​​​​​​​​​​​​Strengthening Climate Resilience: Asia-Pacific Regional Workshop Advances National Adaptation Planning

28 - 30 May 2025 ​​ Bangkok, Thailand

The Regional Resource Centre for Asia and the Pacific at the Asian Institute of Technology (AIT RRC.AP), with support from the Ministry of the Environment, Japan (MoEJ), and in collaboration with the UNFCCC Regional Collaboration Centre for Asia and the Pacific (RCC Asia Pacific), successfully convened the “Regional Training Workshop on National Adaptation Plan: Strengthening Capacity for Multi-Sectoral Inclusion in the NAP Process” from 28 to 30 May 2025 in Bangkok, Thailand.​

The three-day regional workshop brought together approximately 30 climate change professionals, policymakers, adaptation planners and youth involved in climate action from ten countries across the Asia-Pacific region, including Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Philippines, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Vanuatu, and Vietnam. The workshop served as a strategic platform for capacity building, peer exchange, and regional cooperation in support of robust and inclusive National Adaptation Plan (NAP) development and implementation. It was designed to enhance technical competencies and promote inclusive practices, with a strong emphasis on multi-sectoral coordination, gender-responsive planning, and the use of practical tools for effective implementation. Participants included representatives from national and local governments, technical experts, and youth advocates and specialists in climate finance.​

The workshop commenced with opening remarks by Dr. Guilberto Borongan, Director of AIT RRC.AP, who underscored the urgency of advancing inclusive, gender-sensitive adaptation planning. He stressed the need for practical tools and access to climate finance to meet the 2035 NAP implementation milestones. Delivering keynote addresses, Mr. Taiki Kohno, Assistant Director of the Climate Change Adaptation Office, Ministry of the Environment, Japan (MoEJ), called for intensified cross-sectoral collaboration and technical capacity development to operationalize NAPs across the region. Ms. Julie Amoroso-Garbin, Regional Lead of UNFCCC RCC Asia-Pacific, reinforced the urgency of accelerating inclusive and actionable adaptation planning, calling the 2025 NAP target not just a timeline, but a lifeline for building long-term resilience in vulnerable communities.​

The workshop enhanced participating countries’ understanding of the NAP process through expert-led presentations and hands-on group exercises. Sessions covered key topics such as systems mapping, adaptation finance, proposal development, and inclusive implementation. With insights from the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), Green Climate Fund (GCF), United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), Convergence Finance, Boston Consulting Group, and the Youth Empowerment in Climate Action Platform (YECAP), the workshop advanced regional efforts toward climate resilience, equity, and sustainable development by equipping participants with practical tools to design and implement effective NAPs tailored to their national contexts.

AIT RRC.AP reaffirmed the commitment to continue supporting countries across the region in achieving their NAP objectives and in advancing the implementation of effective, inclusive, and sustainable adaptation measures in the future.

Voices from the Region​​​

“I have gained lessons learned, experiences, and best practices to improve my work.”

Ms. Pichayada Premwijitr, Thailand​​

"I plan to apply what I’ve learned to real-life projects aimed at strengthening youth engagement in the NAP process in Vietnam, particularly by initiating dialogues with government stakeholders and creating platforms for youth participation."

Mr. Nguyen Van Toan, Vietnam

"Thank you for the valuable knowledge and experiences shared during this workshop. I hope there will be another session focused on the NAP process in the future."

Ms. Fitri Permana Sari, Indonesia​