Mekong - U.S. Partnership
The USAID Adapt Asia-Pacific project facilitated a visit of a high-level delegation of Thai officials to the United States at the invitation of the U.S. Forest Service from April 19 to May 1. The five-member Thai delegation, including the Secretary General of the National Research Council of Thailand and the Deputy Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, explored best practices of climate change adaptation-related methodologies and technologies currently used in the United States.
Thai and U.S. officials discussed a proposed twinning partnership that would assist in developing vulnerability and adaptation assessment models and landscape management recommendations that incorporate consideration of climate risks. Thai agencies will use these models to promote learning both within Thailand and between Thailand and its neighbors through regional training. A draft Letter of Cooperation to formalize the partnership is currently being developed.
In addition, the Thai delegation met with the National Center for Atmospheric Research on April 30, 2014, to discuss a potential partnership and a Letter of Cooperation, with National Research Council of Thailand to facilitate technical support on climate modeling and adaptation action.
Officials from the State of California also met with the Thai delegation and offered assistance to the National Research Council of Thailand to implement its new national climate change research strategy, developed with support from the USAID Adapt Asia-Pacific project.
Source: USAID/RDMA Regional Environment Office Weekly Update
