CAFEO28 Conference: Engineering and Technology for a Better Quality of Life in Response to Climate Change

In 2010 with the strong recovery of ASEAN economies, elements decisive to this success are the efforts of each ASEAN member which includes the implementation of drastic decisions and policies to quickly restore confidence of investors, businesses and people. However, we are facing challenges accrued from macroeconomic instability, climate change, natural disasters and epidemics. This year, Southeast Asia in particular and the world in general have witnessed devastating natural disasters, abnormal climate changes in earth temperature and sea level. Continuous natural disasters and flooding wrecked on central provinces in Vietnam; flooding raged in the Philippines and Thailand, volcano eruptions and tsunamis happen in Indonesia, etc. arguably, consequences of climate change are threatening our today life and our future. Being aware of this, at the 16^th ASEAN Summit held in Hanoi in April 2010, ASEAN leaders adopted the Statement on Joint Response to Climate Change and the Declaration on Economic Recovery and Sustainable Development and put forth orientations and measures to boost ASEAN’s cooperation in response to climate change, recovery and sustainable economic development.

Under the theme of “Engineering and Technology for a Better Quality of Life in Response to Climate Change”, the 28th Conference of ASEAN Federation of Engineering Organizations (CAFEO 28) presents the important mission of engineers in helping people to ensure and improve living quality. The conference opened when we were stepping into the last month of 2010 - a banner year for building the ASEAN Community and working on the ASEAN Charter. Therefore, the meeting of the for the ASEAN Federation of Engineering Organizations was a practical action to execute ASEAN Summit statements and a good opportunity for scientists and engineers inside and outside the ASEAN countries to exchange experience and introduce technical solutions to cope with climate change and improve people's living quality.

To integrate into global economies, Vietnam has actively and responsibly taken part in ASEAN’s activities. Vietnam has strengthened cooperation development with ASEAN in various fields because many problems cannot be solved without concerted regional and global cooperation and coordination. The conference helped promote cooperation in technical services amongst members. “Engineering and technology for a better quality of life in response to climate change” is a top concern and responsibility of scientists and authorities in sustainable human resource development. Attendants exchanged information and shared experience to better address scientific and engineering issues in the context of response, adaptation and mitigation of global climate change.

With tremendous responsibility of Vietnamese scientists and technologists, the organising Vietnam Union of Science and Technology Associations (VUSTA) marked an important progress in the process of national industrialisation and modernisation, presented the long-term vision and determinations for a prosperous and sustainable world. The conference significantly contributed to the overall success of ASEAN 2010 and provided more momentums for the development of VUSTA in the coming years.