The Philippines tops the list of countries with the highest disaster risk, thus building our capacity to respond,
bounce back and adapt to intensifying climate impacts is a nationwide priority and shared responsibility.
“Any program that aims to build climate resilience requires strong partnerships and working together across allsectors,” said World-Wide Fund for Nature Philippines (WWF-PH) Executive Director, Katherine Custodio at the breakout session of the 7th Annual Conference of the Association of Pacific Rim Universities – Sustainable Cities and Landscapes Conference and Student Symposium 2024 (APRU-SCL 2024).
“There is definite opportunity for platforms or networks to come together and bring to life our national
policies and our commitments, but for these to succeed, there needs to be sincere effort and openness to work
across different sectors and disciplines,” said Custodio. The session on creating connections and partnerships
was hosted by Jonas Marie Dumdum, Senior Consultant and Sustainability Service Lead of Nomura Research
Institute (NRI) Manila Branch.
“Finding the right champions within the company – that’s very important. It helps to engage the leaders from
the top,” said Custodio, who has seen the history of the shared goals between the NGO and its many corporate partners over the years.
the YOUth are the Future, the annual Earth Hour campaign with SM Supermalls, SM Hotel’s Sustainable
Diner, and the Hamilo Coast Sustainable Development project that’s now in its 14th year.
“At SM Prime, we dream big for our shared future. True prosperity transcends financial success. Our
commitment to developing sustainable integrated properties is matched by our efforts to foster vibrant,
inclusive communities wherever we build legacy properties that weather the challenges of time and that last forgenerations,” said Ms. Jessica Bianca Sy, Lead Executive for Design, Innovation and Strategy for SM Prime
and SM Development Corporation (SMDC), during the event.
As one of Asia’s leading integrated property developers, SM Prime believes that taking the right climate actionmust be grounded in science and endeavor to transition to a net-zero economy. SM Prime’s partnership with
WWF-PH ensures that its near and long-term science-based targets for 2030 and 2040, align with the global
commitment to achieve net zero by 2050.
“WWF-PH is pleased to work with SM Prime on their decarbonization efforts through our Corporates for a
Better Planet Initiative (CBPI) program. Companies such as SM Prime are guided in identifying climate
related risks, working on a roadmap, and publicly committing to their science-based targets,” said Custodio.
“Change does not happen overnight. This is something we have learned in our work with communities all over the country. True partners are willing to work together for a long time, and actively listen to each other,” added
Custodio, when asked by Dumdum about climate partnerships and shared purpose. “When your project
positively impacts people’s livelihood and wellbeing - when people’s lives improve in a durable way, that’s
when you know you’ve created an impact,” she said.
SM Prime remains committed to its role as a catalyst for economic growth, delivering innovative and
sustainable lifestyle cities, thereby enriching the quality of life of millions of people. SM Prime is pursuing the next horizon on integrated property development and onward to building sustainable cities of the future.
The 7th APRU-SCL 2024 is hosted and organized this year by the University of the Philippines Los Baňos, at
the SMX Aura Convention Center, from August 6-8, 2024. For more information, email: hspdconf@up.edu.ph or visit the website: dcerp.che.uplb.edu.ph/ichspd.
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