• 17 January 2025
  • Spotlight

Enhancing Synergies through NbS at the 2nd Philippines-Japan Environment Week

Tathagata Guha Roy presenting on how to enhance synergies through NbS.

During The 2nd Philippines-Japan Environment Week, Tathagata Guha Roy from Seneca Impact Advisors presented on Enhancing Synergies through Nature based Solutions. His presentation focused on climate change adaptation, biodiversity conservation, and the integration of circular economy principles with nature-based solutions. Climate change adaptation involves adjusting to the impacts of climate change to minimize harm or exploit beneficial opportunities. Key objectives include reducing vulnerability to climate-related hazards, enhancing resilience, sustaining ecosystems and livelihoods, and fostering long-term sustainability aligned with broader development goals.

Biodiversity conservation addresses challenges such as land and sea use change, over exploitation, climate change, pollution, and invasive alien species. Tathagata highlighted how climate adaptation strategies and the circular economy are interlinked, aiming to build resilience, reduce resource dependency, and minimize waste. Strategies include resource efficiency, waste-to-resource innovations, sustainable design, ecosystem-based adaptation practices, promoting renewable energy systems, sustainable agricultural practices, and multi-stakeholder collaboration.

Tathagata also discussed Nature-based Solutions (NbS), which incorporate circular economy principles to address biodiversity change drivers and enhance climate adaptation. He presented various business models and adaptation strategies, emphasizing the importance of designing NbS that are economically viable, inclusive, and sustainable. Tathagata shared case studies from Tanzania, Indonesia, Laos, Bangladesh, and Kenya, showcasing successful projects in areas such as alternative protein production, marine biodiversity restoration, sustainable coffee farming, coastal mangrove restoration, and biological pest control for maize production. These examples demonstrated how financial solutions can be integrated with nature-based approaches to effectively address environmental challenges and promote sustainable development.

Mr. Aulia Reinozha (third from left), Mr. Tathagata Guha Roy (third from right), Ms. Emiko Matsuda (first from right).

Seneca’s presence at the event was in collaboration with the Ministry of the Environment, Japan (MOEJ). Leading our session was Emiko Matsuda, Deputy Director of the Climate Change Science and Adaptation Office, Global Environmental Bureau, Ministry of the Environment, Japan. The session also featured a showcase presentation by Aulia Reinozha, CEO of PT Gunung Hijau Masrang and Chairman of the Board of the Masarang Foundation, one of Seneca’s portfolio project companies.

From 13-15 January 2025, the Ministry of the Environment, Japan and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) jointly held The 2nd Philippines-Japan Environment Week in Manila. The 2nd Philippines-Japan Environment Week aimed to enhance understanding of environmental and related challenges, and to identify potential opportunities in the expanding green business sector between the Philippines and Japan. This event contributed to building a decarbonized and resilient society.

The three-day event attracted 600 participants from diverse stakeholders, including the governments of the Philippines and Japan, local authorities, the private sector, research and academic institutions, international and regional organizations, and NGOs. Ambassador ENDO Kazuya welcomed the participants of the event, along with DENR Secretary Maria Antonia Yulo Loyzaga and Japan’s State Minister of the Environment KOBAYASHI Fumiaki.

13-15 January 2025 | Ministry of the Environment – Government of Japan (MOEJ) and Department of Environment and Natural Resources – Republic of the Philippines (DENR) | Events – Participant | Manila, Philippines