Earlier this August, I had the opportunity to take part in a three-day workshop in Bangkok as both a Core Member of the Equity Initiative’s Climate Justice Warriors and part of the organising team. The workshop was part of our ongoing effort to advance climate justice and health equity across Southeast Asia. It brought together fellows, practitioners and advocates committed to amplifying the voices of a region that continues to bear the brunt of climate impacts, yet remains underrepresented in global climate discourse.

Our time together was shaped around field visits, strategy development and shared learning. We began with a site visit to the Baan Don Mosque community in Bangkok, a neighbourhood located within one of the city’s last remaining green spaces. Home to over 1,400 residents, the community has maintained a strong sense of place and continuity despite the pressures of rapid urban development. Listening to residents reflect on the environmental and social changes they have experienced over time added valuable context to our discussions on resilience, justice and lived experience.

Key sessions included a presentation of the Ecosystem Scan Study, strategic group work across core focus areas (community-led initiatives and policy advocacy), and future-oriented methods such as the Futures Triangle and STEEP analysis to understand external drivers of change. These tools helped us unpack both current realities and longer-term trends shaping the region.

A highlight was the Open Space session, where participants led discussions on urgent, underexplored issues. This created room for organic idea-sharing and collaborative agenda setting. It was also a chance to centre lived experience and frontline perspectives, which are often overlooked in institutional spaces.

Throughout the workshop, we also worked on how best to communicate our message by identifying key audiences, relevant platforms and effective narratives that can support wider engagement. As we move forward, we are building out a shared portfolio of regional work grounded in justice and focused on practical action.

This is an ongoing journey, but it was encouraging to contribute to a space where Southeast Asian perspectives are not only heard, but actively shaping the direction of the work ahead.