The Asia and Pacific Region is vulnerable to climate change with impacts such as extreme weather events and sea level rise currently being experienced in many countries. The region’s geography, characterized by extensive coastlines, low-lying territories, and many small island states, makes it highly susceptible to climate impacts. Climate change is also worsening the incidence of disasters in the region by increasing the frequency and severity of extreme events. Since 1970 natural hazards have affected 6.9 billion people and killed more than 2 million in the region. As such, climate change poses serious and growing threats to economic development and could derail progress in poverty reduction in the region.⁽¹⁾

With the climate crisis already being felt, there is an urgent need to implement climate adaptation solutions to help improve the resilience of vulnerable countries and communities in the region. ADB’s developing member countries through their nationally determined contributions, national adaptation plans, and other national climate action plans have set out their climate ambitions and priorities. Technology is an important aspect in achieving these climate ambitions. Application of climate adaptation technologies is a critical response to assess and manage climate-related risks comprehensively and to adapt to the increasingly significant impacts of climate change.⁽²⁾

As part of planned activities based on the Work Program of cooperation for environment agreed between the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the Ministry of Environment Japan (MOEJ), ADB in partnership with MOEJ and the Ministry of Trade, Economy and Industry (METI), are organizing a series of virtual brown bag seminars which aim to strengthen knowledge and understanding among policy makers, project managers, and practitioners on the issue of climate change and disasters, recognize the economic benefits of investing in climate change adaptation and disaster resilience, and raise awareness on available and emerging technologies for risk-informed decision making and building climate and disaster resilience.

The webinar series will also serve as a platform for Japanese companies to introduce new and innovative solutions, technologies, and tools to address climate risks in selected priority sectors such as water, agriculture, and transport.