Vientiane, 2–3 September 2024: ASEAN Member States have experienced a notable increase in climate extremes in recent years, characterised by complex occurrences of typhoons, floods, droughts, and other severe events. Despite the region's proactive implementation of Climate Change Adaptation (CCA) and Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) initiatives, losses continue to impact vulnerable communities significantly. To address these challenges, ERIA, in collaboration with the National Agriculture, Forestry and Rural Development Research Institute (NAFRI), the Department of Meteorology and Hydrology (DMH), and the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment (MONRE) of Lao PDR, conducted a 2-day training programme titled Building Climate Resilience through Crop and Hydrological Modelling.

The event gathered 45 participants, including government officials from ASEAN, international researchers, students, and climate resilience practitioners from Timor Leste, India, and Lao PDR On the first day, the participants engaged in process-based crop modelling, while the second day focused on hydrological modelling. The training aimed to equip participants with the necessary skills to assess climate vulnerabilities and disaster risks in agriculture and water sectors, ultimately contributing to a more climate-resilient ASEAN.

Opening remarks were delivered by Dr Phetmanyseng Xangsayasane, Deputy Director General of NAFRI, Dr Virany Sengtinathr, Deputy Director General of DMH, and Dr Venkatachalam Anbumozhi, Senior Fellow for Innovations at ERIA. They underscored the importance of fostering cross-sectoral knowledge-sharing and leveraging climate modelling systems.

On the first day, the CLASSIM MAIZSIM Training was led by a team from the USDA-ARS Adaptive Cropping Systems Laboratory, headed by Dr Vangimalla Reddy, alongside Dennis Timlin, David Fleisher, Sahila Beegum, and Alakananda Mitra. The team presented CLASSIM, a software developed by USDA-ARS that simulates crop-environment interactions, management practices, and crop resilience. The workshop showcased example problems using CLASSIM, demonstrating how process-based crop modelling can help predict crop growth under varying climate conditions. The USDA-ARS team emphasised the importance of these models in assessing the impact of climate change factors such as carbon dioxide, precipitation, temperature, and pests on agriculture.

The second day shifted to hydrological modeling for climate resilience, facilitated by Dr Somchai Chonwattana from DHI-AIT, Thailand. Participants were introduced to hydrological and hydraulic modeling using the Mike+ Rainfall Runoff and MIKE+ MIKE1D Rivers models, which help evaluate future climate conditions and their effects on water resources. Through hands-on exercises, participants learned to simulate flood events, offering critical insights for building resilience in water management across ASEAN.

The workshop concluded with a consensus on the importance of integrating modeling into climate adaptation strategies for agriculture and water resource management. Participants highlighted the need for accurate data across various levels to effectively utilise these models. As climate change increasingly threatens economic stability, social well-being, and environmental health in the region, data-driven systems will play a key role in anticipating and mitigating floods, droughts, and other climate-related risks. The workshop participants also discussed potential follow-up activities and best practices to further enhance climate resilience in the region.