Building knowledge to support adaptation: lessons from the regional climate change adaptation knowledge platform for Asia
The Regional Climate Change Adaptation Knowledge Platform for Asia (AKP) grew out of a recognition that countries across the region faced potentially dramatic climate change impacts, but lacked the knowledge and capacity to effectively reduce vulnerability and plan for a more climate-resilient future. AKP set out to fill this gap by building a strong network of local researchers to gather new knowledge on the ground, bring world-class adaptation expertise to the stakeholders who need it, test new approaches, and share the results with their peers, decision-makers and civil society across the region. This policy brief draws on AKP’s work since 2009, with a special focus on country-level scoping studies of adaptation research, capacity-building and other needs; a 2011 desktop study assessing capacity gaps and needs across East Asia; and insights from the Knowledge Management Workshop on Harnessing Adaptation Knowledge in the Asia Pacific Region, held in Bangkok in February 2011. Along with general lessons, also present some examples from specific countries to show the diversity of knowledge needs.