APEC Self-Funded Project Proposal Coversheet
Please submit through APEC Secretariat Program Director.
Project Title:
Project Number
(Assigned by Secretariat):
From Science to Action: The Use of Weather and Climate Information for
Efficient Disaster Risk Management
PPSTI 06 2015S
Committee /
WG / Sub-fora / Task-force:
Policy Partnership on Science, Technology, and Innovation (PPSTI)
Proposing APEC economy:
Republic of Korea
Co-sponsoring economies:
Australia; Brunei Darussalam; Chile; Indonesia; Malaysia; Philippines;
Chinese Taipei and Thailand
Date approved by fora:
Expected start date:
Expected completion date:
Project summary:
Briefly describe the project.
Your summary should include
the project topic, planned
activities,
timing and location:
Total cost of project (USD):
April 2015
December 2015
Reliable and timely predictions form the cornerstone of warning and
preparedness activities for extreme weather and climate. However there
are significant gaps in the ability of many APEC economies to produce
this information and mainstream these in operational decision making.
This project will support regional technical cooperation and capacity
building with an emphasis on linking scientists and decision makers by
conducting the APEC Climate Symposium 2015 in November 5-6 in
Manila, Philippines. It will explore how climate information can be used in
practical disaster risk reduction (DRR) activities. It will feature sessions on
the topics of science and technology for forecasting extreme climate
conditions, sharing of experiences and best practices in the use of climate
information for DRR, and information requirements for integrated
assessments of climate risks. The project will also feature a tutorial
session on GIS-based flood risk mapping using climate indices.
$270,000 USD
Project Overseer Information and Declaration:
Name: Ms. Sangwon Moon
Title: Acting Head, External Affairs Department
Organization: APEC Climate Center
Postal address: 12 Centum 7-ro, Haeundae-gu, Busan 612-020, Korea
Tel: +82-51-745-3922
E-mail: swmoon@apcc21.org
As Project Overseer and on behalf of the above said Organization, I will ensure that all Project
outputs (Project reports, proceedings, slides, presentations, CDs, etc.), will comply with the APEC
Publications, APEC Logo and Copyrights Guidelines before being published. The guidelines are at:
http://www.apec.org/About-Us/About-APEC/Policies-and-Procedures.aspx
Ms. Sangwon Moon
Name of Project Overseer
Mr. Chen Linhao
Name of Fora Chair/Lead Sheppard
Date: 06/03/2015
Project Synopsis
1. Relevance – Benefits to region:
The Asia Pacific is the most disaster-prone region in the world. In the past 10 years, more than 700,000
deaths due to natural disasters occurred, 1.5 billion people were affected, and economic damages exceeded
US $560 billion (UNESCAP 2014). The use of climate information for disaster risk reduction (DRR) and their
application into policy and decision making processes can deliver efficiencies in the programming of work
and funding, improve alignments with development objectives, and increase resilience in communities and
systems.
Reliable and timely predictions form the cornerstone of warning and preparedness activities. However there
are significant gaps in the ability of many APEC economies to produce this information and mainstream
these in operational decision making. This project will support regional technical cooperation and capacity
building by conducting the APEC Climate Symposium 2015 that will explore how climate information can be
used in DRR activities. It will feature sessions on the topics of science and technology for forecasting
extreme climate conditions, sharing of experiences and best practices in the use of climate information for
DRR, and information requirements for integrated climate risk assessments. The project will also feature a
tutorial session on GIS-based flood risk mapping using climate indices.
Relevance – Rank:.
The project is relevant to Rank 1 Projects that demonstrate a direct link to promoting regional economic
integration via free and open trade and investment, particularly focused on building sustainable and resilient
communities and emergency preparedness and disaster management. It also relates to Rank 2 Projects that
directly support the APEC Leaders’ Growth Strategy, particularly relating to secure growth, human security.
Furthermore, the project supports the following cross-cutting issues: developing human capital, building
linkage between APEC economies, engagement of other APEC fora and other multilateral organizations.
The project builds on previous achievements of the APEC Climate Center (APCC). Established in 2005
through the endorsement of APEC Leaders, APCC has since then provided the region with multi-model
ensemble climate forecasts, produced by APCC through its partnerships with 9 APEC member economies:
Australia, Canada, China, Chinese Taipei, Japan, Korea, Peru, Russia, and USA. APCC has also delivered
capacity building programs targeted to APEC developing economies and the annual APEC Climate
Symposium.
1. Objectives:
The project aims to support the APEC vision of regional prosperity by supporting the capacity of economies
and communities to adapt to climate impacts and to manage disaster risks. To achieve this, the project
seeks:
1. To increase understanding on the links between decision making on disaster risk reduction (DRR)
and weather and climate information in APEC member economies
2. To develop policy recommendations on the integration of climate information in disaster risk
management that are aligned with APEC priorities
3. To build capacity in integrated climate risk assessments and flood hazard mapping through tutorials
Alignment:
The project supports the APEC 2015 host economy’s priority on building sustainable and resilient
economies. The symposium will be co-hosted by the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical
Services Administration (PAGASA) and will be built upon the experiences of different economies in using
climate information for DRR. The project also supports the APEC Framework for Strengthening Economic
Cooperation and Development goals to attain sustainable and equitable development and to improve the
economic and social well-being of the people. Resilient and adaptive economies directly translate to
sustained economic and social benefits for the region.
Alignment – Forum:
The project supports PPSTI’s goal of promoting engagement in joint scientific research in inception,
dissemination, and commercialization (in this case policy mainstreaming) (PPSTI TOR). It also supports the
medium term work plans across the following goals: develop common approaches to science technology and
innovation policies and to develop networks and platforms that foster STI cooperation. Moreover, the project
supports regional S&T connectivity and science capacity building as identified in the 2015 work plan. The
project also supports the Emergency Preparedness Working Group (EPWG) strategic priority to enhance
regional capacity on disaster risk reduction and emergency preparedness and facilitating sharing of
information, knowledge, expertise, best practices, and experiences and the Oceans and Fisheries Working
Group (OFWG) strategic priority on climate change.
2. Methodology:
 Workplan:
The following activities with corresponding outputs will be carried out:
Key Activities
Outputs
Convene the organizing
committee; contact local host
(Apr - May)
Contract with local host; venue and hotel reservations; theme is identified
Planning of event details and
program development (Jun)
Logistics plan; speakers and participants are identified; First Announcement
is released with program outline; call for papers is issued
Communication with
speakers and participants
(Jul-Aug)
Invitations are delivered; detailed program is drafted; Tutorial module is
developed; conference website is established; Second Announcement is
released
Event preparations (Jun –
Oct)
Final participants list; budget tables and airfare approvals; PO justification
Conduct of the symposium
and documentation (Nov)
Symposium featuring sessions on the science and technology for extreme
forecasts (including typhoon, drought, flood, drought, etc.), sharing of
experiences and best practices for benchmarking, and integrated climate risk
assessments. Tutorial session on GIS-based flood risk modeling. Final panel
discussion / wrap-up session on policy recommendations to APEC
economies.
Evaluation (Dec)
Feedback survey forms; proceedings; documentation; presentation files
 Beneficiaries:
The project will engage experts from international organizations and universities, disaster management
practitioners, climate and disaster researchers, and decision makers in the local and national
governments of APEC economies. Early career researchers will be targeted to participate in the tutorial
sessions. APCC will strive to achieve a balance in speakers and participants and actively seek out
participation from developing economies and women.
 Evaluation:
The evaluation of project quality is based on the logical framework below. Moreover, data on the number and
percentage of women participants will be collected. The project team will also evaluate the project if it is on
track in terms of time and budget.
Outputs
Participants can
articulate links between
DRR climate
information in their work
Increased capacity in
integrated assessments
of climate risks and
flood modeling
Activities
- Organization of sessions
- Selection of participants, speakers, and
chairs
- Conduct of symposium oral presentations
- Tutorial session module development
- Selection of participants
- Assemble hardware and software needed
- Conduct of tutorial session
Indicators
- Quality of discussions
- Positive feedback of
participants
Participants are able to
deliver policy
recommendations that
are aligned with APEC
priorities
- Invitation of participants to the wrap-up
sessions
- Preparation of briefing materials on APEC
priorities
- conduct of wrap-up session
- Assessment of
session chair and
project proponent
- High scores on
assessment
- Positive feedback of
trainer and participants
Verification
- Proceedings and
documentation
- Feedback survey
form
- Short assessment
tool at the end of
the tutorial session
- Feedback survey
form
- Proceedings and
documentation
- Feedback survey
form
 Linkages:
Within APEC, the project team will collaborate with the PPSTI, Emergency Preparedness Working Group
(EPWG), Oceans and Fisheries Working Group (OFWG), and the APEC Research Center for Typhoon
and Society (ACTS) from project planning to implementation to ensure alignments and maximize existing
expertise within APEC. Outside APEC, we will seek participation in the activity from the World
Meteorological Organization (WMO), UNISDR, the ASEAN Committee on Science and Technology
(COST), and the ASEAN Committee on Disaster Management (ACDM).