Thailand to host UNICEF Centre of Excellence on Children and Climate Resilience and consolidated Asia-Pacific Regional Office

Bangkok, 3 November 2025 — The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Royal Thai Government hosted a courtesy meeting with UNICEF on Thursday during which aspects of the ongoing partnership were discussed, including the establishment of a UNICEF Centre of Excellence (CoE) on Children and Climate Resilience in Bangkok, which is planned to become operational in January 2026.

The Bangkok CoE, part of UNICEF’s new global network of Centres of Excellence, will provide technical expertise, knowledge sharing, and policy support to strengthen climate-responsive programming and ensure that children’s rights are placed at the heart of national and regional action on climate and sustainability.

“The establishment of the CoE on Children and Climate Resilience in Bangkok is a powerful recognition of Thailand’s leadership and commitment to children’s rights, not only within its borders but across Asia-Pacific,” said Omar Abdi, UNICEF Deputy Executive Director. “This CoE will focus on one of the most urgent challenges of our time: climate change. Children are among the most vulnerable to its impacts, disproportionately so in this region, yet they are also powerful agents of change.”

The new CoE marks another significant milestone in the long-standing and trusted partnership between Thailand and UNICEF. Since UNICEF first established its presence in the country in 1948, Thailand and UNICEF have worked hand in hand to advance the rights and well-being of every child, achieving remarkable progress in health, education, child protection, and social inclusion. Thailand already hosts UNICEF’s Regional Office for East Asia and the Pacific (EAPRO) and starting 1 July 2026 will host the consolidated Asia-Pacific Regional Office (APRO), covering 36 countries and one territory, through oversight of 22 country offices.

"We are thrilled to welcome the UNICEF Center of Excellence on Children and Climate Change to Thailand. It is our shared vital commitment to the millions of young lives who are the least responsible for the climate crisis yet stand to lose the most,” said Ms. Chulamanee Chartsuwan, Advisor to the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Thailand. "By putting children at the heart of our climate response, we are investing in a future where their health, education, and very right to thrive are protected from the accelerating climate change."

Children in East Asia and the Pacific face six times more climate-related disasters than their grandparents, with climate and environmental risks growing in both frequency and intensity. Looking ahead to 2026 and beyond, the Bangkok CoE will serve as a cornerstone of collective efforts to ensure every child can grow up in a safe, healthy, and sustainable environment.