In the context of this urgent need for the global community to respond to the challenge of climate change, it is generally agreed that capacity-building is one of the fundamental building blocks for ensuring successful implementation of climate policies and actions to comply with the Paris Agreement and achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). In 2014, the Thailand Greenhouse Gas Management Organization launched the Climate Change International Technical and Training Center (CITC), to serve as a knowledge hub and training platform to help meet the needs of ASEAN stakeholders to develop their capacity. The CITC places South-South and triangular cooperation at the centre of its strategy, with an eye to strengthening mutual learning and fostering collaboration among ASEAN countries. The Center’s objectives include promoting collaborative initiatives and addressing common and specific challenges among ASEAN Member States and stakeholders. This is accomplished through the sharing of experience and knowledge at the intra-regional, sub-regional and bilateral levels.
Jointly produced by the United Nations Office for South-South Cooperation (UNOSSC), the Thailand Greenhouse Gas Management Organization (TGO) and the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), this publication showcases five case studies that illustrate the number of ways that TGO/CITC’s climate change capacity building is undertaken in the ASEAN region, namely:
- Building Regional training capacity on climate change mitigation, adaptation and climate finance;
- Regional engagement with the ASEAN Working Group on Climate Change (AWGCC);
- Bilateral cooperation between TGO/CITC and Viet Nam;
- TGO/CITC regional conferences; and
- Strategic engagement in the United Nations Climate Change Conferences.
The case studies show that South-South Cooperation is at the heart of the Center, through its willingness to share its knowledge and experience. Triangular cooperation, as exemplified by JICA’s close support for TGO/CITC, also plays an important role in its success.