Background The UNFCCC Regional Collaboration Centre (RCC) Asia Pacific, under the auspices of the Youth Empowerment in Climate Action Platform (YECAP), successfully hosted a virtual Brown Bag session on 29 August 2025. The session brought together youth representatives, Indigenous voices, and climate experts from across the Asia and the Pacific region to reflect on the critical role of young people in advancing National Adaptation Plans (NAPs) and strengthening climate governance. About the session Climate change poses disproportionate risks for young people, especially those from Indigenous and marginalized communities. The event built on previous efforts to include youth in regional and global processes, such as the NAP Regional Technical Workshop in Bangkok and the UNFCCC Subsidiary Bodies meetings, and highlighted practical ways to enhance their participation in NAP formulation, implementation, and monitoring. Key highlights Youth reflections on global climate processes: Speakers from the Philippines and Samoa shared their experiences engaging in intergovernmental spaces such as COP and SB sessions, underlining both the opportunities and challenges faced by youth in these arenas. Youth in NAP implementation: Young leaders from Indonesia, the Philippines, and Vanuatu discussed strategies to involve youth in monitoring, evaluation, and learning of NAPs, as well as in resource mobilization. They also highlighted persistent barriers faced by Indigenous youth, including lack of institutional support and culturally appropriate engagement pathways. Interactive knowledge exchange: Through a live Mentimeter activity and Q&A, participants engaged directly with panelists, sharing reflections on strengthening peer-to-peer learning, leadership, and resilience. Outcomes The session: Strengthened youth awareness of the relevance of NAPs and their role in national climate policies. Highlighted evidence-based, youth-informed strategies to enhance inclusive and participatory climate governance. Amplified Indigenous youth voices, showcasing their knowledge and priorities for adaptation planning. Expanded the youth engagement network across Asia-Pacific to support sustained collaboration.

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Event Summary The Regional Collaboration Centre (RCC) Asia and the Pacific partnered with the ASEAN Centre for Energy to deliver the first episode of the ASEAN Researchers Network on Energy and Climate Change (ARNECC) Live Podcast 2025 series, focusing on “NDC 101 – A UNFCCC Perspective.” Held on 26 June 2025, the event explored how Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) function as the backbone of ASEAN’s pathway to a net-zero future. Participants joined a live discussion designed to build understanding of the NDC process, share experiences across Southeast Asia, and highlight opportunities for regional collaboration. The event forms part of the ASEAN Researchers Network on Energy and Climate Change (ARNECC), under the ASEAN Climate Change and Energy Project (ACCEPT) II, which seeks to advance knowledge-sharing and support evidence-based policymaking across the energy-climate nexus. About the Session This first episode of the ARNECC Live Podcast brought together UNFCCC experts and ASEAN stakeholders for an interactive conversation on: The basics of the NDC framework. Regional updates on NDC preparation and submission. Key challenges and opportunities for ASEAN Member States. How the UNFCCC supports countries in making their NDCs more ambitious and implementable. The podcast aimed to strengthen understanding of the NDC process in the Southeast Asian context and encourage greater ambition, equity, and accountability in the run-up to the 2025 NDC submission cycle. The live discussion also provided an opportunity for academics, researchers, analysts, students, and policymakers to share views and ask questions directly to UNFCCC experts. Speakers Julie Amoroso Garbin – Regional Lead, UNFCCC RCC Asia and the Pacific Juhi Bansal – NDC and LT-LEDS Specialist, UNFCCC RCC Asia and the Pacific Key Topics Covered Introduction to NDCs and the UNFCCC’s role Current status and progress of NDCs in Southeast Asia. Common barriers and gaps in NDC implementation. Opportunities for enhanced regional collaboration. UNFCCC’s technical and procedural support for countries. Ensuring transparency and accountability in NDC submission.  

From 28 to 30 May 2025, the Regional Resource Centre for Asia and the Pacific (RRC.AP), in collaboration with the UN Climate Change Regional Collaboration Centre for Asia and the Pacific (RCC Asia Pacific), hosted a regional training workshop in Bangkok, Thailand, to support countries in advancing their National Adaptation Plans (NAPs). The workshop brought together national government officials, technical experts, and representatives from training institutions to enhance capacity on NAP formulation and implementation. Through interactive sessions, group exercises, and practical case studies, participants explored how to develop inclusive, gender-sensitive, and investment-ready NAPs. The training addressed key aspects such as institutional arrangements, integration into national planning, monitoring and evaluation frameworks, and accessing climate finance. The event was supported by the Ministry of the Environment of Japan (MoEJ) and the Youth Empowerment in Climate Action Platform, and aligned with the latest decisions under the UNFCCC process, including the Global Stocktake and the global goal on adaptation.    

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Get a glimpse of RCC Asia Pacific's achievements in 2024.

Strengthening stakeholders' capacity

Lear more about this event to harness the potential of carbon pricing and market mechanisms in the region

Understanding the provisions of the Baku Climate Unity Pact

Watch to understand the COP29 outcomes relating to Adaptation, resilience and Loss and Damage

Bridging the Finance Gap

RCC Asia-Pacific will conduct a three-day youth camp open to youth in Asia Pacific.

Join us for a webinar that transforms the outcomes of COP 29 into actionable insights for the region.

RCC AP unpacked the COP29 outcomes on Article 6 and the CDM

The session will include presentations on case studies and perspectives of government, scientific institutions, implementing partners and financiers, and implementers towards transformational adaptation in the region.

This High Level event explored the role of the private sector in developing and implementing NDCs and how the private sector can play a meaningful role in delivering economic opportunities and unlocking finance on the ground.

The side event will build the dialogue on mitigation ambition in Small Island Developing States (SIDS).

Sharing the experiences and challenges of Asia‐Pacific member states while initiating preparations for the NDC 3.0

The event looks at the CIACA initiative for assessing whether to impose fees or levies on activities that generate carbon credits.

Identifying how countries can use Article 6 to support NDC implementation

To ensure significant youth involvement in NDC 3.0

RCC AP hosted the A6 workshop and NDC forum in Samoa.

RCC AP and YECAP co-organise a virtual session for Youth in the Pacific.

Join us on 30 July to learn about investment in NDCs and their implementation.

Learn about plant genetic resources in agriculture and their role in NAPs.

RCC event to better understand expectations for the next NDCs in the Central Asia region.

The 2024 edition focuses on aligning NDCs, national development plans and the SDGs.

The 2023 RCC Annual Report is out: check out the RCCs' achievements per region!

Julie, our RCC Regional Lead, participates in this webinar held at the YECAP Climate Week 2024.

RCC hosted a series of webinars in preparation for NDC 3.0

RCC Asia-Pacific co-organized a regional partners stocktaking meeting on the NDC Update together with the co-chairs of the Issue-based Coalition on Raising Ambition in Climate Action (UNEP and UNESCAP) and the NDC Partnership (NDCP), with 18 organizations attending in person or virtually. This meeting provided a space for attendees to discuss the significance of the nationally determined contributions (NDCs), the challenges faced in engaging with countries, and the gamut of initiatives planned through the year for supporting NDCs,  emphasizing and underscoring the need to capture ongoing activities and streamline and synergize the support being provided.   Background During the meeting, key entities in the region underscored the significance of NDCs under the Paris Agreement-how they have shaped climate action historically and how the new 2025 NDCs need to provide a clear signal for economic transformation. This new round of NDCs, or NDCs 3.0 needs to be backed by sound investment strategies that facilitate implementation by engaging a diverse set of stakeholders, focusing on the private sector to catalyze economic shifts. The need for strong country ownership for the NDCs 3.0 and the importance of coordination and collaboration among international partners also clearly emerged. Some organizations acknowledged their limitation in reaching out to countries and emphasized that development and implementing organizations should be mobilizing support to countries as one instead of a piecemeal approach. Effective collaboration is key, with the RCC Asia Pacific along with the IBC to map the support each agency offers, enhancing the support provided by regional partners. It was also emphasized that NDCs represent each country's targets and ambitions, tempered by national priorities and ground realities. The tools and strategies nations employ to reach these targets can vary. It is important to clarify to the countries the essential components that must be included in NDCs, along with good practices that they can follow, and assist countries in achieving their goals through various funding mechanisms. The focus of this round of NDCs shall also be on strengthening the quality and r robustness of the NDCs.   Objectives The meeting was an opportunity for dialogue and exchange among development partners in Asia and the Pacific actively supporting countries on NDC development and implementation, including sharing information on the different initiatives planned throughout the year for supporting NDCs. RCC Asia-Pacific acknowledged the numerous obligations countries face, recognized their limited capacities and stressed the need for strategic and targeted support. The team highlighted the importance of avoiding the duplication of efforts by establishing a system to share information more efficiently and making it more accessible to countries.  Participants were also encouraged to regularly share updates with the RCC, which will streamline communication and facilitate exchange of information among all stakeholders to align regional support effectively.    Way Forward As next steps, the RCC Asia-Pacific and the IBC will map out the different support areas provided by these agencies to the countries in the region, providing insight on where collaborations can be built, and identifying areas where there is a lack of support, both geographically and sectorally.  They will also establish a platform to capture ongoing activities and available support and make this accessible to all. This exercise will hope to ensure that consistent matchmaking support is available to countries in the region. The RCC AP will look at the integration of various climate action elements such as mitigation, adaptation, gender, loss and damage, etc., aiming to build unified support for the NDCs.

The event will look into sustainable consumption/production, circular economy and climate issues.

Find out the initiatives undertaken by RCC AP during COP 28.

Promoting transformative climate innovation in both the Caribbean and the Pacific SIDS

Read the latest report focusing on just transition in Asia-Pacific

Taking steps towards the growing demand for carbon pricing instruments in the ASEAN region

Building capacity to understand the role of economic instruments in tackling climate change

Capacity-building training during Asia-Pacific Climate Week 2023

Hands on training for Pacific region experts on ETF and NDCs

During each of the Regional Climate Weeks 2023, the RCCs will host Regional Dialogues on Carbon Pricing, Article 6 Training and DNA Forums

A webinar series on Article 6 of the Paris Agreement will be hosted by UN Climate Change Regional Collaboration Centres to share information and provide knowledge on Article 6 with key stakeholders to increase their understanding and readiness for participation

On 26 May 2023, UN Climate Change hosted a webinar about the Notification to Parties on the NDC and LT-LEDS Synthesis Reports. The webinar shared details about the planned NDC and LT-LEDS Synthesis Reports for 2023 and opened an opportunity for countries to share perspectives.

In May 2023, RCC Asia-Pacific partnered with YECAP in collaboration with YOUNGO and, the International Youth Climate Movement to host the YECAP Climate Negotiators Training 2023.   YECAP Climate Negotiators Training 2023 15 to 17 May 2023 Concept Note and Agenda   From 15 to 17 May 2023, the UN Climate Change RCC Asia-Pacific partnered with Youth Empowerment in Climate Action Platform (YECAP), YOUNGO (the UNFCCC Children and Youth Constituency) and the International Youth Climate Movement to host the YECAP Climate Negotiators Training 2023 in the UNDP Bangkok Regional Hub.   Objectives The Negotiators Training was delivered to achieve several objectives: Increase the capacity of young trainees on underlying processes of UNFCCC such as Mitigation, Adaptation, Means of Implementation, and Communication and Engagement Tools Increase knowledge and awareness among young people on the overall UNFCCC negotiation process, key topics that are of importance for Parties (countries) and non-party stakeholders, motivating them to be able to participate in the process Increase the understanding of the key outcomes from COP26 and COP27 and knowledge sharing on the implementation and decision-making process in the lead up to COP28 Share available opportunities for the young advocates to engage at national and regional dialogues and programmes including Nationally determine Contributions (NDCs), National Adaptation Plans (NAPs) and other key areas from the outcomes of COP26 and COP27   Participants and Speakers Young climate leaders joined from across Asia and the Pacific. At the workshop, experts from Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida), UNFCCC Secretariat, RCC Asia-Pacific, YOUNGO, United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP), Office of Natural Resources and Environmental Policy and Planning (ONEP), and United Nations Environment Programme Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific (UNEP ROAP) in areas such as overview of UNFCCC negotiation process, Action for Climate Empowerment (ACE),  Article 6, Fossil fuels and Coal Phase Down policies, Loss and Damage, Cross-cutting issues and technology, etc. For more information, please visit Youth Empowerment in Climate Action Platform.

Harnessing the Collective Actions of ASEAN Private Sectors – COP27 event

On 8 to 11 August 2022, a regional training workshop on Climate Finance Access and Mobilization for Least Developed Countries in Asia was held in Bangkok

On 28 June 2022, two informative webinars were held to share details on the NDC Synthesis Report and LT-LEDS Synthesis Report with Parties in Asia, the Middle East, and North Africa. This presented an opportunity to hear perspectives on plans to submit updates to NDCs or LT-LEDS in advance of COP27.

Six Regional Collaboration Centers (RCCs) of the UN Climate Change secretariat are coming together to organize 3 consultative regional dialogues to guide and communicate on capacity building needs for Article 6 for Africa, Asia-Pacific and the Middle East; and, Latin America and the Caribbean. Discussions at regional dialogue will inform the Article 6 workplan, identify capacity building needs and provide information for decision making, including policy and planning for development of the work programme to implement capacity building 

To raise awareness, create a call-to-action and prepare young climate advocates across Asia and the Pacific for larger, global dialogues in the lead up to Stockholm+50 conference in June, UNDP, UNICEF, UNFCCC, UNEP, OHCHR, UNV, UNESCO, The British Council, YOUNGO, Movers Programme and 2030 Youth Force co-organized the virtual regional summit, Road to Stockholm+50: Regional Dialogue on Youth Empowerment in Climate Action on 6-7 April 2022.

As part of capacity building under the workplan with the ASEAN Working Group on Climate Change, two webinars are being organized on 14 and 16 December. These aim at providing policymakers and regulators in ASEAN member countries with knowledge and experience relating to the design of carbon pricing instruments, in particular emissions trading schemes, for the power sector. The webinars will be limited to participation for policymakers and regulators by invitation through the AWGCC focal points.  

UNFCCC/IGES Regional Collaboration Centre in Bangkok (RCC Bangkok) in collaboration with ESCAP, IDRC and UNIDO will be hosting an event that serves as an avenue for SMEs and diverse stakeholders to identify capacity and/or knowledge gaps and needs where support is urgently required or is available in regard to climate action. This event will take place virtually on 26 October 2021 at 13:00-17:30 pm (GMT+7). Read more... 

Over 80 participants, including representatives from the Ministries, development partners and finance institutions from twelve countries from Pacific SIDS participated at the 2-day workshop on “NDC Implementation: Good Practices in the Pacific”. This workshop provided an avenue for Pacific SIDS to identify areas where implementation can be fast-tracked to help ensure NDC targets are realized, as well as share good practices on NDC implementation and to identify areas of cooperation between countries and development partners.

UNFCCC/IGES Regional Collaboration Centre in Bangkok (RCC Bangkok) in collaboration with ESCAP, IDRC and UNIDO will be hosting a side event at the Thematic Sessions of the Asia Pacific Climate Week. This event will take place virtually on 8 July 2021 at 15:00-16:30 pm (GMT+7)

In continuation with the Virtual Workshop Series that were initiated in 2020, RCC Bangkok and RCC Dubai conducted the Fourth Episode of the DNA Virtual Workshop Series. The focus of the workshop was on the topic "Sustainable Development Assessment of Climate Change Actions". This focus of the workshop was aligned to the on-going momentum on accelerating

On 9 - 10 February, The Regional Dialogue on Youth Empowerment in Climate Actions, co-organized by RCC Bangkok, UNDP and a number of other partners in the region, successfully gathered more than 1,000 young leaders, government officials nd civil society representatives from the Asia-Pacific region. The event marked the launch of a regional youth empowerment platform on climate action.

Over 120 participants from the region participated the workshop on “Good Practices in NDC Update and Implementation: Challenges and Lessons Learned from Asia, the Middle East and North Africa” to share challenges and good practices in NDC implementation process, and identify areas of collaboration as countries enter the next cycle of NDC update process.