31 July 2025 – The Asian Institute of Technology (AIT) convened policymakers, researchers, and community representatives from Samut Prakan and Bangkok for a three-day Participatory Workshop on Resettlement, Transformation, and Eco-Adaptation Typology (ReTrEAT) for Cities and Communities facing the impacts of rising seas. Representatives from the Stockholm Environment Institute (SEI) and Mekong Think Tanks (MTT) Secretariat, and partners from Vietnam also joined, providing valuable regional perspectives on adaptation challenges and opportunities.
Held from 29 to 31 July at the AIT Conference Centre, the event addressed one of Southeast Asia’s most pressing challenges: climate change-induced sea-level rise and its impact on vulnerable coastal communities. Participants worked together to co-develop locally grounded and socially inclusive strategies for resettlement, infrastructure resilience, and eco-adaptation.
A Co-Production of Knowledge Approach
The workshop formed part of the ReTrEAT Cities Project, which adopts a collaborative “co-production of knowledge” methodology. This approach brought together government officials, local authorities, community leaders, academics, youth, and representatives of marginalized groups, ensuring that voices often left unheard were central to shaping adaptation strategies.
Gender Equality, Disability, and Social Inclusion (GEDSI) principles were embedded throughout the sessions, highlighting the barriers faced by women, people with disabilities, the elderly, and low-income households during climate emergencies and resettlement. The workshop created a platform for participants to serve as research partners, sharing ideas to better support vulnerable groups.
Interactive Sessions and Field Visit
Over two days, participants engaged in scenario mapping, policy gap analysis, and group design exercises such as “Imagining the Ideal Village”, a visioning activity for inclusive, climate-resilient coastal communities. Breakout sessions focused on:
- Resettlement Plans: Preserving cultural ties, ensuring safety, and securing livelihoods.
- Infrastructure Resilience: Identifying climate-vulnerable infrastructure and integrating nature-based solutions like mangrove restoration.
- GEDSI Integration: Empowering women leaders, youth advocates, and persons with disabilities to lead adaptation planning.
The workshop concluded with a site visit to Bangkok’s Bang Khun Thian District, one of Thailand’s most vulnerable coastal zones. Representatives from the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) and SEI joined the visit, engaging with local stakeholders and observing first-hand the adaptation challenges on the ground.
A Step Toward Regional Impact
Dr. Malay Pramanik, the project’s principal investigator, emphasized that lessons from this participatory process will inform policy development and regional initiatives across lower Mekong countries, providing a replicable model for equitable and sustainable adaptation to sea-level rise.
The ReTrEAT Cities Project underscores that community-led planning, supported by scientific evidence and inclusive governance, is essential to building resilient futures for coastal populations at risk from climate change.
Looking Ahead: Cambodia on the Horizon
The project will continue with its next workshop in Cambodia, upholding its commitment to inclusive, community-driven climate adaptation. This initiative demonstrates that meaningful participation begins from day one. It is more than hearing people’s experiences, it is about collaborating and making shared decisions that actively shape the path ahead.
