The Expert Group Meeting (EGM) on Mainstreaming Climate Change into National Urban Policies was held from 17 to 18 March 2015 in Bangkok in partnership with UN-Habitat and UNEP to inaugurate the United Nations Development Account project “Strengthening capacities of Member States in the Asian and Pacific region to mainstream climate change concerns into national urban-related policies”. A number of countries in the region have national policies and dedicated institutions for addressing climate change, through mitigation and adaptation measures. However, there is a lack of integration and harmonization of national initiatives and policies at the sub-national levels. In order to overcome these challenges, urban-focused climate policies need to be mainstreamed into national and local policy frameworks.
In the meeting, countries highlighted their challenges in terms of urban-national policy linkages and agreed to work toward greater mainstreaming. Strategic national planning and preliminary work plan development were addressed through group exercises. Lessons drawn from the project will enhance regional coordination and activity in mainstreaming of climate change actions at both national and local level. The project will continue over the next three years to assist the countries in policies related to capacity, financing and institutional development.
The EGM was attended by 25 country team members consisting of priority countries namely Bangladesh, Nepal, Philippines, Sri Lanka and Viet Nam, with additional participating countries from Indonesia, Mongolia and Myanmar. They were composed of national and local government representatives and agencies responsible for climate change and urban development policies and joined by resource persons from relevant UN agencies, civil society and the private sector.
RELATED DOCUMENTS
PROGRAMME
- Project Brochure: Expert Group Meeting on Mainstreaming Climate Change into National Urban Policies
- Agenda: Expert Group Meeting on Mainstreaming Climate Change into National Urban Policies