The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and European Union (EU) reiterated their commitment to cooperation in addressing the shared challenge of dealing with climate changes in their respective economic communities.
This was done in conjunction with the 40th anniversary of the ASEAN-EU partnership. This partnership has contributed in addressing significant global challenges.
Top diplomats from the foreign affairs ministries of the ASEAN nations and its counterparts recently attended the 50th ASEAN Foreign Ministers' Meeting in Manila, the Philippines – in which this reiteration took place.
In a joint statement released by the ASEAN-EU partnership, it is evident that the foreign affairs ministers recognise that climate change poses a shared challenge to all nations and its people.
The reiteration also marked the welcoming of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) work and the 2016 Paris Agreement.
“The implementation of the Paris Agreement takes into account Common but Differentiated Responsibilities and Respective Capabilities in light of different national circumstances”, the statement said.
The statement further explained that its implementation will help ASEAN-EU to improve on their mitigation and adaptations efforts to fulfil their Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs).
As part of their partnership effort reiteration, they would consider climate change, a transition towards low greenhouse emissions and climate resilient pathway crucial.
In the statement, they further reaffirmed their full commitment towards the implementation of the Paris Agreement under the Convention.
As part of their efforts in battling against climate changes, the partnership will look into “eradicating poverty in order to keep a global average temperature rise to below 2°C above pre-industrial levels and limit the temperature increase to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels”.
The partnership will also look into supporting the ASEAN region in the implementation of the mitigation measures against climate changes.
“The nations involved will protect and promote environmental sustainability and building partnership for a clean and green environment between ASEAN and the EU, and to prepare the ground for the completion of the Paris Agreement work programme at COP 24 in Katowice, Poland in 2018”, the statement went to explain further.
As part of the reiteration process, the ASEAN-EU partnership reaffirmed their commitment to work along with all their stakeholders to battle against climate change and its consequences – in line with the expectations of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Paris Agreement.