Chulalongkorn University’s Collaboration with NGOs to Advance Climate Adaptation

Chulalongkorn University recognizes the importance of building strong partnerships with both national and international organizations to enhance strategies and strengthen capacity in climate adaptation. The University actively collaborates with various non-governmental organizations (NGOs) to develop and implement initiatives that integrate environmental sustainability, urban resilience, and inclusive development. These collaborations aim to generate tangible outcomes that foster sustainable and climate-resilient communities at both local and regional levels.

IGES and Chulalongkorn University Sign Memorandum of Agreement for a Sustainable and Inclusive ASEAN

On 20 August 2025, the Institute for Global Environmental Strategies (IGES) and the Asian Research Center for Migration of the Institute for Asian Studies, Chulalongkorn University, Thailand, signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA), launching a new partnership to advance joint efforts in environmental sustainability, climate resilience and inclusive development across the Asian region.

The agreement, signed by IGES President Kazuhiko Takeuchi and the Director of the Institute of Asian Studies at Chulalongkorn University Assoc. Prof. Dr. Pavika Sriratanaban, provides a framework for joint research, capacity building and knowledge sharing to address urgent regional issues, including climate change adaptation and mitigation, sustainable urban development, migration, and the mainstreaming of gender and inclusion in policy.

“This agreement marks the beginning of stronger partnership between IGES and Chulalongkorn University, through the Asian Research Center for Migration of the Institute for Asian Studies” stated Prof. Takeuchi. He added that the two institutes aim to generate knowledge and solutions that support ASEAN’s climate and development agendas and contribute to global sustainability goals.

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Pavika Sriratanaban expressed that “With this partnership, we extend the agenda to embrace the critical intersections of environment, climate and inclusivity, ensuring that the voices of the vulnerable – women, children, persons with disabilities and migrant communities are not only heard but actively help shape policy.” She noted that this collaboration aligns with key ASEAN priorities, including the ASEAN Climate Change Strategic Action Plan (2025-2030), the ASEAN Commission on the Promotion and Protection of the Rights of Women and Children (ACWC) Work Plans, and the ASEAN Framework on Protection, Gender and Inclusion in Disaster Management.

The signing ceremony was honored by the presence of Asst. Prof. Dr. Ratchada Jayagupta, Director of the Asian Research for Migration and Thailand’s Representative to ACWC for Women’s Rights; Asst. Prof. Dr. Bhanubhatra Jittiang, Deputy Dean of Academic Affairs and International Affairs and Director of the Nelson Mandela Center at the Faculty of Political Science, and Thailand Representative to AICHR; Emeritus Professor Dr. Amara Pongsapich, former Chairperson of the National Human Rights Commission of Thailand and former Thailand Representative to the ASEAN Intergovernmental Commission on Human Rights (AICHR); and Emeritus Professor Surichai Wun’Gaeo, former Director of the Center for Peace and Conflict Studies, among others.

Both IGES and Chulalongkorn University are committed to ensuring their partnership leads to meaningful and collective action – where research drives action, partnership transcends borders and where knowledge is harnessed to solve challenges in ways that are inclusive, resilient and sustainable.

About the Asian Research Center for Migration (ARCM), Institute of Asian Studies, Chulalongkorn University

The Asian Research Center for Migration (ARCM) , based in the Institute of Asian Studies, Chulalongkorn University, is an internationally recognised center of excellence in social science research. Initially founded in 1987 as the Indochinese Refugee Information Center, the Center was established with the mission of conducting research on the flows of refugees from Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam and other Southeast Asian countries seeking asylum in Thailand. After the Indochinese refugee crisis had abated in Thailand and the refugee camps were closed under the Comprehensive Plan of Action, the Center began to conduct research on new refugee situations that had begun to emerge in Southeast Asia. In recognition of this newly broadened research focus, the Center was reconstituted as the Asian Research Center for Migration in 1995. Since then, it has significantly expanded its thematic areas and now include projects on all forms of international migration in Southeast Asia, with a particular emphasis on Thailand as a sending, receiving and transit country.

[ https://www.iges.or.jp/en/news/20250821 ]

Youth Capacity Workshop: Developing Youth Solutions for Urban Climate Resilience in Design with Climate: Nature-based Solutions Symposium (BKKCAW2025)

The Faculty of Architecture, Chulalongkorn University, is pleased to invite everyone to join the Bangkok Climate Action Week (BKKCAW), an annual city-based climate festival inspired by the London Climate Action Week, Europe’s largest independent climate gathering. The event will take place on September 27–28, 2025, from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM at the Faculty of Architecture, Chulalongkorn University.

Through public programs, performances, exhibitions, policy labs, and community-led initiatives, BKKCAW fosters bold, creative, whole-of-society engagement to reimagine urban sustainability and build a climate-resilient, inclusive future for Thailand. The inaugural BKKCAW in September 2025 will be a key platform for climate innovation in Thailand. Anchored by the Faculty of Architecture, Chulalongkorn University, it will feature the flagship Nature-based Solutions Symposium, bringing together experts, policymakers, and practitioners to explore innovative adaptation strategies, encourage interdisciplinary dialogue, and showcase cutting-edge research and design.

As a key component of the Nature-based Solutions Symposium, the Asian Development Bank (ADB) will lead an innovation workshop on “Youth Capacity Workshop: Developing Youth Solutions for Urban Climate Resilience” designed to empower young change-makers in urban climate resilience in Thailand. This dynamic two-day workshop will combine expert knowledge-sharing on a wide range of urban climate resilience topics, including sponge city, solutions for heat stress, water management, and climate finance, with a design thinking approach, enabling youth participants to design and pitch actionable projects tailored to specific urban issues in their cities.

By bridging ADB’s expertise with community innovation, the workshop will nurture the next generation of climate leaders while translating ideas into practical, youth-driven solutions. This collaboration embodies BKKCAW’s commitment to inclusive climate action, creating a platform where emerging young leaders can develop sustainable, resilient urban futures for their communities through knowledge acquisition and real-world application.

[ https://www.chula.ac.th/en/news/255565/ ]