Key Informant Interviews (KIIs) for the research project “Science Diplomacy for Environmental Governance: Strengthening Philippine Engagement in Global Environmental Agreements

I. About the Event

The University of the Philippines Los Baños (UPLB) School of Environmental Science and Management (SESAM) is conducting Round 1 Key Informant Interviews (KIIs) for the research project “Science Diplomacy for Environmental Governance: Strengthening Philippine Engagement in Global Environmental Agreements.” Running through October 2026, the interview series features selected participants with expertise and experience in environmental governance, scientific research, policymaking, international environmental negotiations, and treaty implementation. The interviews, conducted online via Zoom, seek to understand how scientific and technical knowledge influences the Philippines’ participation in multilateral environmental agreements (MEAs) and related international processes. Through these conversations, the research team aims to document institutional practices, examine how national positions are developed, and identify opportunities to improve coordination among government agencies, scientific institutions, and diplomatic actors.

II. Concept Note

Effective participation in global environmental agreements is dependent not only on scientific knowledge, but also on systems that make evidence available, interpretable, and usable in policy and negotiations. This study examines the institutional pathways that link research, technical advice, government decision-making, and commitments to international agreements. It also examines how mandates and informal practices interact, where information or expertise may be limited, and how lessons from negotiations inform domestic implementation and decisions. The project will use the findings, along with documentary analysis, focus group discussions, and ASEAN experiences, to assess potential institutional improvements. The overall goal is to inform reforms that promote continuity, coordination, and evidence-based environmental governance.

III. Project Leads

A. Dr. Hildie Maria E. Nacorda
Project Leader and Professor, School of Environmental Science and Management (SESAM), University of the Philippines Los Baños

B. Dr. Antonio P. Contreras
Policy Consultant and Professor, School of Environmental Science and Management (SESAM), University of the Philippines Los Baños

C. Dr. Thaddeus P. Lawas
Facilitator and University Extension Specialist II, School of Environmental Science and Management (SESAM), University of the Philippines Los Baños