The Max Planck Foundation co-hosted the workshop in cooperation with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Singapore.
On 25-27 November 2025, the ASEAN-Germany Cooperation Project continued with a workshop on ‘Climate Change Impacts on the Oceans and Challenges to the Law of the Sea’ for officials of ASEAN Member States and the ASEAN Secretariat. This event explored how the law of the sea can respond and adapt to the unprecedented pressures created by climate change. The event focuses on Southeast Asia, a region particularly vulnerable to sea-level rise, ocean warming, and extreme weather. The workshop was held with the generous support of the German Federal Foreign Office.
The three-day workshop, co-hosted by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Singapore, provided participants with a meaningful platform to examine climate change issues and consequences, identify legal and policy options, and strengthen the collective understanding of emerging obligations and opportunities in international law. The region’s best practices, challenges, and hypothetical future action plans were collectively explored by participants.
Opening remarks were provided by HE Dr Bettina Fanghänel (Ambassador of the Federal Republic of Germany to Singapore) and Ms Foo Chi Hsia (Deputy Secretary for Southeast Asia and ASEAN, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Singapore). The Foundation’s research fellows opened the workshop by addressing several challenges posed by climate change to the current legal framework of the law of the sea. Subsequent sessions delved into challenges in the protection of marine environment and cooperative fisheries governance.
The workshop also examined legal and policy tools to mitigate the impacts of climate change and sea-level rise. Dr Nilüfer Oral (Director of the Centre for International Law at the National University of Singapore (NUS)), outlined the work of the International Law Commission Study Group on sea-level rise in relation to international law. Ms Melinda Martinus (Lead Researcher at the ISEAS – Yusof Ishak Institute) presented ASEAN Member State’s latest NDCs updates as well as climate cooperation under ASEAN mechanisms. Finally, Dr Tara Davenport ( Assistant Professor at NUS) evaluated the extent to which dispute settlement mechanisms under UNCLOS are suited to addressing climate change-related claims.
A highlight of the workshop was a group visit to the Sustainable Singapore Gallery, where participants explored Singapore’s innovative approaches to addressing the consequences of climate change and sea-level rise. The visit offered practical insights and valuable lessons for ASEAN Member States as they consider their own national and regional strategies.
The workshop concluded with a practical drafting exercises, giving them the opportunity to apply the knowledge gained during the workshop. Participants worked together to negotiate and prepare a hypothetical regional declaration and action plan addressing climate change impacts at both national and regional levels.
The Foundation looks forward to continuing cooperation with ASEAN Secretariat, ASEAN Member States, and the academic community from Southeast Asia and beyond.