The Asia Low Emission Development Strategies (LEDS) Forum serves as the premier annual gathering of policymakers, donors, practitioners, and other experts involved in enabling low-emission, climate-resilient development in Asia. The annual event aims to facilitate regional coordination; share tools, models, approaches, and best practices; and increase capacity and readiness of practitioners to lead and implement LEDS and green growth initiatives.
The Asia LEDS Forum 2013 will be held during October 1-4, 2013 in Manila, Philippines, with pre-meetings and side events on September 30. The Forum will be hosted by the Philippines Climate Change Commission, with support from ALP members including USAID, Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC), AusAID, and ADB. The theme, “Putting LEDS into Practice,” reflects strong interest from members to move from planning to implementing LEDS, and in finding the best ways to make this a reality in different country contexts.T
The 2013 Forum will employ a variety of interactive formats over a course of three days to effectively deliver on the theme. Event structure will support peer learning and sharing, building of communities of practice, and skills acquisition to support LEDS implementation. Technical content will focus on key areas of LEDS implementation, including engaging stakeholders, securing finance, selecting appropriate tools, and assessing impacts.
- Pre-Meetings and Side Events (September 30) will include a workshop on LEDS in Transport (invitation only) and sessions on topics such as the Green Growth Best Practices (GGBP) Initiative.
- Day 1 (October 1) will emphasize regional learning and sharing of LEDS practices, and will include plenary discussions on achieving low-carbon development in Asia, concurrent sessions focusing on specific aspects of LEDS implementation, and a marketplace-style “open space session” where participants will set up displays to share and demonstrate tips and tools to assist peers in customizing and applying good practices in other countries or localities.
- Day 2 (October 2) will focus on strengthening peer networks to further exchange and support LEDS implementation in Asia. A plenary session by experts on community of practice building will help set the stage, and will be followed by a series of sessions where participants will be grouped by areas of expertise to begin community building. A panel will provide perspectives on engaging non-government actors in LEDS implementation – an area of high interest to members and a challenge which span across communities. The day will close with a summary of key points and identification of potential ALP priorities for 2014.
- Day 3 (October 3) will focus training in specific areas to help participants acquire skills needed for successful LEDS implementation. Participants will choose from among several half-day training courses on cross-cutting topics to advance LEDS implementation.
- Day 4 (October 4) is tentatively scheduled to include additional side sessions, as well as a possible site visit to view LEDS in practice in or near Manila.
The 2013 Forum will help to sustain the momentum generated following the launch of the ALP and recent ALP-sponsored activities. It offers a venue to expand and strengthen the network of LEDS practitioners in Asia, and an opportunity for participants to collaborate and strengthen readiness and capacity to achieve sustainable, low-emission economic development across Asia.