Asia - Japan, Philippines, Thailand 
Challenge
Asia faces diverse and growing climate risks, but regional knowledge on adaptation strategies remains fragmented and underrepresented in global discourse.
Solution
A special peer-reviewed journal issue compiled evidence-based research on climate vulnerability and adaptation strategies across Asian contexts.
Overview
To strengthen regional understanding and visibility of climate change research in Asia, a special issue titled “Climate Change Impacts, Vulnerability and Adaptation: Asian Perspective” was published in the Elsevier journal Environmental Research (Volume 188, 2020), viewable here. Sangnam Shrestha (Asian Institute of Technology, Thailand) led the effort.
This effort was supported by the Asia-Pacific Network for Global Change Research (APN) as part of its mission to foster collaborative scientific efforts that inform regional responses to climate change.
The special peer-reviewed journal issue brought together original peer-reviewed research from across the region. Topics included agriculture and food security, water resource management, urban resilience, community-based adaptation, and health-related impacts of climate change. The publication served as a platform to showcase Asian scholarship and as a resource for evidence-based policymaking.
Why it was needed
Asia is home to many of the world’s most climate-vulnerable populations, yet localized research often remains underrepresented in high-impact international journals. Policymakers and practitioners in the region require region-specific data, insights, and frameworks to guide decisions. The special issue addressed the need for consolidated, accessible, and regionally relevant knowledge that reflects the diversity of Asian social, economic, and environmental contexts.
What was included
The issue featured 15 articles authored by APN-supported scholars from institutions across Asia. It began with an editorial by Dr. Shrestha and the other three editors: Linda Anne Stevenson (APN), Rajib Shaw (Keio University), and Juan Pulhin (University of the Philippines Los Baños).
Key themes in the issue included:
- Urban and rural vulnerability to climate extremes
- Community-based adaptation and stakeholder participation
- Water governance and climate-resilient infrastructure
- Health risks associated with temperature rise
- Modeling techniques for climate impact assessment
Publication in a high-impact journal increased the issue’s visibility and accessibility for regional and global audiences.
Project details
| Project title | Special Issue on Climate Impacts, Vulnerability and Adaptation |
|---|---|
| Year started | 2019 |
| Duration | 1 year |
| Countries involved | n/a |
| Funding awarded | US$20,000 |
| Funded by | Asia-Pacific Network for Global Change Research (APN) |
| Program | Any other activities (AOA) |
| Grant DOI | https://doi.org/10.30852/p.4625 |
| Project reference number | AOA2019-01SY-Shrestha |
| Project leader (organization, country) | Sangam Shrestha (Asian Institute of Technology, Thailand) |
Acknowledgements
This publication was supported by the Asia-Pacific Network for Global Change Research (APN).
Related information
- Shrestha, S., Stevenson, L. A., Shaw, R., & Pulhin, J. (2020). Climate Change Impacts, Vulnerability and Adaptation: Asian Perspective. Environmental Research, 188, 109826. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envres.2020.109826
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Keywords
- # Case Study
- # Asia
- # Japan
- # Philippines
- # Thailand
- # Adaptation Planning/Policy
- # Education/Awareness/Information
- # Impact Assessment/Risk Assessment
- # International Cooperation
- # Research/Innovation
- # Agriculture
- # Human Health
- # Infrastructure
- # Life of Citizenry and Urban Life
- # Local Communities
- # Natural Disasters
- # Water Environment/Water Resources
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