and developing a network of sustainable universities.

International researchers attended the plenary sessions

Among 205 papers from 130 research institutes, universities and organizations in more than 30 countries were submitted, 150 papers were selected to be presented at the congress in 39 regular parallel, poster and thematic sessions. Topics included among others carbon neutrality, impact and mitigation policies of climate change, renewable energy and electricity, non-market valuation, biodiversity and ecosystem management, waste management and circular economy, low carbon building, house, and home appliances, climate change and food, forest and agriculture, community resilience, accelerating energy transitions, and sustainable energy in southeast Asian Countries.

Dr. Pham Khanh Nam, Director of the EEPSEA Partnership, Chair of the Local Organizing Committee

The highlight of the Congress was the presentations by two renowned speakers. On the first day of the congress, Prof. Paul Ekins from Institute for Sustainable Resources at the University College London presented the topic Getting to carbon neutrality: Challenges and implications for Asia. He emphasized that the reduction of carbon emissions in the short term has limitations such as reduced GDP, increased investment costs for carbon emissions reduction, etc., but in the long run, it brings many new opportunities for economic development from the reduction of carbon emissions and the development of renewable energy technologies. To move towards the carbon neutral roadmap, it is necessary to involve the governments of countries with policies to promote sustainable development, and mitigate climate change, thereby reducing potential costs.

“Radical policy interventions are required to bring about the low-carbon technological revolution. Changing this political reality is the necessary condition for the adequate mitigation of climate change, and promoting environmental sustainability more generally, which will alone avoid the potentially enormous, but still very uncertain, costs of massive global change,” said Paul Ekins, UCL.

Prof. Paul Ekins – Institute for Sustainable Resources at the University College London – presented the topic “Getting to carbon neutrality: Challenges and implications for Asia”

On the second day, Dr. Muthukumara Mani, Lead Environmental and Climate Change Economist for the Southeast Asia Region, World Bank, shared virtually the latest Vietnam Climate Change and Development Report, titled Reconciling Economic Success with Climate Risks in Vietnam with a propose of six priority policy packages to balance the Vietnam’s economic and environmental goals successfully.

Dr. Muthukumara Mani (World Bank) – virtually presented on the “Reconciling Economic Success with Climate Risks in Vietnam”

“Vietnam wants to achieve economic success by 2045. However, the climate risks could threaten those economic success expectations”, Muthukumara Mani said. “Vietnam’s 100 million people are among the most vulnerable in the world to the consequences of climate change, with an increasingly severe threat to agricultural, forestry, and fishery sectors”.

The congress was very successful in organization with high quality presentations and discussions.

Bài viết Asian scholars discussion on the Carbon Neutrality at the 11th Congress of the AAERE đã xuất hiện đầu tiên vào ngày EEPSEA Partnership.