ASEAN-Netherlands Partnership: Exchanging Expertise on Nature-based Solutions

News item | 07-01-2026 | 09:48

Environmental experts and government officials from the Netherlands and Southeast Asia gathered in Malaysia on 14-15 October 2025. for a two-day cross-learning event focused on nature-based solutions for climate adaptation.

ASEAN-Netherlands Partnership: Exchanging Expertise on Nature-based Solutions

The event, organized under the ASEAN-Netherlands Development Partnership, brought together dozens of environmental specialists from the Dutch Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management and officials representing six ASEAN member states: Malaysia, Indonesia, the Philippines, Vietnam, Laos, and Thailand.

Participants exchanged expertise and best practices on implementing nature-based solutions as effective strategies for climate adaptation, sharing insights on how natural ecosystems can be leveraged to address the growing challenges posed by climate change.

NL 2120 Initiative Supports Global-to-Local Approach

The cross-learning event is supported by the Netherlands' NL 2120 initiative, a forward-looking program that focuses on long-term climate adaptation and water management strategies. The project demonstrates how adopting a global-to-local approach can effectively mitigate climate change impacts while addressing the specific needs of individual communities and regions.

Nature-based solutions, such as wetland restoration, coastal protection through mangroves, and sustainable urban green spaces, have gained international recognition as cost-effective and environmentally sustainable methods for building climate resilience.

The successful gathering in Putrajaya reflects the deepening partnership between ASEAN and the Netherlands on environmental and climate issues, with both sides committed to collaborative action in addressing one of the most pressing challenges of our time.