Future Earth workshop – Kuala Lumpur Breakout session 2: Research priorities and opportunities to strengthen capabilities within Future Earth in Asia and the Pacific Key messages

What are the regional research questions for each of the 3 research themes that need to be answered to achieve your vision for Future Earth in the Asia-Pacific region? Dynamic planet How is the Asian situation different to other regions? What are the interactions between coastal and terrestrial conservation? Which areas in Asia are most important for nature conservation? What financial mechanisms for conservation are effective in Asia? What impact is Asian science having on the dynamic planet? Global development What are down stream effects, or system pressures of development initiatives? How to reduce disaster effects at a local level? How to lift people out of poverty through biodiversity co-benefits? What are the implications of green transformation, green economy initiatives?

What are the regional research questions for each of the 3 research themes that need to be answered to achieve your vision for Future Earth in the Asia-Pacific region? What are the trade-offs and implications of different development approaches in temperate zones, with high ecosystem values What are the possible futures of urban settlements including mega cities? How are emergent disease understood, traced and responded to throughout Asia-Pacific? What are the emerging health issues? Transformations towards sustainability What alternative urban development approaches are there? What urban forms are sustainable for Asia? What governance systems are appropriate for a sustainable Asia? How can various layers of governance interact for sustainability?

2. What are the set of capabilities needed to answer these questions? –Young scientists to learn from a range of experts from around the region –Sustainability labs – integrated laboratories –Training in integration techniques –Business leaders to engage with impacts on ecosystems and implications for the future –Systems modeling, context relevant –Tools for rapid assessment of biodiversity and ecosystem health, ecosystem services –Earth observation systems, and techniques –Capacity to store and access large data sets –Local infrastructure for collecting local data, e.g. disaster warning dissemination and appropriate responses –Comparative analysis across sites in the region –Having strong relationships between disciplines and impact pathways –Case studies of integrated research, criteria for judging what is effective integration

What could be early research activities that would demonstrate the new research that Future Earth seek to foster in the region? How indigenous knowledge has been brought to bare on sustainability across the region? Comparative analysis of regional networks and sustainability models already in the region? Synthesis of existing data, what do we know what are the major knowledge gaps? Support GEOSS AP, to collaborate with social scientists for solution oriented observation systems Identify optimal decision making mechanisms for conservation Training the trainers for science-policy Increasing access to literature and published research, sharing publications Fostering links across science and business to access commercial or industry held data sets

Suggestions for framework How to align research questions by combining framework elements and research themes? What will we do when we walk out the door of the hotel? Who will we tell about future earth? What’s the new space where science, social science, engineers and others will meet to work together?