The ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) Workshop on Climate Change Adaptation and Disaster Management

             On 31 May-1 June 2016, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of Thailand and the United States Department of State co-chaired the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) Workshop on Climate Change Adaptation and Disaster Management at the Dusit Thani Bangkok.

            The Workshop aimed to build capacity for disaster preparedness and risk reduction, as well as to capture and build on shared experiences and best practices. It explored government leadership in fostering effective stakeholder engagement on climate resilience, national and regional civil-military coordination, and synergies among regional frameworks and international bodies. Amongst the topics of discussion included creating an effective knowledge-sharing platform for government and stakeholders, coordination in disaster relief operations, and the untapped potential of the private sector.

            The participants of this Workshop included representatives from public sectors and academics from ARF Participants and regional and international institutions, while speakers included Dr. Raweewan Bhuridej, Secretary-General of the Office of Natural Resources and Environmental Policy and Planning (ONEP), high-level officials, distinguished academics and representatives from the UN Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP), UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), ASEAN Coordinating Centre for Humanitarian Assistance (AHA Centre), and Asian Disaster Preparedness Center (ADPC). A key message underscored was the importance of continued efforts in capacity building and strengthening cooperation in the areas of climate change adaptation and disaster management, through regional and international mechanisms, which in turn contribute to the global efforts in addressing these important issues.

            The ARF Workshop is yet another example of Thailand's contribution to the ARF, which remains the premier forum in the Asia-Pacific region, promoting dialogue on key security issues since it was launched in Bangkok in 1994 under Thailand's chairmanship.