Highlights from the meeting

Click the above link for a summary of the presentations and discussions at the two-day meeting.

Background

Over the past few decades, the countries in the Lower Mekong Basin have witnessed a number of natural disasters. The assessment from the Mekong River Commission (MRC) on impacts of climate change and development in the Mekong flow regimes released in 2009 indicates that countries in the Mekong region are predicted to face difficulties concerning various forms of impacts from climate change. The results are similar to other scientific studies and climate models, which point out a wide range of anticipated impacts of climate change in the region. These include changing of temperature and rainfall patterns, sea level rise, increased intensity of storms, floods and droughts.

These impacts would affect the economy and development of the riparian countries as well as the people’s way of life and livelihoods. Eventually, these would be contributing factors to exacerbate poverty and impeding the efforts to improve quality of life. Moreover, impacts of climate change do not lie within each sovereign national boundary. Thus, there is a need to exchange knowledge, experience, approaches on planning and implementation of adaptation to climate change, in order to benefit all the lives depending on the Mekong.

In the Lower Mekong Basin, there have been efforts from various organisations concerning climate change adaptation planning and implementation. These activities are carried out by government agencies, international organisations, local-based organisations as well as the vulnerable communities themselves.

Main objectives

1. To provide an opportunity for the practitioners to share practices, tools, experiences, lessons learned and challenges as well as to exchange knowledge on planning and implementing adaptation activities to climate change within the Lower Mekong region; and
2. To provide networking opportunities that facilitate further cooperation, replication and up-scaling of climate change adaptation activities

Expected outputs

1. Improved knowledge and awareness on climate change adaptation activities and identification of adaptation approaches and practices with potential for replication and up-scaling;
2. Strengthened regional cooperation and network to enhance regional and national adaptation actions;
3. Inspiration and motivation on adaptation actions from good practices; and
4. A Technical Paper aimed at promoting continued debate and dialogue about climate change adaptation based on lessons, practices and responding to the challenges facing climate change adaptation demonstration projects in the Mekong Region. 

Click here for a transcript of an expert panel discussion at the meeting on how to build capacity for local adaptive actions.  

Participants

The meeting gathered 122 participants, comprised of senior government officials of the MRC member states, climate change national focal points in LMB countries, international experts, private sector, development partners and especially practitioners who work on demonstration projects in climate change adaptation in the Lower Mekong Basin. Click here for the list of participants.