With the success of the 1st National Climate Change Conference last year, the Organizing Committee headed by Dr. Rodel Lasco convened to discuss the preparations for the 2nd National Climate Change Conference on 4 April 2013 at 38th Flr. One Corporate Center Bldg., Ortigas, Pasig City. Climate Change Knowledge into Action is this year’s Conference working theme which will be finalized in the next planning meeting. The Conference will serve as a forum for Filipino scientists, researchers, practitioners and other key government and business sectors to discuss how to bridge the gap between climate change knowledge and action at the community, local, regional and national levels.

The Conference which is scheduled on 26 September 2013 will announce the Call for Abstracts for paper and poster presentations end of April. Poster Session and Exhibits will open in the morning followed by Plenary Sessions focusing on major sub-themes. In the afternoon, there will be concurrent Parallel Sessions, Concluding Plenary Session and Awarding/Closing Ceremonies. Following are the expected outputs/outcomes: 1) published proceedings either as special journal publication or as a book; 2) Research and Development (R&D) policy agenda; 3) repository of all the papers, posters and conference outputs in a database and to be made downloadable on the website(s); and 4) stronger network of researchers, academics, and practitioners to enhance the scientific capacity in understanding climate change and its impacts to people and ecosystems, and how we can adapt to them.

Led by the National Academy of Science and Technology (NAST) with Oscar M. Lopez Center for Climate Change Adaptation and Disaster Risk Management Foundation, Inc. (OML Center) as a major partner, the Conference also gained the support of the following organizations and government agencies well represented in the Organizing Committee: Department of Science and Technology-Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (DOST-PAGASA), Department of Agriculture-Bureau of Soils and Water Management (DA-BSWM), Department of Environment and Natural Resources-Ecosystems Research and Development Bureau (DENR-ERDB), National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA), University of the Philippines-Marine Science Institute (UP-MSI), Ateneo de Manila University-Manila Observatory (ADMU-MO) and World Agroforestry Centre.