Building Resilience to Environmental, Climate Challenges in the Mekong Region
Bangkok, Thailand – Around 120 policymakers, researchers, civil society representatives, and development practitioners will gather in Bangkok for the Mekong Environmental Resilience Week (13–15 September). Participants will exchange perspectives on the needs and avenues for collaboration on water, energy, and climate issues in the Mekong Region. The event is sponsored by the Australian Embassy, Thailand, and will be hosted by Stockholm Environment Institute Asia and Chulalongkorn University.
“The Mekong Region, with its rich biodiversity, diverse landscapes, and vibrant communities, is vulnerable to the consequences of climate change. Rising temperatures, extreme weather events, and ecological imbalances threaten the region’s societies,” explains Niall O’Connor, Centre Director, Stockholm Environment Institute Asia.
“The climate emergency is a shared challenge and international cooperation is key to addressing it,” adds Julia Feeney, Chargé d'affaires at the Australian Embassy, Thailand. As a longstanding partner and neighbour, Australia is supporting climate change mitigation and adaptation efforts across the Mekong Region, including work under the Mekong-Australia Partnership promoting environmental resilience on water, energy, and climate sectors.
The UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) estimates that approximately 3.3 to 3.6 billion people are vulnerable to the impacts of climate change. There is an urgent need for policy solutions to the many critical and pressing environmental problems. As climate change is set to worsen, immediate action will need to be at the forefront of policymaking in the Mekong Region.
On 14 September, a regional roundtable on Building Resilience to Climate Change will unpack the key findings of the UN IPCC’s Sixth Assessment Report. Leading climate scientists and practitioners from the Mekong Region will lead in-depth discussions on the regional implications of climate change as well as policy actions needed on the road to COP28 later this year.
The roundtable outcomes will enable actions across key sectors, including academia, governments, civil society, and media. In particular, the partnerships forged will address climate risks and livelihood concerns of local communities, who are often the most affected by, and vulnerable to, climate impacts.
The week will also feature strategic meetings among regional and national knowledge-based policy influence organisations to discuss strategies on inclusive knowledge co-production and policy engagement on water, energy, and climate.
Dr Chayanis Krittasudthacheewa, SEI Asia Deputy Director, will highlight the ongoing program, supported by Australia, to strengthen existing networks among universities and research organisations in the region. This initiative will also offer opportunities for early and mid-career professionals to engage in several flagship research-to-policy studies and fellowship grants in the coming years.
The series of events will be organised with support from Australia's Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, through the Mekong-Australia Partnership, and the Sustainable Mekong Research Network (SUMERNET), supported by the Swedish International Development Agency.
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Mekong Environmental Resilience Week
For media inquiries, please contact:
Charmaine Caparas, Communications Manager SEI Asia, charmaine.caparas@sei.org
Ulrika Lamberth, Senior Press Officer, SEI, ulrika.lamberth@sei.org, +46 73 801 70 53
About SEI Asia
SEI Asia, based in Bangkok, has a diverse team of multinational experts that integrates scientific research with participatory approaches to co-develop and share knowledge, build partnerships, and influence policy for resilient development. It focuses on gender and social equity, climate adaptation, reducing disaster risk, water insecurity and integrated water resources management, transitional agriculture, renewable energy, and urbanization.
Stockholm Environment Institute is an international non-profit research and policy organization that tackles environment and development challenges. We connect science and decision-making to develop solutions for a sustainable future for all. Across our eight centres in Europe, Asia, Africa and the Americas, we engage with policy processes, development action and business practice throughout the world. www.sei.org @SEIresearch @SEIclimate
