Philippines, Thailand highlight strengthened efforts towards climate-sensitive development planning under Urban-Act Project

Urban-Act stakeholders—including pilot cities from the Philippines (Antipolo, Bacolod, Tagbilaran) and Thailand (Nakhon Si Thammarat, Khon Kaen, Chiang Mai), Philippine national government agencies (Department of Interior and Local Government, Department of Transportation and Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development), and United Cities and Local Governments – Asia Pacific (UCLG-ASPAC) —convened not just to present outcomes, but to reflect on a shared work under the project. From strengthening planning processes and developing evidence-based methodologies, to deepening stakeholder engagement and shaping bankable and investment-ready projects, the session traced how the Urban-Act Project has influenced change across regional, national, and city levels.

“The Urban-Act Project promotes integrated approaches to mainstream climate change into urban development, contributing to climate change mitigation and improved air quality outcomes,” said Mr. Heinrich Gudenus, Urban-Act Project Director at GIZ.

“By aligning climate and air quality actions, investment opportunities for climate finance can be strengthened while delivering co-benefits for both issues,” he added.

At the regional level, UCLG-ASPAC emphasized a critical shift: climate considerations must be embedded from the very beginning of planning. National government agencies in the Philippines shared how the project helped strengthen coordination across institutions, leading to the development of policies and guidelines that integrate climate-sensitive urban and spatial planning into existing government frameworks—making them more practical to adopt and implement.

At the city-level, Thai pilot cities demonstrated how tailored support helped them respond to local priorities—advancing integrated urban planning, promoting sustainable transport solutions, and exploring alternative climate finance. In the Philippines, cities highlighted how climate sensitivity, sustainability, and GEDSI were embedded into local planning processes, strengthening their capacity to design projects that are not only responsive to climate risks, but also bankable and investment-ready.

The conversation then turned to how these plans translate into action. Experts from Clean Air Asia (Mr. Marion Tinio), GIZ Philippines (Mr. Neil Suñer), the Institute for Climate and Sustainable Cities (Ms. Golda Hilario), and Chulalongkorn University Transport Institute (Dr. Ornicha Anuchitchanchai) shared lessons on what makes transport projects climate-sensitive and bankable. Strong governance, integrated planning, and clear climate rationale emerged as key foundations. At the same time, speakers emphasized that climate projects often start with local development needs, with climate considerations gradually integrated through data, risk assessments, and inclusive processes.

These ideas were further explored through a Strategic Foresight Workshop, where common themes emerged: the need to strengthen institutional capacity, improve policy alignment across levels of government, enhance communication and advocacy, and ensure meaningful stakeholder engagement. Institutionalizing tools and approaches within existing systems was seen as essential to sustaining progress beyond the project.

“The Urban-Act has supported a shift in how cities plan. Cities are now better equipped to integrate climate considerations, engage stakeholders, and develop projects that are both impactful and investment-ready. Looking ahead, sustaining this momentum will depend on continued collaboration, stronger policy integration, and a shared commitment to advancing climate-sensitive and inclusive urban development,” said Ms. Precious Benjamin, Sustainable Cities Lead of Clean Air Asia.

The Better Air Quality Conference (BAQ) is the leading event on air quality in Asia, bringing together global experts, policymakers, and practitioners to drive action toward cleaner air across the region to exchange knowledge, share solutions, and strengthen collaboration on air quality management.

This session was organized by Clean Air Asia, Institute for Climate and Sustainable Cities, and Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) in collaboration with UCLG ASPAC and Chulalongkorn University Transportation Institute (CUTI) through the Urban-Act Project.