Bantay Kita co-organizes launch of SDSN Philippines

August 3 saw the launch of the Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN) – Philippines at Intercontinental Hotel, Makati attended by leading government officials, private sector leaders, and heads of civil society organizations. The event was attended by over 300 participants.

The SDSN was established in 2012 by UN Secretary Ban Ki-Moon. The SDSN is comprised of global experts from the academe, civil, society, business and government sector. The Network seeks to harness technical and scientific expertise through innovation and knowledge exchange in support of sustainable development.

The launch began with a public lecture entitled “The Age of Sustainable Development” by Prof. Jeffrey Sachs. Prof. Sachs is a world-renowned expert on economic development, senior advisor the UN Secretary-General, and is the director of the Earth Institute at Columbia University. Sachs emphasized the huge leadership role universities will play in contributing to sustainable development. Universities, he said, must put forward practical solutions to challenges our society currently faces. Sustainable development is a knowledge-based development.

A local SDSN council consisting of prime movers in the country was established. Dr. Emmanuel de Dios, Professor of Law and Economics at the University of the Philippines School of Economics and current President of the Human Development Network was elected Chairman.
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Bantay Kita co-organized the SDSN launch along with the UP School of Economics and Ateneo School of Goverenment. The event was supporterd by the National Economic and Development Authority, the Department of Envrionment and Natural Resources, USAID, the Foundation for Philippine Environment and Philippine Tropical Conservation Foundation, among others.