The Asian Network on Climate Science and Technology (ANCST) provides and facilitates exchange of information to aid development of research coordination projects led by Asian researchers. The scope of ANCST encompasses the broad areas of climate science and technology with particular emphasis on disaster resilience, extreme climate events and urban climate change and related topics.
ANCST is hosted by Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, with SEADPRI-UKM serving as the coordination centre. It is supported by the Cambridge Malaysian Education and Development Trust (CMEDT) in Association with the Malaysian Commonwealth Studies Centre (MCSC) of Trinity College, Cambridge.
Several networks on climate change and disaster risk reduction operate in Asia. These include the Asian University Network for Environment and Disaster Management (AUEDM), the Asia Pacific Adaptation Network (APAN), and the Asia Pacific Network for Global Change Research (APN). These networks involve multi-stakeholders, primarily policy and decision-makers, practitioners, non-government organisations, and researchers.
ANCST is dedicated solely to enhancing disaster and climate resilience research capacity, underpinned by science, technology and innovation. ANCST aspires to bring researchers from various disciplines to a multidisciplinary platform to strengthen their capacity while simultaneously interacting with other multi-stakeholder networks, intergovernmental bodies and multi-lateral institutions operating in the region.
Greater capacity to innovate and transmit science and technology would enhance disaster and climate resilience in many parts of Asia. This is particularly relevant for Southeast Asia. Institutional planning and coordination for the development of multidisciplinary research programmes on disaster and climate resilience is needed at regional and national levels. Establishing strong networking among researchers and academics is critical for building capacity in multidisciplinary and integrated approaches that address disasters related to extreme climate events.
