The Philippines tops the list of countries with the highest disaster risk, thus building our capacity to respond, bounce back and adapt to intensifying climate impacts is a nationwide priority and shared responsibility.
“Any program that aims
to build climate resilience requires strong partnerships and working together
across all sectors,” said World-Wide Fund for Nature Philippines (WWF-PH)
Executive Director, Katherine Custodio at the breakout session of the 7th
Annual Conference of the Association of Pacific Rim Universities – Sustainable
Cities and Landscapes Conference and Student Symposium 2024 (APRU-SCL 2024).
Ms. Jessica Bianca Sy, Lead Executive for Design, Innovation and Strategy for SM Prime and SMDC, shares her insights on sustainable and climate-resilient integrated properties.
Jonas Dumdum of Nomura Research Institute (NRI) Manila and World-Wide Fund for Nature (WWF)-Philippines Executive Director Katherine Custodio on Collaborative Partnerships for Climate Resilience, at the breakout session of the 7th Annual Association of Pacific Rim Universities – Sustainable Cities and Landscapes Conference and Student Symposium 2024 (APRU-SCL 2024) Conference on Advancing Sustainable Cities and Communities through Science, Technology, and Innovations, is hosted and organized this year by the University of the Philippines Los Baños (UPLB).
“There is definite opportunity for platforms
or networks to come together and bring to life our national policies and our
commitments, but for these to succeed, there needs to be sincere effort and
openness to work across different sectors and disciplines,” said Custodio. The
session on creating connections and partnerships was
hosted by Jonas Marie Dumdum, Senior Consultant and Sustainability Service Lead
of Nomura Research Institute (NRI) Manila
Branch.
“Finding the right champions within the
company – that’s very important. It helps to engage the leaders from the top,”
said Custodio, who has seen the history of the shared goals between the NGO and
its many corporate partners over the years.
WWF-Philippines and SM Prime Holdings,
Inc., (SM Prime) have partnered on successful programs such as the YOUth are
the Future, the annual Earth Hour campaign with SM Supermalls, SM Hotel’s
Sustainable Diner, and the Hamilo Coast Sustainable Development project that’s
now in its 14th year.
“At SM Prime, we dream big for our shared future. True prosperity transcends
financial success. Our commitment to developing sustainable integrated
properties is matched by our efforts to foster vibrant, inclusive communities
wherever we build legacy properties that weather the challenges of time and
that last for generations,” said Ms. Jessica Bianca Sy, Lead Executive for
Design, Innovation and Strategy for SM Prime and SM Development Corporation
(SMDC), during the event.
As one of Asia’s leading integrated
property developers, SM Prime believes that taking the right climate action
must be grounded in science and endeavor to transition to a net-zero economy.
SM Prime’s partnership with WWF-PH ensures that its near and long-term
science-based targets for 2030 and 2040, align with the global commitment to
achieve net zero by 2050.
“WWF-PH is pleased to work with SM Prime
on their decarbonization efforts through our Corporates for a Better Planet
Initiative (CBPI) program. Companies
such as SM Prime are guided in identifying climate-related risks, working on a
roadmap, and publicly committing to their science-based targets,” said
Custodio.
“Change does not happen overnight. This
is something we have learned in our work with communities all over the country.
True partners are willing to work together for a long time, and actively listen
to each other,” said Custodio, when asked by Dumdum about climate partnerships
and shared purpose. “When your project positively impacts people’s livelihood
and wellbeing - when people’s lives improve in a durable way, that’s when you
know you’ve created an impact,” she said.
SM Prime remains committed to its role as a catalyst for
economic growth, delivering innovative and sustainable lifestyle cities,
thereby enriching the quality of life of millions of people. SM Prime is
pursuing the next horizon on integrated property development and onward to
building sustainable cities of the future.
The 7th APRU-SCL 2024 is
hosted and organized this year by the University of the Philippines Los Baňos,
at the SMX Aura Convention Center, from August 6-8, 2024. For more information,
email: hspdconf@up.edu.ph or visit the website:
dcerp.che.uplb.edu.ph/ichspd. ###.
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