Title: Addressing climate-food-nature nexus through transdisciplinary approach

Abstract:In an era of climate change and increasing climate variability, water and food sectors are facing pressing challenges locally and globally. Addressing such multifaceted challenges requires taking a transdisciplinary approach through collaborative efforts across sectors and borders. In this presentation the speaker will share his experience of managing climate-food-nature nexus, through various studies and international development assistance projects, from the perspectives of research, education and international development project financing.

Speechmaker：Dr. Xueliang Cai, Senior Water Resources Specialist, Asian Development Bank

Bio:Dr. Xueliang Cai is a Senior Water Resources Specialist with the Natural Capital and Climate Team, at the Agriculture, Food, Nature, and Rural Development Sector Office of the Asian Development Bank (ADB) in the Philippines. He designs and implements investment and technical assistance programs for better water, environment, agriculture and land management in Asia and the Pacific, where he enjoys the opportunity to approach the dual challenges of nature protection and economic development through integrated infrastructure, technology, policy, and capacity building solutions. Before joining ADB in 2019, Dr. Cai worked as a Senior Lecturer in water productivity and remote sensing at UNESCO-IHE Institute for Water Education in the Netherlands, and as Water Resources Specialist (remote sensing) at the International Water Management Institute in South Africa and Sri Lanka. Dr. Cai has won a number of competitive research grants. He has published extensively with many international partners and is an associate editor of several leading international journals in related fields.