The 1st Regional Conference On Sustainable Development: "Local Solutions For Global Problems"

Introduction

Sustainable Development has become a mainstream topic for many international conferences. Currently there is a trend towards addressing more specific issues in sustainable development such as alternative energies, climate change, biodiversity, built environment, etc. While many conferences of this nature are taking place, not many are addressing the issues using the framework of fostering collective actions and local solutions. Local solutions are proven to be the most sustainable solutions for many environmental problems. In Asia and especially in our region, there is yet a conference at this level which addresses these issues.

The main purpose of USM and YTR in organizing such conference will be to showcase the possible local and regional knowledge, researches, activities and resources which can be utilized in addressing the challenges confronting us through synergistic local initiatives. These challenges are those which ultimately determine our prospects for sustainable development.

The conference will be officiated by YAB Dato’ Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi the Prime Minister of Malaysia on August 19, 2008 at Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM), Penang, Malaysia. We are expecting around 200 participants from Malaysia and Asia.

The conference is consisted of two full days of plenary sessions and discussions in 5 sustainable development related themes as follow:

• Sustainable Energy Options for the Future
• Sustainable Agriculture
• Sustainable Built Environment
• Natural Environment
• Dilemmas of Modernization

The third day of the conference is dedicated to showcase (visiting) the successful USM projects in relation with sustainable development such as; “USM Going Bananas Project” in Kampung Perlis and “Mangrove Plantation Project” in Chenaam. This will assist the participants to have a first hand experience of the on going sustainable development projects.

The conference would provide an opportunity for the members of the ASEAN scientific community to share their research with others in the region as well as globally. It would also provide a platform for researchers in the region to establish networks for sharing experiences and best practices. The participants would include academics, researchers, policy-makers, reform experts, corporate leaders, and representatives of governmental and non-governmental organizations.

Themes
The conference is consisted of two full days of plenary sessions and discussions in 5 sustainable development-related themes as follow:

- Sustainable Energy Options for the Future
- Sustainable Agriculture
- Sustainable Built Environment
- Natural Environment
- Dilemmas of Modernization

The Secretariat
RECOSD08
Corporate and Sustainable Development Division,
Universiti Sains Malaysia,
11800 Penang
MALAYSIA
Tel: (+604) 6533888
ext. 2628/4172/2459/3419
fax: (+604) 6569298
email: [email protected]
website:www.usm.my/recosd08