9th Asia-Pacific Climate Change Adaptation Forum

The second peer learning event of the NAP Global Network’s Asia–Pacific Peer Learning Cohort on designing and implementing MEL systems for National Adaptation Plan (NAP) Processes will take place on 29–30 September 2025 in Bangkok, Thailand. Co-hosted by the NAP Global Network and the Government of Thailand, this event will be held as part of the Partners’ Segment the Asia–Pacific Adaptation Network (APAN) Forum, providing a timely opportunity to align peer learning with broader regional discussions on climate adaptation and resilience.

Co-hosted by the NAP Global Network and the Government of Thailand.

This regional workshop marks the final synthesis of the project activities, findings and lessons of a IGES and APN project on Locally Led Adaptation (LLA). The workshop will intensively discuss the project outcomes, discuss on LLA blueprint, and a way forward for upscaling LLA in the Asia-Pacific region. First day (by invitation only) of the workshop will be dedicated to discussing and reviewing project findings, outcomes and lessons as well as for planning future actions. Second day, which will be an open session for all APAN Forum Participants, will be devoted to knowledge sharing as well as to gain expert feedback on upscaling LLA through regional collaboration, including AP-PLAT.

Organized by Institute for Global Environmental Strategies (IGES) and Asia-Pacific Network for Global Change Research (APN).

The session will bring together civil society actors, public institutions, and private finance stakeholders to co-examine what transformational adaptation looks like across contexts, and how funding gaps could be addressed. It will also explore the structural and perception- related barriers that constrain adaptation finance flows, including why certain institutions remain hesitant to support long-term transformative measures. By fostering honest exchange and shared analysis, the session aims to shift the conversation from silos and short-term projects to collaborative strategies for unlocking finance that delivers resilience, justice, and structural change.

Drawing from case studies, regional experience, and cross-sector collaboration, the deep dive will examine what enables or obstructs the flow of adaptation finance, from multilateral pledges to village-level priorities.

Organizer by Indian Network on Ethics and Climate Change (INECC), Germanwatch e.V., Institute for Climate and Sustainable Cities (ICSC), Greenovation Hub (GHUB), LAYA, Indonesia Research Institute for Decarbonization (IRID), Asia Haus Foundation.

The second peer learning event of the NAP Global Network’s Asia–Pacific Peer Learning Cohort on designing and implementing MEL systems for National Adaptation Plan (NAP) Processes will take place on 29–30 September 2025 in Bangkok, Thailand. Co-hosted by the NAP Global Network and the Government of Thailand, this event will be held as part of the Partners’ Segment the Asia–Pacific Adaptation Network (APAN) Forum, providing a timely opportunity to align peer learning with broader regional discussions on climate adaptation and resilience.

Co-hosted by the NAP Global Network and the Government of Thailand

This regional workshop marks the final synthesis of the project activities, findings and lessons of a IGES and APN project on Locally Led Adaptation (LLA). The workshop will intensively discuss the project outcomes, discuss on LLA blueprint, and a way forward for upscaling LLA in the Asia-Pacific region. First day (by invitation only) of the workshop will be dedicated to discussing and reviewing project findings, outcomes and lessons as well as for planning future actions. Second day, which will be an open session for all APAN Forum Participants, will be devoted to knowledge sharing as well as to gain expert feedback on upscaling LLA through regional collaboration, including AP-PLAT.

Organized by Institute for Global Environmental Strategies (IGES) and Asia-Pacific Network for Global Change Research (APN)

This multi-stakeholder dialogue will enable discussions on gender-responsive, innovative climate financing modalities, exchange knowledge and understanding of women and youth leadership in transformational adaptation and finally discuss data systems that contribute to transformational adaptation in the region. The dialogue will also review the current Gender Action Plan and discuss adaptation elements that should be integrated in the development of new Gender Action Plan (GAP).

Participants will co-create actionable recommendations for gender-responsive adaptation finance, leadership, data systems, and the new GAP, to be presented at APAN, COP30, and other policymaking spaces, strengthening inclusive adaptation governance.

Organized by ARROW, UN Women, ICIMOD, UNEP

United Nations Environment Programme with partner countries aims to showcase pragmatic and replicable solutions for extreme heat adaptation. Participating countries and experts will spotlight enabling regulatory frameworks, financing mechanisms and governance capabilities. It is an opportunity to understand evolving challenges of APAN countries stemming from gaps in policies, finances and capacities. UNEP-NDMA sessions will also facilitate knowledge building, assessment of technical assistance needs and opportunities for collaboration in APAN countries. UNEP will channel the inputs from participants and experts into the APAN’s concluding statement, providing a foundation for country-level action plans and donor-supported investment pipelines that advance the UN SG’s 2024 Call to Action on Extreme Heat.

Participants will co-develop actionable recommendations for heat adaptation policies, financing, and capacity-building, contributing to APAN’s concluding statement, country-level action plans, and donor-supported investment pipelines for sustainable cooling.

Organized by United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP)

Despite growing recognition of the severe impacts of climate and disaster events on biodiversity and ecosystem services, there remains no standardized framework to assess, monitor, and track such losses. From the Loss and Damage plenary discussions at the 8th APAN Forum, similar concerns were raised, and UNEP was asked to consider developing a Framework to assess biodiversity and ecosystem services. FRAME-ECO, as a collaborative effort by UNEP, UNDRR, and UNU-EHS, responds to this request by proposing a multi-dimensional framework for assessing the diverse values of biodiversity and ecosystem services. This framework builds on global standards such as SEEA EA and IPBES values, and aims to inform national CCA and DRR systems, climate finance, and operationalization of the Loss and Damage Fund. The FRAME-ECO provide a methodological basis as well to understand non-economic ecosystem related losses within the Disaster Tracking System ( DTS) developed by UNDRR in partnership with UNDP and WMO. The APAN Forum provides a strategic platform to socialize the framework, gain feedback from stakeholders across the region, and identify countries ready to champion piloting efforts that could inform global Loss and Damage discourse.

Participants will validate FRAME-ECO’s applicability, co-develop a roadmap for regional piloting, and produce an outcome document with insights, methodological refinements, and commitments to advance collaborative experimentation, informing APAN and global Loss and Damage efforts.

Organized by UNEP, UNDRR, UNU-EHS

The purpose of this structured discussion is to develop an initial framework for understanding how investments in local level adaptation result in private sector and markets creation, involvement, or mobilization, and inform further development of the Community Resilience Partnership Program, its activities, and portfolio.
This could include defining “private sector” in context of local level adaptation, defining scope of the framework, identifying follow-on evidence needs, methodological approaches, and timelines.

Organized by Asian Development Bank (ADB)

APN will convene a 90-minute session bringing together scientists, policymakers, regional organisations, and finance actors to explore collaboration opportunities. Through case presentations and targeted discussions, the session will identify pathways to reduce duplication, scale impact, and foster joint initiatives that advance climate adaptation and build resilience across local, national and regional levels.

Organized by APN, AIT, AP-PLAT, RRC.AP, SAFE, SPREP, UNFCCC, ESCAP, UNEP-ROAP

This briefing session will allow sessions moderators and speakers to meet and greet and have a discussion about their session. APAN Forum Secretariat will made an overall presentation of the Forum Programme and specific roles of system leads and session moderators.

The opening session will set an overall tone of the 9th Asia-Pacific Climate Change Adaptation Forum and highlights the importance of forum theme "Resilience for all: catalyzing transformational adaptation". A keynote presentation will on transformation adaptation will set the stage of understanding of transformational adaptation within the adaptation continuum.

The session will deliver a shared understanding of what transformational adaptation entails in practice and why it is critical for the Asia-Pacific region’s future resilience. By the end of the session, participants will leave with clarity on the pathways and enablers for scaling adaptation across the region.

Organized by APAN Secretariat

The gathering of ministerial-level representatives at the roundtable will provide excellent opportunities to share views and thoughts of the minister and hold discussion on innovative adaptation approaches and feasible collaboration. It will be marked as a significant step towards sharing political will and accelerating adaptation actions across the entire region.

The session will build a shared understanding of the value of partnerships, highlight successful models, and identify actionable pathways and commitments to scale inclusive, cross-sector adaptation.

The roundtable will reaffirm regional political commitment, strengthen cooperation between national and global agendas, endorse inclusive and innovative approaches, and agree on collective next steps for transformational adaptation.

Organized by APAN Secretariat

Extreme heat is a critical climate risk in Asia and the Pacific, threatening lives, livelihoods, and sustainable urban development. As climate change intensifies, urban areas face escalating challenges from heatwaves and the Urban Heat Island (UHI) effect, with global temperatures up 1.1°C since pre-industrial times (IPCC AR6, 2023). Countries in the region are adopting Heat Action Plans (HAPs) and integrating UHI mitigation and sustainable cooling strategies, yet face barriers to scaling long-term implementation.

This technical session will showcase India’s multi-level approach to heat resilience, highlighting NDMA’s model for scaling HAPs, NIUA’s City Climate Action Plans with the Global Covenant of Mayors, and community-driven UHI mitigation linked to the SDGs. It will facilitate peer learning with APAN countries, identifying opportunities for regional collaboration and resource mobilization to advance urban heat adaptation.

Organized by UNEP Cool Coalition, & National Institute of Urban Affairs (NIUA)

Co-organizers: National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), India & Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH

Adaptation planning across the Asia-Pacific has often relied on top-down approaches that use climate projections as a starting point and prioritize largescale infrastructures. While these approaches provide a broad strategic outlook, they are constrained by large uncertainties and limited resonance with local contexts. In contrast, bottom-up approaches, exemplified by the Climate Risk Informed Decision Analysis (CRIDA), start with stakeholder-defined vulnerabilities and performance thresholds, providing robust and flexible solutions at local scales.

This session builds on the growing recognition that neither approach alone is sufficient to ensure success. Instead, integrating bottom-up and top-down approaches allows for bridging science with practice, uncertainty and diversity with decision-making, and global knowledge with local realities and social complexities.

Organized by Centre for Water and Climate Adaptation (CWCA), Asian Institute of Technology, Thailand

In Japan, the Green Infrastructure Promotion Strategy is advancing NbS-based infrastructure across rivers, coasts, and cities. Similar initiatives worldwide are integrating NbS to boost climate adaptation and resilience, while also delivering co-benefits such as disaster risk reduction, ecosystem conservation, and socio-economic protection. Although infrastructure and NbS have distinct technical and institutional bases, combining them creates synergies that support disaster prevention, environmental protection, and broader social gains. These efforts mark an important step toward transformational adaptation, reshaping how communities, economies, and ecosystems are managed.

Objectives:
• Identify challenges, lessons, and opportunities for NbS and Green Infrastructure through cross-country case studies.
• Examine evaluation approaches for capturing benefits such as adaptation, risk reduction, biodiversity, and socio-economic protection.
• Highlight international standardization efforts and their role in scaling climate-resilient infrastructure in Asia-Pacific.
• Facilitate knowledge exchange among policymakers, international organizations, and developing countries to inform practical approaches and policy guidance.

Organized by Ministry of the Environment, Japan and Asian Development Bank

Transformational adaptation in Asia-Pacific requires climate finance that reaches those most at risk. Emerging pathways—such as MSMEs, adaptive financial resilience, and social protection—demonstrate how inclusive models can expand access. Backed by data, community experiences, government partnerships, and proven financial instruments, this session will examine approaches that improve finance access for women and vulnerable groups, and the systemic conditions that enable scale and sustainability. The discussion will focus on three sets of lessons i.e. a) Successful examples that should be sustained, b) Innovations that can be scaled, c) Unfunded areas where finance has yet to reach grassroots actors.

Objectives:
• Understand whole-of-government approaches to climate adaptation.
• Explore financial instruments and delivery models that strengthen household and SME resilience.
• Identify institutional and financial conditions that improve women’s access to finance.

Organized by CPI, Equal Right org, IDRC/CLARE, UNDP, UNEP, UN WOMEN

The world is not adapting to climate change fast enough, and nature’s role in reducing vulnerability remains underutilized. Despite its potential, integrating Nature-based Solutions (NbS) into adaptation strategies faces barriers such as fragmented governance, weak policies, and limited technical and financial capacity. Emerging technologies like AI offer opportunities to strengthen the case for NbS and support their global uptake.

This session—hosted by WWF, SEACAR, and UNEP-WCMC—will explore how NbS can be better embedded in adaptation strategies to deliver benefits for people and biodiversity. It will contribute to the design of Project PLAN, a global platform helping countries mainstream NbS, scale projects, and improve adaptation outcomes. The session will also preview the SEACAR 2.0 report, showcasing grassroots initiatives across Southeast Asia.

Targeting decision-makers, funders, and practitioners, the session will unpack policy, financing, and governance barriers while highlighting enabling conditions. Three speakers will share lessons from different regions, followed by an interactive dialogue on what works, why, and under what conditions.

Objectives:
• Identify systemic barriers to scaling NbS.
• Share enabling conditions and successful approaches across regions.
• Gather input to shape a practitioner-informed global support platform.
• Showcase how AI and data can strengthen the case for NbS.

Organized by WWF, UNEP-WCMC and SEACAR

Climate change continues to present complex and accelerating risks to the Asia-Pacific region, from tropical cyclones and floods to droughts, sea level rise, biodiversity loss, and food and water insecurity. These impacts threaten lives, livelihoods, ecosystems, and economic growth. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) and the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) have underscored the urgency of transformational adaptation - structural, systemic, and strategic shifts needed to address climate risks that cannot be managed through existing approaches.

Unlocking the synergies between systems is critical to realizing transformational adaptation, as emphasized by both the IPCC and the UNFCCC. Resilient futures depend on understanding how systems—such as health, agriculture, water, land, and ecosystems—interconnect and influence one another. Strengthening one system can generate cascading benefits across others, while neglecting these linkages risks reinforcing vulnerabilities. This session will examine the interconnectedness of systems, identify the pathways and systemic shifts needed to build resilience, and explore how regional cooperation and knowledge exchange can accelerate adaptation tailored to the diverse contexts of the Asia-Pacific region.

Objectives:
Examine the interconnectedness of key systems in the Asia-Pacific region and explore pathways and systemic shifts needed to strengthen resilience. The session will also identify opportunities for regional cooperation and knowledge exchange to accelerate resilience-building tailored to diverse regional contexts in AP.

Organized by APAN Secretariat

The reception for the participants of the 9th APAN Forum will be held from 18:00-20:00 in front of ESCAP Hall.

The Global Goal on Adaptation (GGA), established under the Paris Agreement, aims to enhance adaptive capacity, strengthen resilience, and reduce vulnerability to climate change in the context of sustainable development. With the adoption of the UAE Framework for Global Climate Resilience, attention is now turning to translating the agreed framework, targets, and indicators into actionable pathways for countries.

The Asia-Pacific region, home to diverse contexts including LDCs, SIDS, and large emerging economies, faces significant capacity and institutional challenges in aligning national systems with GGA monitoring and reporting requirements. While many countries have made progress through their National Adaptation Plans (NAPs), Biennial Transparency Reports (BTRs), and sectoral monitoring mechanisms, critical gaps remain. These include the institutional capacity to track progress, the alignment of global indicators with existing national data systems, and the integration of theory of change approaches to measure transformational adaptation.

This session will provide a platform for governments, experts, and institutions to discuss the practicalities of operationalizing GGA at national level. It will unpack the interlinkages between GGA indicators and national planning processes, highlight opportunities to leverage existing statistical and monitoring mechanisms, and explore how differentiated contexts—particularly in SIDS and LDCs—can be supported to implement GGA in a meaningful and inclusive manner.

Objectives:
• Examine institutional and technical capacities needed to implement and report on GGA indicators across different country contexts.
• Discuss how existing national monitoring systems (eg statistics departments, planning ministries) can be leveraged and strengthened rather than creating new structures.
• Explore alignment between NAPs and GGA targets, including the importance of embedding theory of change approaches to track transformational adaptation.
• Identify strategies for building adaptive capacity and reducing vulnerability in ways that are measurable, comparable, and context-sensitive.
• Provide policy guidance and recommendations for countries to effectively operationalize GGA in line with their national priorities and capabilities.

Organized by APAN Secretariat

COP30 offers an important opportunity to elevate agriculture and mobilize support, including in discussions around the follow up to the Koronivia Joint Work on Agriculture, the Standing Committee on Finance, and the operationalization of the Loss and Damage Fund. NDCs and NAPs remain the core instruments for tracking ambition and progress, underscoring the need to assess how Asia-Pacific countries are embedding agriculture within these frameworks.

The GGA, advanced at COP28, reinforces this agenda. Agriculture can contribute through sector-specific indicators (e.g. resilient yields, soil health, climate-smart technology adoption), farmer participation in technical dialogues, alignment of national targets with global objectives, and advocacy for agriculture-focused finance. Embedding agriculture in GGA processes will help secure recognition, resources, and technical support for scaling adaptation

Objectives:
• Identify opportunities to advance transformational adaptation in agriculture at COP30.
• Showcase how agriculture can influence and benefit from the GGA, Loss and Damage and other agenda items.
• Explore pathways for engaging farmers’ organizations in UNFCCC and national frameworks.
• Identify potential finance sources to scale adaptation in agriculture.
• Examine the alignment of Asia-Pacific NDCs and NAPs with transformational adaptation goals.

Organized by
FAO

Transformational adaptation requires more than advancing single enablers or isolated solutions—it demands systems-based approaches that turn global ambitions into equitable, context-specific action. This session explores how knowledge brokers working across fragile ecosystems (mountains, islands, biodiversity hotspots) can bridge science with practice, integrate indigenous and scientific knowledge, and co-create timely, actionable insights. Drawing on initiatives such as the Lima Adaptation Knowledge Initiative (LAKI) in the Hindu Kush Himalaya, the session highlights the critical role of knowledge organizations as intermediaries in complex, interdependent climate risks.

Objectives:
• Show how knowledge institutions connect global frameworks with local contexts.
• Share lessons from co-creating knowledge tailored to diverse ecosystems.
• Enable cross-ecosystem dialogue on common challenges and scalable resilience approaches.
• Highlight inclusive methods integrating indigenous/local knowledge, South-South cooperation, and multi-stakeholder partnerships.
• Draw comparative lessons from the Hindu Kush Himalaya, SIDS, and biodiversity-rich regions to identify transferable solutions.

Organized by International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD), UNEP, UNFCCC, IUCN

Asia-Pacific young people in food systems continue to face insecure jobs, limited skills-building opportunities and barriers to formal employment, discouraging them from pursuing long-term careers in agriculture. Hence, scaling up commitment, investment, and enhancing the productivity and livelihood of young people working in food systems are fundamental. While circular practices and the growing plant-based industry offer potential green jobs, informal sectors still limit youth participation, let alone underrepresented groups from Global Majority.

This session will bring about forward-looking discussions for decent work, the role of technology in transforming food systems, and youth-led innovations.

By featuring a panel and interactive foresight exercises. It is expected that the discussion is expected to gather inputs, exchange youth-led innovation best practices, necessary investments and resources needed, understanding current and future challenges, dismantle siloed perspectives, and build common understanding on how the technological transformation and systems approach could enhance the future of young people in agri-food systems.

Objectives:
• Amplify public awareness of talent drain in developing economies, the importance of farmers in linking climate action with biodiversity, and technology as a key enabler of climate adaptation in agri-food systems.
• Devise key discussions and actionable insights on promoting just transition, sustainable, and youth-responsive in sustainable food systems transformation in advancing climate change adaptation in food systems.
• Showcase youth-led innovation in promoting climate change adaptation in the agriculture and food systems sector.
• Promote successful practices on strategic partnerships, reinvigorate the global cooperation for resilient agrifood systems (Global Flagship Initiative for Food Security), and highlight the interconnection between the food-water-energy nexus and all ecosystems in policymaking and investment processes of transforming agrifood systems.

Organized by Global Youth Climate Challenges (GYCC) Youth Lab, Universal Versatile Society (UVS or UV Society)

This session will explore participatory and transformational approaches to urban challenges, emphasizing gender inclusion, youth-led action, and amplifying voices from the informal sector to build inclusive, adaptive, and sustainable climate-resilient cities.

Promoting Gender Inclusion
With urban populations projected to reach 70% by 2050, cities must integrate gender-inclusive planning into resilience and development strategies. Women’s perspectives enhance effectiveness, unlock economic potential, and create safer, equitable cities. The segment will focus on a) Localized resilience solutions – women’s leadership in community planning and infrastructure, b) Municipal finance – advancing gender-responsive budgeting for fairer resource allocation, and c) Digital transformation – bridging gender gaps in access and literacy to ensure participation.

Transformational Climate Adaptations in Informal Settlements and Cities
Over one billion people live in informal settlements, largely in climate-vulnerable cities of the Global South. These communities face heightened risks yet hold vital potential for innovation. Youth, often the most affected, are also key change agents. The segment will focus on a) Why adaptation in informal settlements must be central to city agenda b) How youth-driven initiatives create innovative, grounded, and scalable responses, c) Advocating for community voices through formal governance & accountability frameworks, d) Moving beyond short-term projects to embed justice and equity in urban adaptation.

Organized by National Institute of Urban Affairs (NIUA) and Youth for Unity and Voluntary Action (YUVA)

Monitoring, evaluation and learning (MEL) for adaptation is recognised as a cross-cutting enabler that can support the transition towards systemic and transformational changes. MEL systems are crucial for adaptation to be effective and inclusive, allowing countries and organisations to learn adaptively in the face of increasing and unpredictable climate shocks and impacts. MEL systems further facilitate the generation, integration and application of scientific, local and indigenous knowledge to inform decision-making, monitor progress, and guide the formulation of adaptation pathways.

In this session, the NAP Global Network partners with the five government partners of Bhutan, Philippines, Thailand Tonga, and Vietnam to explore what are key components of effective national MEL system as part of their national adaptation plan process. Each government will highlight their approach to national MEL for adaptation, challenges and experiences from their country.

• In first part of the session, we will explore how countries can move from collecting data to making decisions by strengthening MEL systems, and will highlight practical approaches for designing robust MEL frameworks that support transformational adaptation: going beyond incremental progress to achieve deep, systemic shifts.

• In the second part of the session, we will convene three interactive breakout groups and exercises . One group will focus on capacity building on MEL for transformational adaptation, identifying priority capacity gaps and suggesting practical interventions. A second group will address progress reporting, drafting the key questions a future report should answer and sketching out what such a report could look like in their national context. The third group will work on indicator frameworks, with small group drafting indicators, swapping with another group, and critiquing/refining them.

Participants will therefore leave this session with practical actions and key lessons to take home for further learning.

Organized by NAP Global Network, IISD

Countries are integrating agriculture into NDCs, NAPs, and food system transformation pathways, but fragmented approaches across ministries continue to limit impact. At UNFSS+4 and the 2025 Regional Food and Sustainability Summit, participants underscored accountability, enabling policies, and smallholder support through robust data and monitoring frameworks. IPLCs reaffirmed their role as stewards of resilient, nature-based food systems critical for biodiversity, nutrition, cultural heritage, and the right to food.

Aligned with the Forum theme, “Resilience for All: Catalyzing Transformational Adaptation,” this session will explore how food systems transformation can drive inclusive adaptation—especially for smallholders, women, and Indigenous Peoples. Key areas include:
• Positioning food systems at the center of climate action.
• Advancing nutrition security as a resilience cornerstone.
• Strengthening cross-sectoral linkages (agriculture, water, health, nutrition, social protection).
• Promoting policy coherence across governance levels and sectors.
• Fostering inclusive, multi-stakeholder platforms that integrate Indigenous knowledge and community-led solutions.

Organized by UNFS Coordination Hub and Adaptation Research Alliance/Stockholm Environment Institute (SEI)

The session will explore how community participation and social capital form the backbone of systemic resilience in the context of climate-health action in Asia, and the policy and finance that enable this work. It will emphasise the importance of localised action planning for climate-resilient health and social systems.

Building resilience requires trust, networks, and inclusive decision-making that transcend individual projects. Experiences across South Asia show that when community institutions, such as women’s groups, indigenous communities, or youth collectives, are empowered, they enable coordination across sectors, bridge knowledge gaps, and sustain long-term resilience efforts.

This session will unpack practical lessons on:
• How social cohesion and collective agency allow communities to address interlinked risks (from climate extremes to public health outcomes and economic shocks).
• How community networks, self-help groups, and women's collectives act as frontline resilience actors.
• How these climate stressors exacerbate the impacts on the health of vulnerable communities in the Asia-Pacific.
• Identify barriers/opportunities for scaling locally led equity-driven adaptation.
• What conditions allow community voices to influence and align with policy and finance systems?
• The role of philanthropy and innovative finance in scaling community-driven adaptation, reaching community networks and bringing down structural barriers to climate finance.
• Barriers and enabling conditions for embedding equity and empowerment in national and subnational adaptation frameworks.

Organized by CEEW, Dasra, PATH, IIED, UNDP

Cities in the Asia-Pacific face intensifying climate shocks that threaten infrastructure services and fiscal stability. Bridging the adaptation finance gap requires moving beyond ad-hoc projects to systems-level, finance-ready pipelines that can attract capital from various sources. This session—at the intersection of Infrastructure, Cities and Industries and Financial Systems, Instruments and Modalities—unpacks what works, why, and under what conditions to finance climate-resilient urban infrastructure at scale.

It will surface enabling policies (budget tagging, fiscal rules, regulations), bankability tools (project prep facilities, standard term sheets), and MRV approaches to evidence adaptation outcomes. Equity and affordability will be centred throughout, targeting locally-led, inclusive investments that align with the Global Goal on Adaptation. The emphasis would be on collective learning and effectiveness so participants leave with actionable templates and frameworks to replicate in their local context.

Objectives:
• Examine the adaptation finance gap in Asian cities and the need to shift from fragmented projects toward system-level, finance-ready investment pipelines.
• Showcase innovative financial instruments—such as blended finance, municipal bonds, pooled facilities, and parametric insurance—and assess their effectiveness, scalability, and equity implications.
• Surface enabling policies, fiscal reforms, and measurement frameworks that improve creditworthiness, bankability, and accountability for climate-resilient infrastructure.
• Facilitate peer learning through real-world case studies and interactive dialogue, enabling practitioners to adapt proven financial models to their local urban contexts.

Organized by Council on Energy, Environment and Water (CEEW), British High Commission, New Delhi

Collaboration among organizations across the Asia-Pacific region is a crucial step toward achieving transformational adaptation. Regional cooperation can strengthen national measures, foster cross-country learning, and accelerate adaptive action at the community level. The Asia-Pacific Climate Change Adaptation Information Platform (AP-PLAT) serves as a hub that provides tools, information, and capacity development programs while promoting partner collaboration. In 2024, AP-PLAT introduced a Three-Year Action Plan to support adaptation efforts in the region, particularly, support for the National Adaptation Plan (NAP) implementation. This session will particularly examine pathways for NAP implementation through exploring how effective partnerships and governance mechanisms can support developing countries to enhance adaptation actions. The session seeks to identify lessons and opportunities for scaling transformational adaptation across diverse contexts in the Asia-Pacific.

Objectives:
• Explore how partnerships and policy frameworks can enhance the implementation of NAP.
• Discuss regional experiences in integrating NAP priorities into governance systems.
• Identify enabling conditions for effective cross-country collaboration and scaling adaptation in different sectors.

Organized by Ministry of the Environment Japan (MOEJ), Institute for Global Environmental Strategies (IGES)

Transformational adaptation is increasingly recognized as essential for climate and biodiversity resilience, yet there is limited clarity on how to operationalize it in practice. This joint session brings together three complementary perspectives:

UNEP will present its framework for project-level transformational adaptation, drawing from lessons in ecosystem-based adaptation (EbA) projects in Asia and beyond.

GCF’s Independent Evaluation Unit will share evidence from evaluations of adaptation projects in water, food, and health systems, highlighting what works, what doesn’t, and the importance of empowerment and equity for sustained change.

IUCN-ARO and partners will showcase how Target 3 of the Kunming–Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (“30x30”) is being advanced through innovative governance, Indigenous leadership, youth engagement, and regional coalitions.

By integrating these approaches, the session will highlight how water and food systems, biodiversity, and community empowerment can converge to catalyze resilience for all. Participants will gain actionable insights on entry points for transformation across on the management, governance and coalition models, and strategies for scaling innovation across Asia-Pacific. Embedding these into national policies, financing frameworks, and regional cooperation platforms so that transformative practices deliver impact at larger ecological and societal scales.

Objectives:
• Present evidence, frameworks, and lessons learned on transformational adaptation, drawn from projects implemented on the ground.
• Showcase innovative governance and coalition models that link adaptation and water, food and biodiversity and IPLC and youth-led innovations for resilience.
• Identify enabling conditions, barriers, opportunities and practical recommendations (incl. project level entry points) for scaling adaptation.
• Provide actionable recommendations for strengthening and building linkages between NDCs, NAPs, NBSAPs, and biodiversity strategies.

Organized by IUCN Asia Regional Office, Asia Protected Areas Partnership (APAP) Secretariat

In Asia-Pacific, over a billion children are growing up on the frontlines of climate change, inequality, and crisis. Yet their voices remain largely absent from the decisions shaping their future. Building on the momentum of the Global Youth Dialogue at NAP Expo 2025 in Africa, the Regional Youth Adaptation Dialogue aims to elevate children and youth perspectives from across Asia-Pacific on their role in resilience building at local, national, regional, and global levels.

This session will take a deep dive into children and youth engagement in climate policy and plan formulation, particularly in NAPs, as well as in implementing practical and innovative adaptation solutions. The session aims to gather youth narratives on adaptation and generate a list of strategies to further strengthen meaningful engagement of children and youth in NAPs, incorporating inputs from governments, civil society, and other partners and stakeholders.

Organized by UNFCCC RCC Asia Pacific, Youth Empowerment in Climate Action Platform (YECAP) and UNDP Bangkok Regional Hub, UN Women (EMPOWER Project), Child Fund International

Early Warning Systems (EWS) are central to this transformation. When combined with adaptation planning tools, they not only strengthen the climate rationale of project proposals but also provide governments, technical agencies, and local actors with actionable data for decision-making. Public–private partnerships further enhance this potential by bringing innovation, technology, and financial sustainability to EWS, moving beyond reliance on traditional aid models.

This session will explore how adaptation tools and innovative EWS approaches can be harnessed together to unlock climate finance, strengthen national and local adaptation planning, and ensure early warnings translate into resilience outcomes for vulnerable populations.

Objectives:
• Demonstrate how adaptation tools strengthen the climate rationale of GCF concept notes and project pipelines.
• Introduce MoEJ’s Initiative to promote the development of Early Warning Systems through Public Private Partnership.
• Identify enabling governance arrangements and institutional roles that ensure sustainability of EWS in developing countries.
• Share solutions to effectively deliver EWS to vulnerable sectors such as agriculture and local communities, translating forecasts into concrete resilience-building actions.
• Promote regional cooperation and cross-sector collaboration to scale adaptation tools and EWS across Asia-Pacific.

Organized by AIT RRC.AP, Pacific Consultants Co., Ltd. (with Ministry of the Environment, Japan), Asian Disaster Preparedness Center (ADPC)

Mobilizing capital for climate adaptation remains a critical — yet underachieved — priority. While governments are advancing national adaptation plans (NAPs) and policies, translating these into investable pipelines requires clearer strategy, practical tools, and business models that appeal to both public and private financiers.

This session explores how to bridge this gap, presenting a structured arc from why adaptation investment makes sense, to what ecosystem actions are required, and how public and private actors can operationalize them at scale.

Through this session, attendees will:

• Learn about the strategic actions to unlock capital through ecosystem-building.
• Gain exposure to UNDP’s financing guideline to align adaptation planning with national fiscal strategy and investment.

Organized by UNDP and BCG

This session will identify climate adaptation and finance investment priorities for improved multilateral transboundary cooperation and knowledge exchange advocating inclusive and multi-stakeholder approach to benefit communities. The session will highlight examples of challenges, priorities and best practices from the River Basins in South Asia and Southeast Asia regions.

Objectives:
• Highlight the transboundary water governance priorities to strengthen adaptation planning for riparian communities in South Asia and Southeast Asia regions.
• Discuss ways to enhance access of communities to local-level climate finance investments across transboundary basins.
• Identify the way forward to enhance, promote and scale multilateral transboundary dialogue and identify ways to integrate local-level institutions, communities, leaders to build resilience among river basin communities. and countries.

Organized by ADPC Bangkok, Oxfam in Asia

Climate change continues to present complex and accelerating risks to the Asia-Pacific region, from tropical cyclones and floods to droughts, sea level rise, biodiversity loss, and food and water insecurity. These impacts threaten lives, livelihoods, ecosystems, and economic growth. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) and the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) have underscored the urgency of transformational adaptation - structural, systemic, and strategic shifts needed to address climate risks that cannot be managed through existing approaches.

Transformational adaptation requires dynamic interaction among multiple enablers. Policy frameworks, governance mechanisms, financial systems, science and knowledge, innovative technologies, and social capital each play a distinct role. Yet, these enablers do not function in isolation: strengthening one can unlock or accelerate progress in others, while tensions and gaps between them can reinforce vulnerability. Understanding these interdependencies is critical to building inclusive, resilient, and sustainable futures in the region.

This session will unpack the interlinkages between enablers, explore the barriers and opportunities at their intersections, and reflect on practical pathways to catalyze systemic resilience.

Objectives:
To examine the interdependencies, synergies, and tensions among enablers of transformational adaptation, and to identify how strengthening one enabler can unlock cascading benefits across others, accelerating adaptation outcomes in the Asia-Pacific region.

Many countries across the Asia-Pacific region face challenges in inclusively assessing baseline and progress towards adaptation, particularly using indicators disaggregated by sex, age, disability, ethnicity, and geography. In tandem, communities are at the frontline of climate impacts, yet their knowledge and coping strategies remain undervalued. Gender-responsive, data-driven adaptation planning and progress monitoring are essential to ensure sustainable actions that leave no one behind. Conversely, ensuring community knowledge feeds into policies processes is also critical for sustainable adaptation.

Building upon the APAN-8 session and intersessional webinars, the event will delve into opportunities for strengthening gender responsive, climate science-driven approaches to adaptation planning and implementation while boosting the integration of community data into adaptation policy processes.

Objectives:
• Emphasize strategies for scaling up collective knowledge creation from communities which have successfully enhanced their adaptation resilience in crisis contexts.
• Share existing gender indicators and policy tools that support informed decision-making and progress tracking for transformative adaptation across all 4 critical systems.
• Explore the use of gender and adaptation indicators by governments for assessing, monitoring and implementing National Adaptation Plans aligned with the Global Goal on Adaptation (GGA).

Organized by UN Women, ACE, ARROW, Baithak Challenging Taboos, SPC, UNEP

At the recent NAP Expo 2025 in Lusaka, Zambia, the LEG presented the latest version of the updated NAP technical guidelines, highlighting use cases based on each country’s progress in their NAP process and its key developments.

This session aims to share the updated NAP technical guidelines with Asia-Pacific countries, targeting government/ministry representatives (national and subnational levels) and stakeholders actively involved in national and local adaptation planning, formulation and implementation.

Additionally, this session will be conducted under the Food and Agricultural Systems theme, which is aligned with the GGA thematic target: Sustainable food and nutrition security for all. Recognizing that this system is commonly addressed in the NAP submissions by Asia-Pacific countries, this session will serve as a platform to discuss areas where support is needed within the sector, such as identifying and implementing sectoral targets and adaptation priorities, among other relevant and practical insights from countries.

Objectives:
• To present a comprehensive overview of the updated NAP technical guidelines
• To demonstrate how NAPs can be used to achieve the GGA targets, such as on sustainable food and nutrition security among other thematic targets, and how the updated guidelines inform the development of resource mobilization and implementation strategies
• To introduce use cases in applying the guidelines to advance formulation, updating and implementation of NAPs
To identify areas where countries require additional support in NAP formulation and implementation, including per sector, such as in food and agricultural systems.

Organized by UNFCCC

This session explores climate adaptation to support livelihoods and marine and coastal ecosystems.

On one side, it will focus on small-scale fishers in South Asia, who face disproportionate risks due to climate impacts, unsafe conditions, and depletion of resources. The session will highlight the need for inclusive policies, safety nets, gender equity, and recognition of indigenous knowledge.

On the other, it will showcase how Blue Carbon ecosystems (mangroves, seagrasses, coral reefs) act as transformational pathways for climate adaptation and mitigation, highlighting cases from Thailand, Malaysia, and the Philippines. These ecosystems not only sequester carbon but also protect coastlines and sustain local livelihoods.

Objectives:
• Explore inclusive approaches to strengthen resilience for small-scale fishers in South Asia, addressing climate risks, safety nets, gender equity, and indigenous knowledge.
• Highlight the role of Blue Carbon ecosystems—mangroves, seagrasses, coral reefs—as transformational pathways for climate adaptation and mitigation.
• Facilitate dialogue on balancing conservation, human rights, and development priorities in coastal and marine adaptation.
• Showcase community-driven solutions, financing mechanisms, and regional coordination efforts to advance sustainable adaptation practices.

Organizers: Oxfam and COBSEA

Co-organized by FAO and UNDP, this session will bring together different countries and development partners to exchange knowledge on opportunities and barriers for scaling up transformational adaptation in agrifood systems. Building on recent analyses of climate-related risks and greenhouse gas hotspots, as well as adaptation actions reflected in NDCs and NAPs, the session will highlight how evidence can inform decision-making.
Objectives
• Facilitate cross-country learning on how evidence can inspire replication and scaling of successful practices
• Identify lessons on translating climate risk analyses into policy and practice for transformational adaptation in agriculture
• Examine barriers and enabling conditions for scaling evidence-based approaches across diverse country contexts
• Strengthen partnerships that connect science, policy, and practice for more effective transformational adaptation in agrifood systems

Organizers:
FAO, UNDP

Heat stress is not only a public health crisis but also a systemic challenge that exacerbates vulnerabilities across agriculture, water, urban systems, and biodiversity. It is an economic and social justice issue. Protecting workers means protecting food systems, infrastructure, and economies themselves. Traditional incremental adaptation is proving insufficient; the urgency now is for transformational adaptation, rethinking systems, policies, and governance to drive long-term resilience.

This session will explore innovative approaches and partnerships to scale transformational adaptation that addresses heat stress while safeguarding ecosystems and communities.

Objectives:
• To advance regional dialogue on transformational adaptation approaches to heat stress.
• To highlight the role of nature-based solutions in tackling heat
stress as an interconnected challenge of climate change, biodiversity loss, and disaster risk.
• To provide a platform for sharing lessons, innovations, and
cross-sectoral collaboration opportunities.

Organized by IUCN, University of Thessaly, Asian Disaster Preparedness Center, Alluvium Group, Thailand Environment Institute, Asian Development Bank

This session brings together representatives from several CLARE projects to explore both the enablers and barriers to transformational adaptation across diverse contexts in Asia. Drawing on lessons from CLARE projects in Bangladesh, Bhutan, Nepal, Indonesia, the Philippines and India, speakers will share practical experiences in advancing climate adaptation.

Discussions will highlight community-based co-management in reef ecosystems, the rights and challenges of displaced populations in planned relocation, innovative facilitation and capacity-building for adaptation, and the importance of co-creating solutions with local communities and governments in water governance and agriculture systems. The session aims to offer actionable insights on how integrated approaches, inclusive engagement, and cross-sector collaboration can overcome obstacles and drive meaningful adaptation outcomes in the region.

Organized by PlanAdapt, CLARE Partners in Asia

With 2024 witnessing new record high temperatures globally, extreme urban heat has become an urgent climate crisis for cities across the Asia-Pacific. Exacerbated by the urban heat island effect, this phenomenon poses a significant threat to public health and social equity. This session will examine how adaptation pathways can address not only urban heat but also the broader implications of climate change on health in urban systems. Moving beyond incremental solutions, the discussion will explore systems-wide shifts, including establishing climate risk identification and measurement tools, mainstreaming climate resilience into city planning, and embedding climate-informed health thresholds into public policy.

Drawing on lessons from diverse urban landscapes across Asia, the conversation will highlight enablers such as policy, planning, governance, community empowerment, and innovative financing.

Objectives:
• Foster knowledge sharing among urban practitioners, city-level decision-makers, and local implementers;
• Enhance insights on actionable interventions;
• Identify key areas for future research and multi-stakeholder partnerships.

Organized by CarbonCare InnoLab (CCIL) & Council on Energy, Environment and Water (CEEW), UNDP

This session convenes UNFCCC, UNDP, UNEP, UNEP-WCMC and ICIMOD to discuss the vital roles of ecosystems and financial systems in scaling up effective adaptation. These discussions will focus on tools and approaches to translate global frameworks into local actions through regional cooperation and implementing interventions that are tailored to local contexts. Together, these perspectives will illuminate ways to strengthen inclusive, resilient, locally appropriate and regionally responsive adaptation finance systems that take nature into account. The session will encourage dialogue on how to develop and implement National Adaptation Plans (NAPs) and associated financing strategies to support transformative adaptation.

Objectives:
• Discuss recent developments and experiences on adaptation planning, implementation and learning, including on integrating nature into NAPs.
• Share actionable strategies, tools and guidelines for communities, practitioners, and policymakers on incorporating nature and innovative adaptation finance to develop strategies that catalyze transformational adaptation.
• Explore regional opportunities and challenges in finance mobilization and adaptation investment planning for the climate vulnerable.
• Identify needed support for countries on policy, capacity and enabling environment.
• Develop recommendations to advance nature-based solutions and climate resilient social inclusion in resource mobilization and investment planning.

Organized by UN Environment Programme World Conservation Monitoring Centre (UNEP-WCMC), UNDP Bangkok Regional Hub, United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), Climate Change Division UNFCCC Regional Collaboration Centre for Asia and the Pacific (RCC Asia Pacific), International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD)

When planning infrastructure investments, we must use systems thinking to embed climate adaptation and disaster resilience into infrastructure projects because infrastructure must perform reliably over long lifecycles in a world of interconnected risks and accelerating climate impacts.

There are substantial benefits from embedding adaptation and resilience in the early stage of infrastructure planning: low upfront resilience and adaptation premiums compared to the price of inaction and recovery; reliable service delivery that reduces the loss of life and livelihoods during shocks and stresses; increasing awareness of climate resilience from investors, insurers, operators and regulators; economic productivity and competitiveness from reliable infrastructure services that underpins supply chains, jobs, and investment; and, improved social and environmental outcomes.

This session will discuss how to incorporate resilience into infrastructure design and operation, from the early stage. Speakers will highlight the increasing demand for a shift towards climate-resilient infrastructure, and analytical works to inform design and choose effective adaptation measures. The session will also discuss how institutional frameworks and infrastructure standards can support the integration of climate adaptation and resilience. It will introduce some examples of integrating resilience into the lifecycle of infrastructure, such as infrastructure with nature-based solutions.

Organized by P4I, DFA, ADB

This interactive session explores how inclusive leadership and a whole-of-society approach drive transformational adaptation across Asia and the Pacific region. It spotlights the leadership of women and girls in all their diversities, including persons with disabilities and older people, showing how their inclusion transforms both adaptation interventions and the broader systems in which they operate.

It will draw on experiences from gender-transformative leadership initiatives, nature-based solutions, and older people’s stewardship of ecosystems, highlighting how women, youth, Indigenous Peoples, persons with disabilities, and older people are shaping adaptation pathways in fragile systems.

Objectives:
• Demonstrate how inclusive and feminist leadership, across women, youth, older people, Indigenous Peoples, and persons with disabilities, drives transformational adaptation and strengthens systemic resilience.
• Identify enabling environments that support diverse leadership across adaptation systems, including NbS. Examine barriers and opportunities to embed intergenerational leadership, drawing on older people’s ecological knowledge and stewardship.
• Showcase how inclusive leadership translates into practice through NbS, revealing pathways to scale community-driven, equitable and transformational adaptation.

Organized by ARROW, ASB, Civic Exchange, HelpAge International, IUCN, OHCHR, Seneca Impact, UNEP and UN Women.

The Closing Session of the 9th Asia-Pacific Climate Change Adaptation Forum will bring together the key insights and discussions from across the week. Stream leads will present concise summaries of the main highlights and takeaways from their respective system sessions, offering participants a clear synthesis of the lessons learned, good practices shared, and emerging priorities for action. These presentations will set the stage for a consolidated reflection, where APAN Secretariat will deliver action-oriented recommendations for national, regional, and global actors so that the Forum concludes with a clear pathway for advancing transformational adaptation in practice.