Seneca at APAN 2025: Advancing Inclusive Leadership for Transformational Adaptation
Seneca Impact Advisors was pleased to participate in the 9th Asia-Pacific Climate Change Adaptation Forum (APAN 2025) in Bangkok at the United Nations Conference Centre (UNCC), represented by our Managing Director, Jean-Marc Champagne. This year’s Forum, co-organised by UNEP and APAN and co-hosted by, ADB, APN, and ESCAP, and supported by the Ministry of the Environment, Government of Japan, brought together over 700 adaptation leaders from more than 40 countries, all committed to catalyzing transformational adaptation across the region.
Our contribution centered on a technical session dedicated to inclusive and intergenerational leadership for transformational adaptation and scalable nature-based solutions. The session, moderated by Chyrsant Lily Kusumowardoyo of ASB South and Southeast Asia, created a space for open, participatory dialogue—one that encouraged not only panelists but all participants to share lived experiences and practical insights.
Seneca’s perspective, delivered by Jean-Marc, emphasized the urgent need for innovative finance to move beyond short-term, fragmented funding. Blended finance, de-risking mechanisms, and public–private partnerships were highlighted as essential tools for enabling the sustainable scaling of nature-based solutions. This message resonated with fellow panelists: Dwiyani Fidakama, who is redefining leadership for women with disabilities in Indonesia; Robeliza Halip, Executive Director of the Right Energy Partnership with Indigenous Peoples, who powerfully advocated for the recognition of Indigenous-led solutions; Kitty Tam of Civic Exchange, who is building bridges between policy and youth-led climate action in Hong Kong; Hari Krishna Nibanupudi of HelpAge International, a champion for intergenerational collaboration; Renuka Naik, who brings a legal and community-centered lens to adaptation; and Hanif Falah of IUCN Asia, who is helping set the standard for nature-based solutions in the region.
Throughout the discussion, the importance of empowering marginalized voices was a recurring theme—not as a formality, but as a source of innovation and resilience. The session was candid about the barriers: structural exclusion, fragmented finance, and the persistent undervaluing of traditional and local knowledge. Yet, the energy in the room was focused on solutions. Panelists and participants alike called for systemic reforms in policy, governance, and finance, and for the adoption of internationally agreed definitions and standards for nature-based solutions to ensure credibility and avoid greenwashing.
Audience members, through interactive exercises and digital engagement, pledged to amplify marginalized voices, embed inclusive leadership in their organizations, and invest in capacity building. There was a shared recognition that transformational adaptation is only possible when those most affected by climate change are empowered as co-designers and decision-makers.
Seneca’s participation at APAN 2025 reinforced our conviction that advancing nature-smart finance is inseparable from advancing equity, inclusion, and local leadership. We are grateful for the opportunity to contribute to this regional dialogue and remain committed to supporting transformational adaptation for resilient communities across Asia-Pacific.
