This letter was originally penned on 22 December 2025.
Dear partners and colleagues,
Season’s greetings from the ICLEI Southeast Asia Secretariat (ICLEI SEA)!
For many, a 21st birthday signals a coming of age—when someone moves from their foundational years into full maturity with a clearer sense of purpose.
As 2025 draws to a close, we are honored to share that ICLEI SEA marks this special occasion on 23 December.
We are celebrating our 21st year of supporting local sustainability under the theme “Milestones and Momentum: 21 Years of Driving Innovative, Sustainable Pathways for the 1 Earth,” as not only do we reflect on the years that were, but we affirm our commitment to climate action for the years ahead.
From a humble Philippine project office in 2004, we have expanded our presence across the region, collaborating with various partners throughout Southeast Asia to address urban development challenges. Over the course of two decades, we have engaged hundreds of organizations to see what works, what sticks, and how to adapt to the ever-changing climate contexts faced by local governments. Each milestone, each accomplishment has contributed to our momentum—momentum that enables us to support ambitious climate plans and actions, foster deep cooperation, and strengthen local leadership for sustainability.
On this note, we extend our sincerest thanks to all our partners over the years: subnational governments, national agencies, funders, consortium organizations, nonprofits, civil society organizations, research institutions, academics, community organizers, and private sector organizations. By our estimate, we have formally engaged over 160 partners to date in over 60 major long-term projects, with many others contributing through our shared advocacy. None of our impact would have been possible without your trust and collaboration.
None of this would likewise have been possible without our staff. To our team, both those currently with ICLEI SEA and those whom I have had the pleasure of working with before, thank you for your tireless dedication, professionalism, and passion for local action. Your work has built the Secretariat that our partners rely on today.
Looking to the year ahead, we will roll out a year-long social media campaign that celebrates ICLEI SEA’s history and milestones, while highlighting the sustainability efforts of local governments across the region. Moreover, we are preparing for major events throughout 2026. Early on our calendar is our convening of a regional roundtable for the Safe and Sound Cities (S²Cities) Global Learning Network, bringing together government and non-government representatives from the Philippines and Indonesia to discuss the critical role of young people in developing urban safety and sustainability. We will also hold the Philippine culminating event of the Enhancing Socially Inclusive Resilience in Asia (SIRA) project, showcasing and strengthening inclusive climate actions led by local governments in the country.
As a Secretariat based in the Philippines, the current Chair of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), we welcome Timor-Leste as the newest member of the ASEAN community and look forward to working with its subnationals in the future. We also hope for meaningful collaboration with ASEAN governments in upcoming summits, contributing local government perspectives to shared regional priorities.
At 21, ICLEI Southeast Asia stands established, shaped by years of work, and inspired by the ambition of local governments in the region. Our milestones have prepared us. Our momentum carries us. And if the first 21 years are any indication, the new chapter ahead is poised to be an exciting one.
We look forward to continuing to work with you all.
To 21 years and beyond,
(sgd.)
Victorino Aquitania
Regional Director
ICLEI Southeast Asia Secretariat
