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More than 1,000 scientists, government officials, representatives from civil society and businesses, as well as development partners from 60 countries are meeting this week at the Asian Development Bank (ADB) headquarters in Manila for the 6th Asia-Pacific Climate Change Adaptation Forum. They will share and discuss urgent adaptation solutions to build resilience against the adverse impacts of climate change.
The recently released Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) report on Global Warming of 1.5ºC paints a bleak picture of a future world riddled by climate impacts if drastic changes are not made to limit global warming to 1.5ºC. The Asia and the Pacific region faces significant devastation, from inundated coastlines to destructive droughts. Immediate action is needed to scale up efforts and build resilience to avoid severe effects on livelihoods, public health, and economies.
“Adaptation ensures that we, as a people, are prepared and resilient enough to survive through the impacts of climate change with our culture and identity intact for generations to come,” said the President of Palau Mr. Tommy E. Remengesau, Jr. in his message to the forum participants. “We need to find solutions to pave the road for a resilient society, economy, and ecosystem using platforms from Asia and the Pacific,” said Mr. Yasuo Takahashi, Vice-Minister for Global Environmental Affairs of Japan’s Ministry of the Environment.
The Asia-Pacific Climate Change Adaptation Forum is the flagship event of the Asia Pacific Adaptation Network (APAN). It gives delegates the opportunity to forge partnerships and share learnings from actions, cutting edge science, and practical solutions that will strengthen resilience. APAN is a network supported by UN Environment and regional partners that work to equip government officials with critical knowledge to design climate change adaptation measures, access needed finance and technologies, and build capacity to integrate climate change adaptation into national development policies.
Co-hosted by the Government of Palau, the Philippine Climate Change Commission, and ADB, together with the APAN secretariat at UN Environment, the forum is the largest gathering of adaptation practitioners in the Asia and Pacific region. This year’s theme is “Enabling Resilience for All: Avoiding the Worst Impacts” and features interactive sessions, panel discussions, and knowledge exchange.