A Meta-Network Hub Initiative for Sustainability in Asia Moves Forward

The Asia Meta-Network Hub co-design workshop (incubation workshop) was conducted from October 21-23 in Kyoto, Japan. This was the first in-person meeting among the consortium members led by Future Earth Asia, Research Institute for Humanity and Nature (RIHN), Asia Pacific Network for Global Change Research (APN) and the Fenner School of Australian National University among others. It provided an opportunity for networking and building lasting relationships among the members.

The Meta-Network Hub Asia is an initiative to address critical sustainability challenges in Asia through co-designing evidence-based solutions that are reflective of unique needs and priorities of the Asian region. The Meta Network Hub is leveraging existing networks and resources to harness knowledge across different sectors and scales.

Following the co-design process, transdisciplinary pilot projects will be implemented to expedite achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals in selected sites and thematic areas in the Asian region.

The participants identified potential challenges and barriers for each process and infrastructure components and flipped those challenges into opportunities and further developed action plans identifying key milestones, timelines and potential collaborators for the next three years. The action plans were further discussed and refined among members for clarity and consensus. This information will serve as the foundation for developing the targeted blueprint of the initiative.

The Meta-Network Hub for Sustainability in Asia initiative is being supported by the International Science Council Regional Focal Point for Asia and the Pacific, which is funded by the Australian Department of Industry, Science and Resources and led by the Australian Academy of Science.

Read more about the Asia Meta-Network Hub co-design workshop