CAN Asia
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| CAN Asia | |
|---|---|
| Name | CAN Asia |
| Formation | 2004 |
| Type | Non-governmental organization |
| Region served | Asia Pacific |
| Headquarters | Manila, Philippines |
| Leader title | Executive Director |
CAN Asia is a regional network of climate and energy advocacy organizations operating across the Asia Pacific. It links national coalitions, city groups, research institutes, and grassroots movements to campaign on climate policy, renewable energy, and fossil fuel phase-out. CAN Asia engages with intergovernmental processes, national legislatures, and municipal authorities to influence policy outcomes and mobilize civil society.
History
CAN Asia originated in the early 2000s amid intensified activism around the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and the Kyoto Protocol implementation phase. Founders included coalitions emerging from the Asia Pacific Forum on Women, Law and Development, Greenpeace Southeast Asia, and national organizations in the Philippines, India, and Indonesia. The network expanded through connections with the Climate Action Network International and regional assemblies linked to the Asia-Europe Meeting and ASEAN environmental dialogues. CAN Asia played visible roles at major global events such as the COP15 in Copenhagen and the COP21 in Paris, coordinating regional inputs to delegations from countries like China, Japan, South Korea, Bangladesh, and Vietnam.
Mission and Objectives
CAN Asia’s stated mission focuses on accelerating the transition from fossil fuels to renewables while promoting climate justice for vulnerable populations. Objectives include influencing national climate commitments under the Paris Agreement, strengthening emissions reduction targets in Nationally Determined Contributions submitted to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, and supporting litigation efforts akin to cases before the International Court of Justice and national courts in the Philippines and India. The network emphasizes equitable energy access in projects linked to Asian Development Bank programs, the World Bank’s energy portfolios, and multilateral development banks engaging with ASEAN member states.
Programs and Initiatives
CAN Asia runs campaigns on coal phase-out, just transition, renewable energy advocacy, and urban resilience. Initiatives include regional coalitions that mirror movements such as those in Bangladesh opposing riverine coal ports, grassroots electrification projects in Nepal and Bhutan connected to Asian Development Bank funding, and policy briefings for ministries modeled after interventions from Climate Analytics and Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis. The network organizes trainings drawing on curricula from the United Nations Development Programme and the International Renewable Energy Agency to build capacity in policy analysis, strategic communications, and community organizing. CAN Asia also coordinates high-profile campaigns targeting projects financed by institutions like the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank and the Export-Import Bank of Korea.
Organizational Structure
The network adopts a federated model with a secretariat based in Manila coordinating thematic working groups on energy, finance, and adaptation. Governance includes an executive committee with representatives from national coalitions in Indonesia, Philippines, India, Thailand, and Malaysia. Operational partners include research centers such as Chulalongkorn University and Jawaharlal Nehru University faculties engaged in climate policy analysis. The secretariat liaises with regional bodies like ASEAN and networks such as South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation for program alignment and co-hosted events.
Membership and Partnerships
Membership comprises national NGOs, city networks, youth groups, and think tanks, with affiliates drawn from organizations like 350.org, Friends of the Earth chapters, and national climate coalitions in Sri Lanka, Cambodia, and Mongolia. Strategic partners include international NGOs such as World Resources Institute, Climate Action Network International, and funders linked to philanthropic institutions like the Rockefeller Foundation and the Ford Foundation. CAN Asia collaborates with labor unions in dialogues similar to those of the International Trade Union Confederation on just transition and with indigenous networks paralleling the advocacy of the Asia Indigenous Peoples Pact.
Funding and Financials
Funding sources historically include grants from international foundations, project-based support from multilateral organizations, and donations facilitated through partner NGOs. Major contributors have reflected models used by the European Climate Foundation and foundations aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. Financial oversight involves audited accounts and grant reporting mechanisms comparable to standards adopted by Oxfam and CARE International, with budget allocations directed to capacity building, regional campaigns, research, and administration.
Impact and Criticism
CAN Asia has influenced policy debates on coal-financing restrictions, contributed to the adoption of renewable energy targets in several national plans, and supported community-led litigation challenging fossil fuel projects. Documented impacts include coordinated submissions to UNFCCC processes and briefing papers cited by national parliaments in Philippines and Indonesia. Criticism has come from industry groups and some national governments accusing the network of intervening in sovereign energy policymaking; similar critiques have been leveled at other transnational advocacy networks such as Greenpeace and Friends of the Earth. Academic commentators from institutions like London School of Economics and National University of Singapore have debated the balance between international advocacy and local accountability within CAN Asia’s operations.