Regional Scoping Workshop on ‘Perspectives for Climate Diplomacy in Southeast Asia’

Date: 29 November 2013 (Friday)

Time: 9am – 1pm

Venue: Nanyang Executive Centre (NEC), NTU, Singapore

Organised by: adelphi and RSIS Centre for NTS Studies  

	Credit: GWP/Ernie Penaredondo

Southeast Asia is considered to be a region highly vulnerable to near- and long-term climatic changes. In order to jointly address emerging climate risks and to complement multilateral negotiations through enhanced regional cooperation, the involvement of Foreign Ministries should be further strengthened.  To discuss concrete proposals for climate diplomacy, the RSIS Centre for NTS Studies and adelphi (Berlin-based environmental think-tank) organised a half-day workshop on ‘Perspectives for Climate Diplomacy in Southeast Asia’ in Singapore on 29 November 2013.

The event, supported by the German Federal Foreign Office, also aimed to:

• Share regional perspectives and information on foreign affairs strategies in Asia and Europe. These perspectives can focus on climate risks, water and food security and the prospects of a joint green growth approach for sustainable development. 
• Examine the concept, role and possible opportunities for climate foreign policy action as preventive diplomacy that can mitigate emerging threats and advance innovative concepts. 
• Identify ways and means to support inter-regional cooperation and joint diplomatic action, such as through the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF). To this end, the workshop will build on the results of previous ARF activities and joint seminars on the subject, such as the ARF Seminars on the International Security Implications of Climate Change in Phnom Penh in 2009 and in Brussels in 2010 as well as on the experience of recent high-level climate security conferences.