Experts tackle urban devt, sustainability

EXPERTS in sustainability, urban planning and employment opportunities gathered at The Manila Times (TMT) Model Cities And Municipalities 2024 Awards at the Crowne Plaza Manila Galleria on Sept. 19, 2024. Science Diplomat and United Nations (UN) Sasakawa Laureate Glenn Banaguas discussed resiliency and sustainability through climate science and how local governments can apply this. Noting the increased temperatures and precipitation in various regions as well as the risks of hazards like flood and drought, Banaguas said it was important to take into account greenhouse gas emissions, carbon footprint and the adaptive capacity to create a roadmap toward better sustainability. Science Diplomat and United Nations (UN) Sasakawa Laureate Glenn Banaguas Awareness is the first step, as it will indicate which areas of the country need immediate attention. This is achieved through historical analysis before identifying the risks, Banaguas said. He acknowledged that budgets for disaster management — only 5 percent of a local government unit's total revenue — are not enough but advised LGUs to use science when trying to create a sustainable model city. "First, you have to create a net zero emission roadmap. This is where you apply different models. Apply science, please. From the very start, you have to engage the scientists." "It has to be science and evidence-based. This is where you apply transformative mechanisms, nature-based solutions and global safety standards. And definitely, how are you going to do that? You provide training [and capacity building.] You collaborate with different stakeholders," he added. Sustainable smart cities Punongbayan & Araullo Grant Thornton Chief Sustainability Officer and Partner for Advisory Services Christopher Ferareza highlighted the significant roles that cities play in helping the country find its path toward sustainability. Ferareza said the Philippines ranks 92 out of 166 countries on the 2024 UN Sustainable Development Goals Index, with a score of 64.47. What makes the status of the Philippines more alarming is its high vulnerability to disasters. Punongbayan & Araullo Grant Thornton Chief Sustainability Officer and Partner for Advisory Services Christopher Ferareza "Cities are considered to be the forefront of our battle against climate change because despite occupying only 3 percent of the Earth's land, cities consume 60 to 80 percent of the world's energy, produce 75 percent of carbon emissions, and, by 2050, it is projected that up to 70 percent of the population will live in cities," he said. "The risk to cities' rising temperature, cost of flooding and more will increase rapidly unless we embrace a sustainable transition. In this regard, cities must lead the way in driving systematic change towards a more climate-resilient future," he added. To achieve sustainable cities, cooperation with other cities and implementing climate action plans that deliver tangible results on the ground are essential. Cities must also recognize that solutions are not one-size-fits-all and must be carefully tailored to the needs of each city. Some of the key components that Ferareza enumerated are good climate governance, stakeholder engagement, setting targets, prioritizing high-impact solutions, monitoring and setting a baseline. Good climate governance requires leadership that is publicly committed to climate initiatives. However, this cannot be done alone and the support of stakeholders is important. Targets must be based on scientific and data-based evidence, he said. The future of work International Workplace Group (IWG) Philippines Country Manager and North APAC Senior Vice President Lars Wittig gave insights on the future of work and how IWG is pioneering it. Technology, Wittig said, has enabled people to work wherever and whenever. Today's younger generation of workers benefits greatly from the technological revolution, he said. During the Covid-19 era, online working became the biggest workspace experiment in the world. This was when companies learned that employees also wanted flexibility, which increased their productivity as well. International Workplace Group (IWG) Philippines Country Manager and North APAC Senior Vice President Lars Wittig "Since Covid-19, everything is moving up. So, how come companies are still downsizing the amount of space that they have the conventional leases? It's simply because nobody wants to pay for what they don't need. You don't want to have too much or too little space. You want to have it just right," Wittig said. IWG has observed that workers do not want to be measured by their hours in the office or a timesheet. Human resources managers have also seen the benefits of remote working in attracting and retaining talents even in far areas. Hybrid working is made even more relevant in the Philippines because of the huge gap between workers' income and the cost of basic living, not to mention the long and arduous commute every day. Wittig also said the hybrid work setups offered by IWG helped inclusive and horizontal growth throughout the Philippines, opening the country to investors. It has also been beneficial to micro, small and medium enterprises and startups.