In partnership with the Office of Transport and Traffic Policy and Planning (OTP), GIZ Thailand, through the Urban-Act project, has held a training series focused on climate-resilient transport infrastructure (CRTI).

The training session held on 16 July 2025 was a continuation of the first session, which provided an introduction to the fundamentals of climate change, its impact on transport systems, and the importance of conducting risk assessments. The second session emphasised the ‘Framework for Climate Change Adaptation’ and hands-on practice, where participants engaged in hands-on experiences in identifying climate risks and developing solutions through gamification methods and real-world case studies.

Global and National Action Plans

Lecture on ‘Framework for Climate Change Adaptation in the Transport Sector’ by Dr Pavin Thaloengsri, Climate Finance Expert, United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)

Thailand’s National Adaptation Plan (NAP) identifies transport as one of the key sectors that needs to be strengthened to build climate resilience. This sector is among six others: water resources management, agriculture and food security, tourism, public health, natural resources management, and human settlements and security.

The country’s efforts align with international guidelines, including the UNFCCC Adaptation Policy Framework, and are in line with the Global Goal on Adaptation under the Paris Agreement.

When transport systems fail during climate-related disasters, the consequences ripple across all sectors – delaying emergency responses, disrupting economic activities and isolating communities. That’s why building climate resilience into transport planning isn’t just important – it is essential.

Acting now to adapt infrastructure is far more cost-effective than paying for future damage

In Greenland, over 30 million tons of ice melts every hour, contributing to rising sea levels and increasing flood risks worldwide. A Newcastle University study of 14,000 airports worldwide warns that if global temperatures rise by 2°C by 2100, around 100 airports could be completely submerged and over 500 face severe flood risks. Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi Airport is already ranked among the world’s most flood-prone airports.

Clearly, early investment safeguards lives, livelihoods and the economy.

How the world is adapting

Case studies of ‘Sponge Cities’ in China
Photo credit: Dr Wang Xin from Tongji University in Shanghai, taken during a presentation at the Urban-Act Webinar and Urban-Act Knowledge Session: ‘From concepts practice: Urban Greening and Sponge City Strategies

Across the globe, countries are taking different approaches to building climate resilience. It often involves combining strategies for greater impact, such as

• Infrastructure-based: In Bangkok, elevated train lines and waterproof tunnel entrances are designed to withstand heavy urban flooding.
• Nature-based: Indonesia is restoring mangroves in coastal cities (such as Jakarta) to absorb floodwaters, while also upgrading roads and drainage systems.
• Behavioural: In the Netherlands, the Port of Rotterdam educates businesses about climate risks, despite the country already having strong flood defences.
• Institutional: China’s ‘Sponge Cities’, such as Wuhan and Shenzhen, use permeable pavements, green roofs and green corridors to manage stormwater more effectively.

These examples demonstrate that climate adaptation is not a one-size-fits-all approach. A combination of smart infrastructure, natural solutions, informed communities and robust policies can help cities remain resilient in the face of climate change.

Funding climate-resilient infrastructure
Adapting to climate change comes at a cost – but funding options are growing and becoming more accessible. Major global institutions, including the Green Climate Fund (GCF), the World Bank, and the Asian Development Bank (ADB), are supporting climate adaptation through a combination of grants and loans.

Private investment is also on the rise. Financial tools such as green bonds, sustainability-linked loans and ‘green taxonomies’ are increasingly being used to direct funding towards climate-focused projects. Today, transport accounts for 19% of global green bond investments.

Real-world examples include climate-resilient roads in Cambodia, flood-proof transport systems in the Philippines, and road upgrades in India’s Bihar and Odisha states, which are supported by the World Bank.

Designing smart adaptation options

During the training, participants learned how to assess the impacts of climate change on transport systems and develop practical adaptation plans using a straightforward, step-by-step approach:

1. Impact Assessment: Identify how climate events (such as flooding or extreme heat) affect roads, railways or ports.
2. Vulnerability Assessment: Identify areas most at risk, such as low-lying roads that are prone to flooding or damage.
3. Response Capacity: Assess how effectively existing systems can withstand climate shock and how quickly they can recover.

Participants then applied this process to design real-world adaptation strategies, such as raising road levels, improving drainage systems, or rerouting train lines to avoid high-risk zones.

The training also emphasised the importance of planning for both immediate and long-term needs:

• Short-term actions (1-3 years): These focus on addressing urgent risks and implementing quick fixes, such as reinforcing flood-damaged roads, repairing disrupted train lines or establishing emergency response plans.
• Medium- to long-term actions (over 3 years): These aim to build lasting resilience through infrastructure upgrades, forward-looking transport policies, and investment in research and innovation.

Laying the groundwork for climate-resilient transport
A significant key takeaway from the training was that a key success factor of climate adaptation is clearly assigning responsibility. Whether it involves a national agency, a local authority, or a private sector partner, every actor must understand their role in implementing climate adaptation measures.

From games to gains: learning made engaging
The session on gamification brought a fresh, engaging twist to the serious challenge of building climate-resilient transport infrastructure.

Through interactive role-play, participants stepped into the shoes of key stakeholders – ranging from government officials and private sector leaders to representatives from civil society. With a shared mission to protect and strengthen the nation’s transport systems against extreme climate impacts, players were challenged to negotiate, collaborate, and make tough decisions within tight resource and budget constraints. This situation reflected the real-world pressures that many nations encounter today.

The exercise not only encouraged strategic thinking but also sparked meaningful dialogue on infrastructure vulnerability, the weight of responsibility, and the complex trade-offs required to build a more resilient and future-ready transport network.

By combining technical analysis with hands-on planning, the training enabled participants to take meaningful steps towards developing climate-resilient transport systems.

Heinrich Gudenus, Director of the Urban-Act project

“When we talk about climate change and transport, we often talk about reducing emissions, and why that’s [adaptation] very important. Also, your role in adaptation is very critical. Transport infrastructure, both the physical infrastructure itself and its role in connecting people, places and so on, is critically important. This training session marked the first in a planned series of training, with further basic and in-depth courses to follow,” said Heinrich Gudenus, Director of the Urban-Act project.