Mekong Environmental Resilience Week to explore solutions for inclusive Water-Energy-Climate futures for the Mekong Region during 18-20 November in Bangkok

The Mekong Region continues to face intensifying environmental pressures, where challenges in water security, energy demand, and climate impacts are deeply intertwined, placing pressures on ecosystems and livelihoods. 

To address these interconnected challenges, the Mekong Environmental Resilience Week (MERW) 2025 will convene in Bangkok, Thailand, building on the success of previous years.  

A key highlight of the week is the MTT-SUMERNET Regional Policy Forum 2025 on 19 November, under the theme “Advancing Water-Energy-Climate Nexus Solutions for a Resilient Mekong.” 

The forum will bring together over 100 policymakers, researchers, civil society representatives, and development partners to share knowledge, collaborate, and strengthen partnerships towards creating a more just and climate-resilient future for the region. 

Hosted by the Stockholm Environment Institute Asia Centre (SEI Asia), in collaboration with Chulalongkorn University’s Social Research Institute (CUSRI) and supported by the Mekong–Australia Partnership (DFAT) and the Embassy of Sweden, the forum will serve as a high-level platform to showcase impactful research and foster multi-stakeholder dialogue.

Highlights of the policy forum 

The forum builds on the achievements of both networks—MTT’s regional alliance of think tanks and SUMERNET’s two-decade legacy of research-to-policy engagement—to shape a shared agenda for a just, inclusive, and resilient Mekong future. 

A key feature will be the presentation of policy-relevant findings from MTT grantees and SUMERNET partners, highlighting innovative approaches from community-driven water governance to cross-border research. The agenda includes a high-level panel with representatives from Mekong governments and institutes to discuss future research and policy priorities for the next five years. 

The forum will also feature parallel discussions diving into specific nexus challenges, including the water-energy nexus, climate-water interactions, and the role of nature-based solutions. These sessions are designed to stimulate interactive dialogue and generate actionable recommendations for research, policy, and practice. 

Photo Exhibition: Celebrating 20 years of SUMERNET 

The regional policy forum event will conclude with a photo exhibition to celebrate the 20th Anniversary of the SUMERNET program, honouring two decades of its contribution to sustainable development and research-to-policy engagement in the Mekong Region.  

The photo exhibition will feature “twenty stories of change” by SUMERNET partners from across the region. Selected partners will be invited to tell their stories highlighting their key moments and memories working with SUMERNET across the last twenty years and contrinuting to the success and impact of the network. 

The session will also launch the next phase of work, SUMERNET PLUS (2025-2029),.  

The partnerships and strategies advanced during this forum are vital for integrating water, energy, and climate considerations into policies and practices, ensuring a sustainable and resilient future for the Mekong Region. 

Participants

More than 100 participants from the Embassy of Australia, Embassy of Sweden, MTT program, including the Steering Committee, Secretariat, Thematic advisors, grantees (from flagship studies, rapid responses, and fellowship program), project boundary partners, alliance members, SUMERNET steering committee, SUMERNET Young Professional Network, Chulalongkorn University, local, regional and international development partners, Government authorities, media and other stakeholders.

Event Details: 

• What: MTT-SUMERNET Regional Policy Forum 2025: "Advancing Water-Energy-Climate Nexus Solutions for a Resilient Mekong" 

• When: 19 November 2025, 09:00 – 20:00 (Bangkok Time, GMT+7) 

• Where: Hybrid format - Onsite at Eastin Grand Hotel Sathorn, Bangkok, and Online via Zoom. 

• Registration: Interested parties may also join MTT – SUMERNET Regional Policy Forum 2025: Advancing Water–Energy–Climate Nexus Solutions for a Resilient Mekong online via Zoom.

For more information, please download the agenda and press release below: