ICLEI South Asia participated in three key side events at the 81st session of the Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) in Bangkok on 23 April 2025, and also showcased its work at a booth. At the events, ESCAP members, regional organisations, partners, and practitioners shared their experiences and best practices for building climate- and disaster-resilient resilient cities.

Speaking at a side event titled “Urban Resilience and Nature,” ICLEI Deputy Secretary General and Executive Director, ICLEI South Asia, Mr. Emani Kumar spoke about ICLEI’s role in supporting cities globally in building resilience to climate and disaster-related shocks. He said, “There is an urgent need to make cities climate-resilient and enhance climate adaptation through proper planning. ICLEI is supporting urban local governments to prepare Climate Resilient Cities Action Plans (CRCAP). ICLEI South Asia has supported more than 10 cities in India to prepare their CRCAPs, and continues to work with many more.

“We also assist cities in implementing climate action plans and in other initiatives such as developing Miyawaki forests, urban food gardens, city biodiversity indexes and biodiversity maps, besides scaling up capacity building resources such as compendiums on nature-based solutions and climate finance, and organizing investment forums to bridge the gap between cities and financial institutions.”

Mr. Kumar also moderated a panel discussion at another side event on “Catalyzing Inclusive and Sustainable Urban Development: Transit-oriented Development”, in which senior urban planning and transportation experts and officials from Japan, Thailand and Indonesia participated.

Speaking on behalf of the Local Governments and Municipal Authorities (LGMA) Constituency—a recognised stakeholder group within the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), for which ICLEI – Local Governments for Sustainability serves as the official focal point—Mr Kumar delivered remarks at the “COP29 Declaration on Multisectoral Actions Pathways (MAP) to Resilient and Healthy Cities” event. He conducted a stocktake of the implementation of the MAP and highlighted how it uniquely integrated nature-based solutions, disaster resilience, and green jobs into urban planning, while advocating multilevel governance through initiatives like the Coalition for High Ambition Multilevel Partnerships (CHAMP) that empower local and regional governments to collaborate meaningfully with national counterparts and international actors in driving climate action.

At another side event on “Best Practices & Facilitated Discussion Empowering City Leaders on Disaster Risk Reduction & Climate Finance”, in which city leaders, policymakers, and experts explored collaborative solutions, including regional initiatives and tools for disaster risk reduction, risk assessment, resilience planning, and early-stage project preparation, Mr Keshav Jha, Senior Manager (Research & Advocacy), ICLEI South Asia, shared his views on disaster risk reduction and climate finance. The participants also exchanged information on best practices, and on tackling financing challenges and aligning strategies with global frameworks.