Authored by Shobhakar Dhakal, Arjan de Haan, Suprit Singh Basnyat

From 19 to 21 August 2025, CLARE-ASEAN participated in a pivotal ASEAN Regional Consultation Meeting (RCM) to shape the ASEAN Climate Change Strategic Action Plan 2025–2030 (ACCSAP). This was hosted by the Institute for Global Environmental Strategies (IGES), bringing together government officials, national think tanks, civil society, and international partners to support the development of the action plan.

The CLARE-ASEAN project, now actively supporting four locally led initiatives that cut across seven ASEAN member states in around fifteen study sites, was invited to lead the adaptation track of the consultation. The meeting was an excellent opportunity to contribute to and participate in this dialogue, and to share findings from CLARE, including on data-driven decision-making, co-creation of evidences, and provision of adaptation finance – areas where the CLARE Programme has a great opportunity to make an impact.

The ACCSAP framework includes 34 strategic areas and a suite of programs aimed at mainstreaming climate action across sectors. The consultation stressed the important of cross-sectoral collaboration for effective climate action, fostered a co-creation process with the stakeholders, and deliberated on the importance of cross-cutting themes such as sustainable development, private sector engagement, and social inclusion. The meeting included inspiring discussions with and inputs from civil society groups and international bodies such as UN Women.

The discussion on adaptation stressed the importance of linking regional goals to the Global Goal on Adaptation (GGA). Priorities for the future discussed in the consultation include developing consolidated regional data systems on climate, risk maps, an adaptation tracker, and creating regional climate finance and insurance mechanisms. Discussions also showed a great support for promoting inclusiveness in climate action and developing Nature-based Solutions (NbS).

This engagement in the development of the ACCSAP is part of CLARE-ASEAN’s broader collaboration with the ASEAN Working Group on Climate Change, following its programme endorsement by ASEAN earlier this year.

A major initiative supporting climate actions in the region is the ASEAN Centre for Climate Change (ACCC) which is being established in Brunei Darussalam. The Centre aims to facilitate regional cooperation and policies and build a network of climate experts; CLARE AEAN will stand ready to support this endeavour.