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Southeast Asia Rises to Climate Challenges: Uniting Nature, Technology, and Collaboration at COP29

From left Dave Sivaprasad (BCG), Siti Kamariah Ahmad Subki (Think City), YB Nik Nazmi (NRES), Sandeep Chamling Rai (WWF), and Richard J.T. Klein (Stockholm Environment Institute). © WWF Asia Pacific
 
20 November, Baku, Azerbaijan – As one of the regions most exposed to climate risks, Southeast Asia faces significant economic, social and natural challenges. However, with its rich natural resources and the latest technological advancements, the region has a unique opportunity to leverage nature to strengthen climate resilience. At COP29, leaders, experts, and advocates of climate action convened yesterday at the Center for Public Impact Pavilion for a critical discussion titled “Nature, Tech, and Collective Action: Advancing Southeast Asia’s Resilience.” The session highlighted the region’s vulnerabilities to climate hazards and presented innovative solutions to build resilience for the future. 
 
YB Nik Nazmi delivering his keynote speech. © Ministry of Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability, Malaysia

The event opened with a keynote address by YB Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad, Minister of Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability of Malaysia. In his address, he emphasised the importance of leveraging regional collaboration to address climate challenges. “Southeast Asia’s strength lies in its interconnectedness. By uniting under a shared vision, we can amplify our efforts, unlock greater funding, foster collaboration, and scale impactful solutions,” said Nik Nazmi.

Moderated by Dave Sivaprasad from Boston Consulting Group, the panel discussion featured three distinguished speakers, Sandeep Chamling Rai, Global Lead, WWF and IFRC Partnership and WWF International Climate and Energy Practice; Siti Kamariah Ahmad Subki, Think City Board Director and Managing Director of Yayasan Hasanah; and Richard J.T. Klein, Senior Research Fellow, Stockholm Environment Institute, who explored the role of nature based solutions (NbS), technology, and collective action in driving climate adaptation and resilience efforts in Southeast Asia.
 
Panellists and the moderator. From left Dave Sivaprasad (BCG), Richard J.T. Klein (Stockholm Environment Institute), Siti Kamariah Ahmad Subki (Think City), and Sandeep Chamling Rai (WWF). © WWF Asia Pacific

During the panel session, panellists offered compelling insights into strategies to address current and future climate challenges. Sandeep Chamling Rai emphasised the urgency of NbS to address the climate crises. “Nature is our secret ally but we need to understand the limitations of nature. We do have a time frame to optimise the use of NbS extensively to combat climate change. There is a lot that needs to be done and there is potential to scale up not only in Southeast Asia but beyond.” 

Southeast Asia’s rich natural ecosystems are vital shields against climate change. The conversation centred on the importance of investing in NbS, not just as a means of adaptation, but as a pathway to strengthen and empower communities. “It is about centring our home, community and shared resources,” said Siti Kamariah Ahmad Subki. She added that the role of technology should amplify what communities already know while harnessing ancestral knowledge and remaining culturally relevant.

The event also highlighted the Southeast Asia Climate Adaptation and Resilience (SEACAR) Alliance, formed in 2023 by Think City, WWF, and BCG, and officially launched at COP28 in Dubai. SEACAR, in collaboration with the Global Resilience Partnership (GRP), has announced plans for a Call for Solutions challenge aimed at surfacing impactful and scalable adaptation projects that integrate NbS with technology. This new initiative is set to highlight groundbreaking projects during COP30 in Brazil next year. Additionally, SEACAR is currently working on its second report to further strengthen regional climate resilience efforts.

In concluding his remarks, YB Nik Nazmi said, “As Malaysia takes the chairship of ASEAN in 2025, I urge us to come together as an ASEAN community and develop innovative solutions that not only protect our region but also serve as hope towards a sustainable, prosperous and resilient future for all.” 
 
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About WWF-Malaysia 
Established in 1972, WWF-Malaysia is part of WWF, the international conservation organisation. Working to sustain the natural world for the benefit of people and wildlife, WWF-Malaysia’s efforts to conserve nature focus on six major goals - forests, oceans, wildlife, food, climate and energy, as well as freshwater – and three key drivers of environmental problems – markets, finance and governance. Our mission is to stop the degradation of the earth’s natural environment and to build a future in which humans live in harmony with nature.

Find our latest news here:

https://www.wwf.org.my/media_and_information/media_centre_and_updates/


About BCG 
Boston Consulting Group partners with leaders in business and society to tackle their most important challenges and capture their greatest opportunities. BCG was the pioneer in business strategy when it was founded in 1963. Today, we work closely with clients to embrace a transformational approach aimed at benefiting all stakeholders— empowering organisations to grow, build sustainable competitive advantage, and drive positive societal impact. Our diverse, global teams bring deep industry and functional expertise and a range of perspectives that question the status quo and spark change. BCG delivers solutions through leading-edge management consulting, technology and design, and corporate and digital ventures. We work in a uniquely collaborative model across the firm and throughout all levels of the client organisation, fueled by the goal of helping our clients thrive and enabling them to make the world a better place.


About Think City 
Think City is an impact organisation established in 2009 to create more sustainable and equitable places for the benefit of all. Our knowledge, skills and strategies focus on urban solutions, the environment, social communities, and the cultural economy. Think City is a wholly owned subsidiary of Khazanah Nasional (the sovereign wealth fund of the Government of Malaysia).

For more information, log on to
www.thinkcity.com.my

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