The OML Center participated in the Climate Change Conference 2014 – A Date With The Changing Climate held at the De La Salle Araneta University last 14 February. Apart from the OML Center, the event was co-sponsored by PAGASA (Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical Astronomical and Service Administration); CHED (Commission on Higher Education); COCOPEA (Coordinating Council of Private Educational Associations); and the Redraw the Line Campaign, Asia Pacific Region.

The conference gathered experts, practitioners, researchers, educators, students, and representatives from local government units, academic institutions and non-government organizations to share and discuss: (1) sectoral impacts and risks of climate change and disasters (food security and agriculture, land use and land cover, marine and coastal community, education, population and governance); and (2) climate change analytical tools and systems. Furthermore, it served as a platform to: (a) exchange Climate Change Adaptation-Disaster Risk Management (CCA-DRM) research and strategies; (b) identify CCA-DRM issues, gaps and constraints; and (c) promote intersectoral collaborations and partnerships among stakeholders.

Invited experts were requested to give CCA-DRM presentations in the plenary sessions of the conference.  In the first and second plenary sessions, Dr. Catherine Castañeda (Commission on Higher Education); Mr. Dennis Dela Torre (Climate Change Commission); Atty. Rico Salcedo (United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees); Dr. Felino Lansigan (Institute of Statistics, University of the Philippines [UP] Los Baños); Dr. Laura David (Marine Science Institute, UP Diliman); and Ms. Jessica Bercialla (Christian Aid) discussed past, present and projected cross-sectoral impacts and risks of climate change and disasters. In the last and third plenary session, Dr. Gerry Bagtasa (Institute of Environmental Science and Meteorology, UP Diliman); Dr. Flaviana Hilario (Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration); and Dr. Gemma Teresa Narisma (Ateneo de Manila University and Manila Observatory) discussed available climate change analytical tools and systems for vulnerability and adaptation.