The Joint Workshop convenes leading policymakers, corporate leaders, and internationally recognized scholars to examine how evidence-based policymaking, strategic foresight, and energy–climate modeling can accelerate Asia’s transition toward a resilient, low-carbon future. The workshop emphasizes actionable research and policy insights to support national transformation across the Global South.
Date: January 28, 2026 | The St. Regis Bangkok, Thailand
Agenda
Registration: 13:00-13:15
Welcome Remarks & Overview: 13:15-13:30
Part 1: Accelerating Energy Transition and Climate Action in Asia | 13:30–15:00
Featured Lectures
- Prof. Yeh Shin-cheng
Professor, National Taiwan Normal University | Former Minister, Taiwan
Independent Director, Zhen Ding Tech. (ZDT) Group
Topic: Resilience by Design: Strategic Foresight and Simulation for Asia’s Urban-Energy Future – Insights from Taiwan
- Prof. Shobhakar Dhakal
Professor and Former Vice President for Academic Affairs, AIT
IPCC Coordinating Lead Author
Topic: Energy Transition for a 1.5°C-Compatible World: Opportunities and Bottlenecks for the Global South
Panel Discussion
Topic: Accelerating Energy Transition and Climate Action in Asia: Evidence-Based Policymaking and Strategic Foresight for National Transformation
Moderator
- Prof. Pai-Chi Li, President, Asian Institute of Technology (AIT)
A world-renowned expert in electrical and biomedical engineering and and Fellow of IEEE, IAMBE, AIUM, and SPIE, Prof. Li has received numerous international awards for his leadership in research with industrial and societal impact.
Panelists
- Dr. Siri Jirapongphan (SCD ’80) – Former Minister of Energy, Thailand; former Executive Director, Petroleum Institute of Thailand and Chairman of the Audit Committee at Bangkok Bank PLC
- Mr. Chaiwat Kovavisarach – Group CEO & President, Bangchak Corporation Plc.; Chairman, OKEA ASA (Norway)
- Prof. Yeh Shin-cheng – Former Minister, Taiwan; Professor, National Taiwan Normal University and Independent Director, Zhen Ding Tech. (ZDT) Group
- Prof. Shobhakar Dhakal – IPCC Coordinating Lead Author; Professor and former Vice President for Academic Affairs, AIT
- Dr. Naveed Anwar – CEO, CSI Bangkok; former Vice President for Knowledge Transfer, AIT
Key Discussion Themes
- Energy and climate transition pathways in Asia
- Evidence-based policymaking and research–policy integration
- Balancing national energy security with green energy scaling
- The energy–climate–urban nexus and resilient infrastructure
- Strategic foresight: linking policy simulation to real-world action
15:00 Coffee Break
Part 2: Energy and Climate Scenario Planning, Foresight and Models | 15:15-16:50
Workshop: En-ROADS Simulator Demonstration and Practice Session
- Professor Chistopher Khittel, Associate Dean for Climate and Sustainability, MIT Sloan School of Management
- Bethany Patten (MBA ’13), Executive Director of MIT Climate Policy CenterPlease check again later.
Wrap Up & Closing Remarks | 16:50-17:00
