Southeast Asia faces escalating social, economic and environmental pressures from climate change. The urgency to adapt to these hazards has never been greater, yet efforts in the region remain fragmented and siloed. Water – which underpins the climate vulnerabilities of multiple systems from agriculture to urban communities, finance to infrastructure – can provide a tangible, investible and unified narrative for climate adaptation.

This report introduces “adaptation through water” (AtW), an approach that places water at the centre of adaptation discussions. AtW refers to influencing the natural and engineered water cycles to minimize the negative impacts of climate change. It offers the private sector opportunities to invest in solutions that both create value and improve climate resilience, including nature-based solutions, efficiency-improving technologies, AI-driven tools and new financing mechanisms.

Based on extensive research, the report offers an action framework, opportunity analysis and a set of global case studies. It also serves as a position paper for the Southeast Asia Partnership for Adaptation through Water (SEAPAW) – an initiative of the Singapore International Foundation and the World Economic Forum and the first platform in the region to focus on water as an approach to climate change adaptation.