From 1-3 July 2026, GIZ Thailand showcased German-supported initiatives and engaged in dialogue with participants at the 9th Session of the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) Committee on Environment and Development (CED9) at the United Nations Conference Centre (UNCC) in Bangkok.
During the ministerial discussion on ensuring clean air in Asia and the Pacific, Germany’s statement was delivered by GIZ’s Project Director, Alvaro Zurita, on behalf of Ebba Scholl, Deputy Head of Mission at the Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany in Bangkok. The statement highlighted Germany’s three priorities for future action: improving air quality monitoring and open data, accelerating solutions with climate co-benefits, and promoting sustainable agricultural alternatives to open burning, while reaffirming Germany’s commitment to supporting regional cooperation through partnerships with ESCAP, ASEAN, national governments and development partners.
As part of German development cooperation, GIZ supports Germany’s commitment to cleaner air across the region through a range of projects such as the Southeast Asia Climate and Clean Air Initiative (SEACAI). At a side event ‘Clean Air for All: Fostering Synergies through Partnerships’, SEACAI Project Manager Ekachai Lojanaphiwat presented the project’s three-level approach to tackling transboundary air pollution. At the national level, SEACAI works with governments and the private sector to promote practical solutions in Thailand, Lao PDR and Cambodia. The experiences and data then support cooperation at the Mekong sub-regional level through the Clear Sky Strategy and Mekong Data Centre, while also contributing to the ASEAN Haze-Free Roadmap at the regional level – particularly on black carbon and methane.
Beyond clean air, GIZ’s Integrated Urban Climate Action for Low-Carbon & Resilient Cities (Urban-Act) also contributed to several CED9-associated events on climate-resilient urban development. At a side event ‘Regional Consultation for Bridging the Gap between National Climate Strategies and Local Action’, Marie-Lena Hutfils, Urban-Act Advisor, shared practical experiences in supporting cities to translate national climate commitments into local action and showed how multilevel collaboration strengthens climate planning and accelerates implementation at the city level. At the ‘Expert Group Meeting on Strengthening Resilient and Sustainable Urban Development’, Marlena Kiefl, Urban Resilience Advisor at GIZ Thailand, shared lessons from Urban-Act’s work on integrated urban planning and multilevel governance, providing practical recommendations to inform ESCAP’s forthcoming Regional Urban Resilience Guidance.
Prior to CED9, GIZ also contributed to associated events. At the ‘7th Global Conference on Strengthening Synergies between the Paris Agreement and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development’, Marvel Josef Petrus Ledo, an advisor from GIZ Indonesia shared experiences on localising the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) through multi-stakeholder partnerships. Meanwhile, Urban-Act co-organised the ‘Regional Networking Event for Project Preparation and Climate Finance: Lessons from IMT-GT Cities’, where city representatives, development partners and financing experts exchanged experiences on climate finance, project preparation and regional cooperation.
In addition to the conference sessions, GIZ Thailand also showcased its related work through an exhibition booth, creating further opportunities for exchange and networking with participants.
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