When climate disasters strike, the difference between devastation and resilience often comes down to preparation. Across Southeast Asia, communities are already living with the daily impacts of climate change – unpredictable seasons, stronger storms and growing environmental pressure.
Through the Climate Action Partnerships in Asian Cities (CAPACities) project, Caritas Australia and Catholic Relief Services (CRS) are supporting communities to better understand climate risks, strengthen local leadership and turn knowledge into action.
Instead of working in silos, the project encourages and enables collaboration across government departments, academia, civil society, and the private sector through technical climate change working groups. From universities and city governments in the Philippines to rural villages in Indonesia, the project is showing the importance of building climate resilience from the ground up.
Turning academic knowledge into local action in the Philippines
In Bohol province in the Philippines, educators and researchers play a key role in translating climate science into practical decision-making. For Vera, an educator and researcher, CAPACities offered an opportunity to bridge theory with practice.
"Despite my active professional roles, I often struggled with finding deeper relevance in the subjects I taught, particularly in connecting earth science concepts to real-life data, community situations, and practical applications,” she said.
Through CAPACities, Vera became closely involved in the City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office and the City Climate Technical Working Group, contributing to communications planning, information and education materials, and learning exchanges with other cities.
She is particularly proud to see the communications plan developed as part of the project now being integrated into university classes and local discussions, strengthening the next generation’s understanding of climate risk, governance and resilience.
Vera standing near education centre in the Bohol province in the Philippines. Photo: CRS.
Building Safer Schools in Indonesia Together
Eleven-year-old Ainaia knows firsthand how climate change affects everyday life in Indonesia. The area she lives is increasingly exposed to extreme heat, fires and cyclones. Through the Safe Schools initiative under the CAPACities project, Ainaia and her classmates are learning how to stay safe and prepared in the face of climate-related risks.
Facilitated by CRS, representatives from five different government departments and agencies came together at Ainaia’s primary school to work with teachers and students. Together, they delivered interactive lessons, trained teachers, conducted school risk assessments and developed practical action plans to be better prepared for climate-related hazards.
“Planting trees was fun and very important because the trees help us to keep cool when it’s too hot. All together we planted 1000 trees. I also liked the simulation exercise we did a few weeks ago,” Ainaia said.
Recognised as a successful pilot, the Safe Schools approach has since been replicated in four other schools by the government.
Ainaia standing near her school in Indonesia. Photo: Caritas Australia.
If we all learn more about climate change it will be all right, because we can all do something that helps.
From learning to action in Indonesian communities
In Indonesia, Nuksi has experienced firsthand how climate knowledge can lead to lasting change. Before joining CAPACities, Nuksi describes taking a largely reactive approach to climate and seasonal changes, with limited preparation and few resources to cope.
That changed when he became involved in the project in late 2024 and joined the community’s Disaster Risk Reduction, Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation Forum.
Starting at home, Nuksi and his family began practicing simple but powerful actions. They transformed their small yard into a food garden, growing chilli, lemongrass, ginger, papaya and moringa. Even household wastewater is reused to keep plants alive.
“These small changes reduced our household expenses and improved our health,” he explains. “We feel more confident about the food we eat and less dependent on the market.”
What began as individual learning soon grew into collective action. With support from CAPACities, the community came together in November last year to plant 1,000 trees.
Why local partnerships matter
Lasting climate resilience depends on local leadership and strong partnerships.
By working with universities, CAPACities draws on research expertise, data and education networks. By engaging communities directly, it ensures solutions are practical, culturally relevant and owned by the people most affected. Knowledge flows both ways — strengthening institutions while grounding action in lived experience.
As climate risks continue to grow, it is more important than ever that communities are supported to lead their own path towards climate resilience.
Ainaia standing between two of her teachers. Photo: Caritas Australia.
Along with your generous support, this project is supported by the Australian Government through the Australian NGO Cooperation Program (ANCP).
