By Disaster Preparedness, Mitigation and Management (DPMM), SET
21 March 2025: The First UNCCRD Delta Summit 2025 brought together global leaders, experts, and community representatives at the Asian Institute of Technology (AIT), Thailand, to accelerate action for the conservation and sustainable governance of river deltas. This first of a kind landmark event, led by the DeltasUNite Initiative and organized from 17-20 March 2025 is a crucial step in operationalizing the United Nations Convention for Conserving River Deltas (UNCCRD), which was unveiled at COP28 in Dubai.
More than 140 participants from 24 countries across four continents attended the Summit and engaged in insightful discussions that will be consolidated into a White Paper to be delivered to the United Nations, outlining policy recommendations and governance mechanisms for delta conservation through the UNCCRD.
“The Summit is aimed at gathering and consolidating diverse perspectives, including grassroots voices into the development and operation of the UNCCRD”, stated Dr. Indrajit Pal, Summit Convener and Associate Professor at AIT, during the opening session. Similarly, Prof. Pai-Chi Li, AIT President, expressed gratitude to the global community for organizing an important event and highlighted the need to collect and exhibit state-of-the-art knowledge to promote delta sustainability. Mr. Freeman Elohor Oluowo, Lead and Focal Person of the DeltasUNite and UNCCRD Initiative expressed the urgent need for collaborative action, stating, “The Summit has been instrumental in demonstrating that diverse groups can work together to co-create solutions to common issues in global deltas”.
River deltas, home to over 500 million people worldwide, are under increasing threat from urbanization, industrialization and climate change. Rising sea levels, acidification, deforestation and pollution are accelerating environmental degradation, with severe consequences for both biodiversity and communities. Prominent deltas such as the Chao Phraya, Mekong, Red River, Yangtze, Niger, Indus, Nile and Ganges-Brahmaputra-Meghna are already experiencing these impacts, leading to biodiversity loss, food insecurity, forced migration, and economic instability. The urgency of these challenges has driven a global call for coordinated action, with the UNCCRD Delta Summit 2025 serving as a platform for diverse stakeholders to join hands in developing sustainable solutions.
The Summit opened with keynote addresses from H.E. Senator Douye Diri, Executive Governor of Bayelsa State, Nigeria, and Dr. Bhichit Rattakul, President of the Thai Network for Disaster Resilience and former Governor of Bangkok. Senator Diri delivered a powerful message on the environmental devastation caused by oil and gas exploration in the Niger Delta, emphasizing that people’s lives were at risk, while 40% of mangrove forests have been lost due to rising sea levels and pollution. He called for urgent global assistance to tackle the climate crisis and protect vulnerable communities, stressing that “Degradation of river deltas is no longer tolerable.” He also proposed the designation of a “Global Delta Day” to raise awareness and mobilize international action.
Dr. Rattakul, while highlighting critical issues faced in Mekong and Chao Phraya delta regions, emphasized that strengthening delta resilience is crucial for securing the long-term sustainability of livelihoods and food security, especially as climate change accelerates the impacts of climate hazards. He urged for deeper discussions on policy interventions, regional cooperation, and community engagement in delta conservation.
In the Opening Plenary Panel Discussion chaired and moderated by Dr. John Dore, Lead Specialist of DFAT Australia, H.E. Mr. Faiyaz Murshid Kazi, Ambassador of Bangladesh to Thailand outlined Bangladesh’s Delta Plan 2100, a long-term policy framework integrating climate adaptation, infrastructure resilience, and sustainable development. He underscored the importance of cross-sectoral collaboration and international funding to safeguard delta communities. Similarly, H.E. Ms. Busadee Santipitaks, Chief Executive Officer of Mekong River Commission emphasized the role of transboundary cooperation, diplomacy, and collaborative governance in addressing regional delta challenges. She highlighted the MRC’s efforts in coordinating water management strategies among Mekong countries to mitigate climate and human-induced risks. Other panellists, including Hon. Gift Johnbull, Senior Special Assistant to the President of Federal Republic of Nigeria, Mr. Aslam Perwaiz, Executive Director of Asian Disaster Preparedness Center and Dr. Georgie Ferguson, community representative from the Pointe-Au-Chien Indian Tribe in Louisiana, USA discussed on the need and pathways for building global, regional and local partnerships for collective action in river delta conservation and resilience building.
The Summit featured twelve plenary keynotes, four plenary panel discussions, forty technical presentations and nine breakout sessions. Discussions focussed on a wide spectrum of issues and topics related to delta sustainability, including ecosystem restoration, biodiversity conservation, sustainable land-use planning, cultural heritage, economic resilience, infrastructure development, climate change challenges, governance gaps, strategies for resilience building and adaptation and use of technology, data and indigenous knowledge. Representatives from government, academia, private enterprises, international organizations, and community-based organizations actively engaged in the discussions, ensuring a multi-sectoral, multi-disciplinary, and bottom-up approach to addressing delta challenges, integrating perspectives from policymakers, researchers, and grassroots organizations.
The Summit has also strengthened momentum for the establishment of a “Global Delta Day”, reinforcing the need for annual international recognition. As the UNCCRD Delta Summit 2025 concludes, the focus now shifts to translating commitments into action. With key actors and stakeholders aligned on the need for urgent intervention, the event has provided a critical roadmap for ensuring river deltas remain resilient, productive, and sustainable for generations to come. The Summit also highlights AIT’s commitment to fostering global partnerships, collaboration and cooperation in bridging Technology, Policy and Society in addressing critical societal, environmental and development issues facing the world.
