Local government officials in Asia will gather in Jakarta, Indonesia, August 13-15, for the first CityLinks Climate Leadership Academy (CLA) on Urban Adaptation, jointly led by CityLinks and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). The CLA is part of a pilot partnership between U.S. cities and the ASEAN member states and will provide a unique training and peer-learning opportunity for Southeast Asian local government officials focusing on managing the social, political, environmental, and financial risks of adapting urban infrastructure to the impacts of climate change.

CityLinks will welcome participants from the following cities: Phnom Penh, Cambodia; Palembang, Indonesia; Paksane, Lao PDR; Kuantan, Malaysia; Legazpi, Philippines; Chiang Rai, Thailand; and Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. Each city will send five representatives to Jakarta to participate in the three-day workshop, co-facilitated by ICMA and the Institute for Sustainable Communities (ISC), and organized by ICLEI Southeast Asia, a CityLinks resource organization.

The Leadership Academy will allow participants to collaborate with, learn from, and share best practices with peers throughout the region facing similar climate adaptation challenges. During the week, participants will attend panel discussions and small-group working sessions focused on such key issues as financing climate adaptation, developing and implementing climate adaptation strategies, and linking national and subnational climate action plans.

ICMA members Lee Feldman, city manager of Fort Lauderdale, Florida, and Greg Bruce, executive manager of the Integrated Sustainability Services from the city of Townsville, Australia, will lead sessions about achievements in their communities. Feldman will speak about Fort Lauderdale’s involvement in the Southeast Florida Regional Climate Change Compact, which outlines an ongoing commitment from Floridian counties to sustainability and climate-resilience at the local level, while Bruce will share Townsville’s experience with implementing successful water conservation initiatives. Other keynote speakers and presenters will host additional presentations about adapting urban farming practices to climate change, creating green infrastructure strategies for flooding, and leveraging private, government, and international funds for adaptation activities.

Each afternoon, participants will gather in small groups to share reflections, brainstorm strategies, and discuss how to apply their newfound knowledge in their respective communities.Read about their experiences on the Notes from CityLinks blog. To learn more about the CityLinks program, visit the website, follow us on Twitter at @ICMACityLinks, and join the climate change discussion in the Climate Preparedness, Adaptation, and Resilience group on the Knowledge Network. And visit ICMA International’s site for additional information on ICMA’s other global projects.