Announcements
Announcements
From 13-15 September in Bangkok, the Mekong Environmental Resilience Week 2023 brought together more than 140 researchers, development partners, and policymakers to share knowledge and perspectives and explore avenues for collaboration on critical water, energy, and climate issues in the Mekong Region. The week is organized by Stockholm Environment Institute (Asia) and co-hosted with Chulalongkorn University under the support of Australia’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT).
The Mekong Environmental Resilience Week brought together around 140 policymakers, researchers, civil society representatives, and development practitioners from across the Mekong subregion. This three-day event, held from September 13 to 15, was a critical platform for fostering collaboration on pressing issues related to water, energy, and climate.
Hosted by the Stockholm Environment Institute (Asia) and Chulalongkorn University, and generously sponsored by the Australian Embassy in Thailand, the event underscored the urgent need for international cooperation to address the environmental challenges threatening the Mekong region. The discussions highlighted three key take-aways:
Urgent Climate Imperative and Opportunities: The urgency of addressing climate change cannot be overstated. Fortunately, viable solutions are within our grasp, demanding a concerted focus on effective implementation, including financial support and technology transfer, spanning all sectors and scales.
Building Mekong Resilience: Although not a major CO2 emitter, the region is exceptionally vulnerable to climate-related adversities such as floods, droughts, heatwaves, and pollution. To confront these challenges, it is imperative that governments, research institutions, civil society, communities, media, and development partners join forces to fortify the region’s climate resilience through inclusive knowledge co-production and policy engagement processes.
A Call to Collective Action: The compelling evidence underscores the imperative for decisive climate policy actions in the region. We must embark on a reimagined journey toward food security, prioritize equitable urban climate resilience, and embrace a just, needs-centered approach to the transition toward clean energy.
The series of events received significant support from Australia’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, through the Mekong-Australia Partnership, and the Sustainable Mekong Research Network (SUMERNET), which is supported by the Swedish International Development Agency.
The Mekong Environmental Resilience Week served as a timely reminder that climate change knows no borders, and only through international collaboration can we hope to build a more resilient future for the Mekong region and the global community as a whole.
Programme / This 3-year program will develop clear and actionable evidence-based solutions to water, energy, and development challenges in the Mekong Region.
Press release / The Mekong Environmental Resilience Week focuses on the needs and avenues for collaboration on water, energy, and climate issues in the Mekong region.
Journal article / Understanding the relationship between communities and wetland ecosystems to facilitate the development of wetland management and conservation strategies.
Other publication / This brief highlights the importance of cooperation for strengthening regional resilience to cascading climate risks in the Hindu Kush Himalaya.
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