ICLEI South Asia supported the Asian Institute of Technology-Regional Resource Centre for Asia and the Pacific (RRCAP) in successfully conducting a Regional Training Workshop on Enhancing Climate and Disaster Risk Resilient Cities in Asia and the Pacific. The workshop, held under the Making Cities Resilient (MCR) 2030 initiative, took place from 18-20 February 2025 in Bangkok, Thailand.

The three-day event brought together representatives from local governments and associations from South and Southeast Asian countries. Participants engaged in interactive sessions, discussions, and hands-on training to strengthen their knowledge and skills in building climate-resilient urban areas.

In the workshop, ICLEI South Asia conducted a training session focused on mainstreaming climate resilience actions while promoting gender and social equitability and inclusivity, ensuring that no one is left behind. During the session, Anuradha Adhikari, Assistant Manager, ICLEI South Asia, introduced climate resilience tools and highlighted the unique advantages of the Climate Resilience Cities (CRC) methodology. She explained that CRC methodology is unique due to its evidence-based scientific approach and flexibility, allowing cities to readily adopt and navigate through preparing a locally contextualised, participatory, and inclusive climate action plan.

The Additional Commissioner (Projects) of Vijayawada Municipal Corporation (VMC), an ICLEI South Asia partner city, shared valuable insights from their climate action planning process. In an engaging session focused on Vijayawada City and Andhra Pradesh’s Net Zero Vision-2047, he expressed VMC’s commitment to accelerating the implementation of climate actions and promoting climate-responsive budgeting. This will serve as a stepping stone for building resilience to disaster risks, aligning with the objectives of MCR 2030.

The workshop concluded on a high note, with participants expressing their commitment to integrating resilience strategies into their local climate action plans. ICLEI South Asia continues to support cities in their journey towards a sustainable, resilient, and inclusive future.