Climate Change Adaptation in Southeast Asia

This  book highlights the current issues, challenges, and priorities for  climate change adaptation in the ten member states of the Association of  Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). The status of each country was  prepared by a consortium of researchers in consultation with National  Focal Points of the ASEAN Working Group on Climate Change (AWGCC).  National documents on adaptation actions, including local scenario and  priorities, were reviewed where available and supplemented with an  assessment of scientific publications to identify vulnerable ecosystems  and regions. Adaptation needs and priorities were determined through  stakeholder consultation in the respective countries. This allows for  local-level perspectives to be captured and brought to the attention of  policy and decision-makers at the national and regional levels. An  important lesson from this exercise is that universities and research  institutions at the national level have a critical role to play in  bridging the gap between science and policy in climate change  adaptation. These institutions also have the capacity to continuously  facilitate transfer of the best available science for advancing climate  change adaptation at the local level.