Project News

Various impacts of climate change have been observed around the world. People around the globe have been experiencing increased frequency and intensity of natural disasters such as typhoons, decreased yield of agricultural products or increase in epidemic of vector-disease due to climate change have been observed all over the world. To tackle against such impacts caused by climate change, many countries including those in Southeast Asia have initiated action entitled "adaptation" to climate change.

Group exercise moderated by a CITC official
(Source: CITC Website)

In connection with such background, on 4-6 September 2019, the Project conducted the regional training course on "Climate Change Adaptation" in Bangkok through Climate Change International and Technical Training Center (CITC), where central government officials in ASEAN Member States in charge of climate change adaptation were invited. The total of 27 participants from 7 ASEAN Member States, namely Cambodia, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Thailand and Vietnam, attended the training.

Lecture by a Thai expert

This training was developed under CITC for ASEAN countries, a region that is considered by scientists as one of the most vulnerable areas against climate change impacts in the world, with an aim to provide essential knowledge related to the planning of adaptation policies and measures based on science-based impact assessment, and also practical approach to formulate monitoring and evaluation (M&E) of adaptation measures.

The trainees had a chance to learn from lectures and various case studies of adaptation actions in Japan and Thailand, including the sharing of research output from ADAP-T Project ("Project for Advancing co-design of integrated strategies with adaptation to climate change in Thailand"), one of the SATREPS^[1] research programs currently undertaken in Thailand.

Through group exercise activities during the training, the trainees were able to enhance their understanding on essentials of climate change adaptation where trainees discussed how to identify suitable adaptation measures in their country in accordance with national priority and how to secure budget for implementation.

This training was the first regional training course focusing on climate change adaptation under CITC, and TGO will continue organizing this training course in light of the high capacity building needs on this topic in Southeast Asia region. The training course is expected to contribute to not only human resource development in Southeast Asia, but also enhancing planning and implementation of climate change adaptation actions in the region.