Publication

At the margins of the continued UNFCCC AWG-LCA talks in Bangkok, the Prime Minister of Thailand, H.E. Mr Abhisit Vijjejiva, launched the Asia Pacific Adaptation Network and the Regional Climate Change Adaptation Knowledge Platform for Asia on Saturday, 3 October 2009. This is a key regional initiative to help countries in Asia and the Pacific enhance adaptive capacity of vulnerable countries in the region to respond to the increasing impacts of climate change by mobilizing knowledge and technology.

Governments from both developed and developing countries such as  Japan, Korea, China, India, Indonesia, Thailand, Nepal, Kazakhstan, Samoa, etc, are working together to lead the process of development of the Asia Pacific Adaptation Network. This regional network is an integral part of the Global Adaptation Network which is facilitated by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and other key UN and international agencies including the Stockholm Environment Institute (SEI). The Regional Climate Change Adaptation Knowledge Platform for Asia is supported and jointly implemented by SEI, the Swedish Environment Secretariat for Asia and UNEP. The two initiatives work together to provide key knowledge services and products to countries in need in the region.

Prime Minister Vijjejiva welcomed these initiatives in his opening remarks: “The need to adapt to increased climate change impacts is internationally recognized as urgent and mandatory. … and these regional initiatives are critical to support Thailand, as well as the rest of the countries in Asia and the Pacific, in enhancing their capacities to adapt to the climate changes impacts.  …these initiatives are also critical to enhance the understanding and awareness of climate change impacts among the local people and communities to facilitate climate resilient adaptation. “

Mr. Achim Steiner, Executive Director of UNEP recognized in his video message that “adaptation is a knowledge intensive undertaking. Many parties to the UNFCCC have well recognized the importance of the networks and regional centres for adaptation, and the Global Adaptation Network can be seen as the convener to respond to the knowledge needs for adaptation actions such as the Nairobi Work Program. He further appreciated “the launch of the Asia-Pacific Adaptation Network and the Regional Adaptation Knowledge Platform for Asia,” and assured that “UNEP would continue to work with partners and countries to further develop the Network.”

The launch reflected high level of support from Asian countries. Mr. Kazuhiko Takemoto, Vice-Minister of Environment of Japan, noted the importance of adaptation as a critical element of the global climate change negotiation. He welcomed the launch of this regional network.

Mr Lennart Linnér, Ambassador of Sweden to the Kingdom of Thailand, spoke about Swedish support to develop the Platform and its role in generation of new knowledge on climate change adaptation.

The event also had presentations by Professor Masataka Watanabe, Chairman of the Regional Steering Committee for the Asia-Pacific Adaptation Network, who introduced the functions and associated structure of the Network and the implementation plan in its inception phase. Dr. Lailai Li from the Stockholm Environment Institute introduced the Platform, which will be complementary to the regional Network.

In his closing remarks, Mr. Ganesh Shah, Former Minister for Environment, Science and Technology, Nepal spoke about the urgency to have these initiatives function to provide the urgent knowledge services and products to the most vulnerable countries like Nepal. 

“Adaptation is a relatively new area of work for everyone, where we need to learn from each other,” said Anders Granlund, director of the Swedish Environmental Secretariat for Asia. The Swedish government agency is providing USD 3 million over three years for activities to be undertaken by the adaptation platform with regional and national organisations and stakeholders in 13 Asian countries: Bangladesh, Bhutan, Cambodia, China, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Myanmar, Nepal, the Philippines, Sri Lanka, Thailand and Vietnam.  

A press conference was held afterwards to provide technical details of the two initiatives and their broader context in both the region and the rest of the world. For further details, please contact:

Dr. Lisa Schipper, Research Fellow, Stockholm Environment InstituteEmail: lisa.schipper@sei.se, Mobile: +66-84-155-1616

Dr. Mozaharul Alam, Regional Climate Change Coordinator, Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific, United Nations Environment ProgrammeEmail: mozaharul.alam@unep.orgMobile: +66-81-447-2095