By Faculty of Climate Change and Sustainability (FCCS)
The Faculty of Climate Change and Sustainability (FCCS) at the Asian Institute of Technology (AIT) successfully concluded its Climate Change Seminar Series 2026, held throughout January and February 2026 for the AIT community. The Seminar Series brought together a prestigious lineup of international experts to discuss how to bridge the gap between global policy and practical implementation.
“Understanding the multifaceted aspects of climate change and solutions through shared learning and in a transdisciplinary fashion is critical for AIT students and staff, irrespective of their discipline, since climate change is one of the most critical global challenges of our time”, said Professor Shobhakar Dhakal, Professor at FCCS, who has organised this seminar series annually since 2018 together with Dr. Bindu Nath Lohani. “Dialogue, debate, and critical thinking are essential for climate solutions, and the role of institutions such as AIT is to foster and build such platforms. Our climate change seminar series seeks to do this,” remarked Dr. Bindu Nath Lohani, Vice Chair of AIT’s Board of Trustees and Chancellor of the University of Nepal.
Delivered as a part of an academic course (IN 00.41: Climate Change Challenges and Responses), the seminar series offered a high-level exploration of global climate challenges and the strategic responses needed to address them. By integrating perspectives from a diverse set of speakers from key global institutions, the program provided students with a comprehensive view of the economic, technological, and political frameworks driving today’s global climate agenda.
The curriculum was designed to address the most critical pillars of modern sustainability. Key areas of focus included the historical evolution of sustainable development and the current state of global climate negotiations, with specific attention to the vulnerabilities and leadership of Developed Countries. The series also delved into the complexities of the Energy Transition and transformative adaptation in the Asia-Pacific region, examining how multilateral financing and technology innovation, specifically the cutting-edge role of AI and digital tools, can optimize mitigation efforts.
Beyond technical solutions, the seminar explored:
- Nature-based Solutions (NbS): Protecting biodiversity while addressing social and economic challenges.
- Food System Transformation: Aligning food production with climate mitigation goals.
- Just Transition: Ensuring equity and empathy in the shift away from fossil fuels.
- Resilient Finance: Navigating the macroeconomic challenges and the role of international financial architecture.
- Science Communication: Effective strategies for sharing findings with the public and policymakers.
The seminar series emphasized that “every choice matters” in the fight against global warming. By convening experts from the IPCC, the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP), the Asian Development Bank (ADB), and renowned universities such as University of Oxford and University of Groningen, corporate sectors such as Tencent, and the media and communication sector, AIT continues to reinforce its role as a regional hub for science-based policy dialogue and solutions-oriented research.
The seminar series concluded by highlighting the urgency of closing the gap between climate ambition and real-world implementation. Discussions pointed to the need for accelerated and scaled action, supported by stronger institutions, aligned finance, and ambitious but practical policy tools, so that commitments could translate into measurable outcomes.
| Title | Distinguished Speaker | |
|---|---|---|
| Sustainable Development: historical evolution, milestones, and status (01/22/2026) | Dr Bindu Nath Lohani Vice-Chair, AIT Board of Trustees; Chancellor- University of Nepal; Former Vice-President, Asian Development Bank |  |
| Climate Change and International Climate Negotiations: where do we stand and where to go from here? (01/27/2026) | Prof. Shobhakar Dhakal Faculty of Climate Change and Sustainability, Asian Institute of Technology (Coordinating Lead Author of IPCC Special Report on Cities and Climate Change) |  |
| The state of climate change negotiations, and Least Developed Countries (LDCs) (01/27/2026) | Mr. Manjeet Dhakal Lead Advisor to the Chair of LDC Group on climate change; Head of LDC Support Team and Director, Climate Analytics South Asia |  |
| Global Energy Transition and the Asia Pacific Region: How to Overcome the Challenges (01/28/2026) | Mr. Michael Williamson Section Chief, Energy Division, UN Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP), Bangkok |  |
| Nature-based Solutions to Address Climate Change, Biodiversity Loss and Sustainable Development (02/05/2026) | Mr Robert (Bob) J. Dobias Advisor – Climate Change Center, National Research Council of Thailand (NRCT) |  |
| Climate science communication: Needs, challenges and opportunities (02/09/2026) | Mr. Jonathan Lynn Independent Media and Communication Consultant and former Head of IPCC Communications and Media Relations. |  |
| ‘Just’ Climate Transition: Challenges and Opportunities for Action (02/10/2026) | Dr Prasad Modak Managing Director, Environmental Management Centre Pvt Ltd; Director, Ekonnect Knowledge Foundation (EMC), India |  |
| Climate Resilient microeconomy, policy and finance (02/12/2026) | Dr. Hamza Ali Malik Director, Macroeconomic Policy and Financing for Development Division, United Nations Economic and Social Commissions for Asia and the Pacific, Thailand. |  |
| Food Systems Transformation for Climate Change Mitigation and Sustainable Development (02/17/2026) | Dr. Prajal Pradhan Integrated Research on Energy, Environment & Society (IREES) – Energy and Sustainability Research Institute, Faculty of Science and Engineering, University of Groningen, the Netherlands Coordinating Lead Author, IPCC 7th Assessment Report (Mitigation) |  |
| Addressing Climate Change through Innovation and Digital Technologies – AI and Energy (02/19/2026) | Dr. Yongping Zhai Senior Advisor, Tencent Holdings, China Former Energy Chief, Asian Development Bank |  |
| Low Carbon Energy Transition: A Multilateral Financing Institution’s perspective (02/24/2026) | Dr Priyantha D.C. Wijayatunga Senior Director, Energy Sector Office, Asian Development Bank, Manila |  |
| Climate governance and policy (02/26/2026) | Dr. Emma Lecavalier Research Fellow (Climate Policy Hub), Blavatnik School of Government, University of Oxford, United Kingdom |  |
