Virtual Launching Event of UNOSSC SSiA Publication “South-South in Action: Capacity Building for Climate Actions in Southeast Asia”
Bangkok: July 22nd, 2021, Thailand Greenhouse Gas Management Organization (Public Organization) or TGO jointly with the United Nations Office of South-South Cooperation (UNOSSC) and Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) organizedthe Virtual Launching Event of UNOSSC SSiA Publication “South-South in Action: Capacity Building for Climate Actions in Southeast Asia” at 09:00-10:30 (GMT +7) via Zoom and Facebook Live. The event took place on the sidelines of the TGO/UNDP, “Sustainable and Livable Low Carbon Cities” webinar, held from 21 to 22 June 2021.
The opening ceremony of the event were honorably presided by Mr. Adel Abdellatif, UNOSSC Director a.i., Mr. Morita Takahiro, Chief Representative, JICA Thailand and Mr. KiatchaiMaitriwong, the Executive Director of TGO, followed by the introduction of the publicationby Mr. ThawatchaiSaengkhamsuk, Director of Capacity Building and Outreach Office, TGO, which highlighted the main services delivered include: (i)sustained and upgraded training courses on climate change mitigation and adaptation that aim to elevate the capacity of the ASEAN countries to address this challenge. The courses are on (i)climate change and sustainable development, mitigation mechanisms, greenhouse gas inventory, climate change adaptation, climate economics, and climate finance); (ii) planning and implementing climate change policy dialogue and response actions (iii) networking activities and knowledge disseminationat international, regional and national levels including support to the AWGCC’s Action Plan, CITC workshops and regional conferences, engagement at UNFCCC conferences and side events/exhibits); and, (iv) technical support, exchange of expertise and partnership collaboration through South-South and Triangular cooperation on climate change, examples are the Memorandum of Cooperation between CITC and Vietnam.
There was also a panel discussion entitled “South-South Cooperation on Enhancing NDCs in the Southeast Asia Region.”It was honored by the panelists from many organizations, includingMr. Jens Radschinski,Head of the Regional Collaboration Center Bangkok, UNFCCC, Mr. Manuel Soriano, Regional Technical Advisor – Energy & Climate Change, UNDP,Mr. Denis Nkala, Regional Coordinator, Office for Asia-Pacific, UNOSSC, Mr. Thawatchai Saengkhamsuk, Director of Capacity Building and Outreach Office, TGO, Mr. Sum Thy, Chair of AWGCC/Deputy Secretary General, The National Council for Sustainable Development, Ministry of Environment, Dr. Vong Sok, Head of Environment Division, The ASEAN Secretariat, the panel discussion was Moderated by Mr. Koji Fukuda, Chief Technical Advisor, Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA). The panel concluded that capacity building is fundamental to effectively implementing policy and taking action on climate change. It is a core component of the means of implementation for achieving Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the Paris Agreement under the UNFCCC stresses the importance of enhancing the capacity and ability of all countries to take effective climate change action which should be country-driven, based on and responsive to national needs, and within the national and local contexts. It confirmed the essential role of South-South cooperation on NDC enhancement in the region in the spirit of partnership, as well as highlighting the importance of greening the recovery from pandemic. There were over 70 Thai and ASEAN participants attending the virtual event.
