WEBINAR: The impacts of COVID-19 on adaptation planning in Asian LDCs

The impacts of COVID-19 on adaptation planning in Asian LDCs

Time: 15:00-16:00 (BKK) 8:00-9:00 (UTC) 

Watch the webinar recording

The GEF funded National Adaptation Plan Global Support Programme (NAP-GSP), in collaboration with SLYCAN Trust, held a webinar to hear experiences from least developed countries (LDCs) in Asia to discuss the impacts of COVID-19 on their adaptation planning. The webinar looked at how Asian LDCs are addressing the challenges, whilst planning to ‘build back better’ through the National Adaptation Plan (NAP) process. Almost 80 participants attended this webinar, which highlighted experiences from Bangladesh, Cambodia and Maldives and Nepal. The discussion indicated that whilst the pandemic is immensely problematic for all LDCs, countries are proactively rising to the challenge in unique ways. 

Whilst COVID-19 has in some ways adversely impacted the timeframes of NAP processes in LDCs, and threatened ongoing development work, the pandemic has brought into stark focus the priorities, processes and policies and which will ultimately strengthen the NAPs. Climate change increases the likelihood of pandemics. With this in mind, the webinar panellists agreed that the NAP process is more relevant now than ever before. They called for intensified urgency to scale up NAPs based on the best science and data, and plan for resilience – including in public health systems – towards ‘building back greener’. Through highlighting the potential for a 'health-climate nexus', the webinar provided insights into how effective climate responses are relevant to the COVID-19 recovery plans, as well as first-hand experiences to support LDCs navigate the ‘new normal’.

This webinar was the first in a series of webinars from NAP-GSP to be conducted in 2020 focussing on how COVID-19 has impacted National Adaptation Plans process and ongoing development work in LDCs globally. This webinar was conducted by NAP-GSP in partnership SLYCAN Trust. The webinar was held via Clickmeeting at 15:00-16:00 (UTC+7) and broadcast via Facebook Livestream. A full recap on the webinar discussion can be found here. 

Speakers:

1. Mr. Ali Shareef, Maldives  (Climate Change Department of the Ministry of Environment and Energy of Maldives)
2. Mr. Arif Faisal, Bangladesh (Programme Specialist of Environmental Sustainability & Energy at the UNDP)
3. Dr. Heng Chan Thoeun, Cambodia (The Department of Climate Change in Cambodia)
4. Dr. Maheshwar Dhakal, Nepal (Joint Secretary (Government of Nepal), Project Director (NAP Project) and Focal Person (UNFCCC and UNCCD)
5. Moderator: Vositha Wijenayake, SLYCAN Trust
6. Introduction: Rohini Kohli, Lead Technical Specialist, National Adaptation Plan - Global Support Programme (NAP-GSP), UNDP

Concept note

Agenda: