ASEAN Joint Statement on Climate Change to the 29th Session of the
Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on
Climate Change (UNFCCC COP-29)
WE, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (hereinafter referred to as “ASEAN”), namely, Brunei Darussalam, the Kingdom of Cambodia, the Republic of Indonesia, the Lao People’s Democratic Republic (Lao PDR), Malaysia, the Republic of the Union of Myanmar, the Republic of the Philippines, the Republic of Singapore, the Kingdom of Thailand, and the Socialist Republic of Viet Nam, gathered at the 44th and 45th ASEAN Summits in Vientiane on 9 October 2024:
RECALLING our collective commitment as outlined in the ASEAN Joint Statement on Climate Change to the UNFCCC COP28 and our unwavering dedication to addressing the global challenge of climate change through unity and collaborative efforts;
REAFFIRMING our dedication to the goals of the UNFCCC and the Paris Agreement, particularly by upholding the principle of equity and common but differentiated responsibilities and respective capabilities (CBDR-RC), in light of different national circumstances;
ENCOURAGED by the outcomes of COP28, consisting of the various commitments under the UAE Consensus, namely: Outcome of the first Global Stocktake, UAE Framework for Global Climate Resilience, UAE Just Transition work programme, Sharm el-Sheikh mitigation ambition and implementation work programme, operationalisation of the new funding arrangements, including a fund for responding to loss and damage, and Presidency youth climate champion;
CONCERNED about the marginal and slow progress of emission reduction and flow of financing for climate adaptation to developing countries, in particular, least developed countries and small island developing States, based on the outcome of the first Global Stocktake;
WELCOMING the progress made towards the establishment of the ASEAN Centre for Climate Change (ACCC) in Brunei Darussalam to facilitate regional cooperation and coordination on climate change initiatives among ASEAN Member States with relevant national governments, regional, and international organisations, and to provide policy recommendations to ASEAN Member States on addressing climate change, also acknowledging and recognizing the pivotal role of ACCC as a hub of excellence and strategic coordinator for climate action initiatives and activities in the ASEAN region with the aim to significantly enhance intergovernmental cooperation and facilitate comprehensive responses to climate change;
HEREBY:
1. EXPRESS our profound concern regarding the continuing rise in global greenhouse gas emissions, as highlighted in the latest Sixth Assessment Report (AR6) of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), and its consequence of escalating climate risks and impacts on natural and human systems that remains a significant threat to the ecological diversity in the ASEAN region, and overall, to the sustainability of development gains we have achieved thus far.
2. CALL ATTENTION to the cost of climate change to the economies in ASEAN, representing an estimated economic loss of USD 97.3 billion between 2009-2020, and a cost of adaptation estimated to be USD 422 billion until 2030 for the region.
3. HIGHLIGHT the significant progress and new opportunities from COP28 and the UAE Consensus to secure a stable climate that is an important foundation to sustain the development gains in the ASEAN region, mindful of ASEAN State Parties’ common but differentiated responsibilities. As such, we call upon the fast-tracked implementation for climate actions and financial mechanisms under UNFCCC as evidence of commitment to a fast and fair climate action and energy transition.
4. RECOGNIZE the continuing gaps in the implementation of agreed ambitious climate actions, including mitigation, adaptation, and finance, and call for:
a. Fulfilment of Means of Implementation, as committed by developed country Parties, namely finance, technology development and transfer, and capacity building, including the development and implementation of low emission technologies and enabling infrastructure being key to our transition to a low-carbon regional economy and ensuring the ability of ASEAN and developing countries to access climate finance from the Green Climate Fund (GCF), the Global Environment Facility (GEF), the Adaptation Fund (AF), the Least Developed Country Fund (LDCF), and the Fund for responding to Loss and Damage. Furthermore, we call for enhanced international cooperation and support to develop zero- and low-emission technologies and solutions and accelerate technology transfer, innovation, and the development of human and institutional capacities.
b. Implementation of decisions adopted at previous COPs to enhance financial support for climate action in developing countries, in particular, least developed countries and small island developing States. We urge developed country Parties to fulfil their commitment to provide USD 100 billion annually to developing countries, in particular, least developed countries and small island developing States, and to increase climate finance beyond this objective, particularly:
(i) Through a new collective quantified goal on climate finance (NCQG) to be set by Parties prior to 2025, from a floor of USD 100 billion per year, considering both quantitative and qualitative elements, and taking into account the needs and priorities of developing countries, in particular, least developed countries and small island developing States;
(ii) The mobilization of climate finance being essential to enabling climate action in developing countries. ASEAN calls for innovative financing mechanisms and increased public and private sector investments to support mitigation, adaptation, and resilience-building efforts in our region, while taking into account public finance as the main component of financial support to developing countries, in particular, least developed countries and small island developing States;
(iii) Innovative financing mechanisms and enhancing access to climate finance to respond to the needs and priorities of ASEAN Member States, and improve effectiveness and quality of climate finance as well as improve transparency;
(iv) Strengthening enabling environments and policy frameworks to facilitate the mobilization and effective deployment of climate finance;
(v) Ensuring harmonized, simplified and direct access procedures to the international climate funds to address the needs of ASEAN Member States; and
(vi) Improving the effectiveness and quality of climate finance as well as improving transparency.
c. Implementation of the Strategic Plan for the Green Climate Fund 2024-2027 to support developing countries to translate their Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), National Adaptation Plans (NAPs) and Long-term Climate Strategies (LTS) into climate investments and programming; and
d. Enhanced coherence and complementarity between international climate finance and with relevant regional funding mechanisms such as ASEAN Catalytic Green Finance Facility (ACGF), underscoring the need to simplify the approval and disbursement process, and improve direct access to funds for developing countries, in particular, least developed countries and small island developing States.
e. Funding mobilised for technology development and transfer, at the same time enhancing the linkage between the technology mechanism and financial mechanism between the GEF in partnership with the Climate Technology Centre and Network (CTCN). Also welcome the enhanced coordination and collaboration between the Technology Executive Committee and the Climate Technology Centre and Network and support the joint work programme of the Technology Mechanism for 2023-2027 and look forward to the implementation of the joint work programme.
f. Invite the Global Environment Facility to facilitate the active engagement of women, youth and local community in the formulation and implementation of the projects and programmes. We urge GEF to support climate friendly innovation, technology development and transfer, and related capacity-building, including in partnership with private sector actors and others, and requests the Global Environment Facility to continue to provide such support, in particular for technology needs assessments, and technology action plans and their implementation that is gender-responsive and inclusive.
5. STRESS the urgency of achieving climate neutrality and global peaking of greenhouse gas emissions as soon as possible, recognizing that this will take longer for developing country Parties, in accordance with the Paris Agreement. This includes adopting best practices and advanced technologies to minimize emissions from upstream mineral extraction and processing, as minerals and metals are essential materials for the clean energy transition and fundamental to clean energy technologies, manufacturing and daily life. As such, we emphasize the necessity of a dual approach to climate action. Mitigation efforts must be complemented by robust adaptation strategies that address the immediate and long-term impacts of climate change on our communities and ecosystems. ASEAN commits to developing and implementing comprehensive adaptation measures that cater to the specific needs and vulnerabilities of our region including through coherence with disaster risk reduction and to build resilience as outlined in the ASEAN Leaders’ Declaration on Sustainable Resilience.
6. ACKNOWLEDGE the potential contributions of ASEAN Member States through emissions avoidance, emission reductions, emission removals, and carbon stock enhancement, contingent upon scientific and technological advancements, international cooperation, and enhanced support from developed countries, including relevant initiatives related to carbon markets by ASEAN Member States to serve as models for integrated approach to sustainable development and climate resilience in the region.
7. EXPRESS our grave concern about the increasing losses and damages associated with climate change impacts, particularly due to intensifying climate-related extreme weather events and slow onset events and disasters experienced by developing countries, including ASEAN Member States. ASEAN underscores the importance of establishing effective mechanisms and enhancing international cooperation to address loss and damage and the urgent operationalization of funding arrangements for loss and damage, including through the Fund for responding to Loss and Damage. This includes financial support, technology transfer, and capacity building from developed country Parties, to help our communities recover and rebuild from the devastating impacts of climate change.
8. RECOGNIZE the negative impacts of climate change on basic human needs such as food, water, energy, clean and green environment, and health, with disproportionate effects on vulnerable groups, including women, children, older people, people with disabilities, people living in rural and remote areas, and those who are socio-economically disadvantaged.
9. REAFFIRM the unwavering commitment of ASEAN to enhancing the region’s climate resilience and reducing vulnerability through active collaboration and mutual assistance in the economic, social, cultural, technical, environmental, professional, and administrative spheres, recognizing the interlinkages between climate change, poverty eradication and sustainable development.
10. PRIORITIZE the development and implementation of national and regional adaptation strategies that enhance the resilience of our communities, economies, and ecosystems to the impacts of climate change, in particular:
a. Promote sustainable forest management and social forestry development, including implementing UNFCCC decisions on Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation and the role of conservation, sustainable management of forests and enhancement of forest carbon stocks in developing countries (REDD-Plus) under the Warsaw Framework, in line with Article 5 of the Paris Agreement, and enhancing biodiversity conservation, protection and restoration of various ecosystems, promoting the multiple value of forest ecosystems in the ASEAN region including terrestrial, coastal, marine and mangrove ecosystems.
b. Consider, as appropriate, incorporation of ocean-based and nature-based climate action in national climate goals and in the implementation of the goals, including but not limited to nationally determined contributions, long-term low GHG gas emissions development strategies and adaptation communications.
c. Encourage and engage partners and donors to accelerate the flow of climate finance in the ASEAN region through the development and implementation of the ASEAN Climate Finance Strategy developed under the Needs-based Finance (NBF) project established at COP 23 and COP 26, to ensure climate finance can be effectively accessed, mobilized and scaled up to contribute to achieving climate goals of member states as well as their priorities to support for NDC implementation and a range of climate change adaptation and mitigation objectives.
d. Strengthen cross-pillar cooperation and coordination on sustainable finance, amongst others, through the ASEAN Taxonomy for Sustainable Finance (ASEAN Taxonomy) and other relevant initiatives such as progress under the ASEAN Green Map in the Joint Statement of the 10th ASEAN Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors’ Meeting (AFMGM).
e. Strengthen the cross-pillar cooperation and coordination on disaster management, among others, through the ASEAN Disaster Resilience Platform (ADRP) and other relevant initiatives.
f. Strengthen adaptation efforts by implementing, among others, nature-based solutions and ecosystem-based approaches, focusing on the protection of the livelihoods and fulfilment of basic necessities (water, food, energy, and environmental health) of the vulnerable groups.
11. ACKNOWLEDGE the importance of human rights, gender equality and engagement of youth, private sector, vulnerable groups, local communities and indigenous people to overcome climate change; including the importance of traditional knowledge, techniques and technologies in sustaining the climate resiliency of communities. As such, we commit to:
a. Empowering women in leadership roles and encouraging their active participation in efforts to manage the impact of climate change to ensure gender-responsive implementation and means of implementation, including by (i) fully implementing the Lima work programme on gender and its gender action plan, to heighten climate ambition and achieve climate goals; and (ii) seek to align our current efforts related to Gender-Responsive Just Transitions & Climate Action Partnership.
b. Support and elevate the role of children and youth as catalysts for change in addressing climate change and urge their inclusion in the design and implementation of climate policy and action as well as enhancing climate change awareness to children and youth through education, and to consider including young representatives and negotiators into their national delegations to promote intergenerational equity and preserve climate stability for future generations, consistent with the UAE vision of Presidency Youth Climate Champion;
c. Strive to align and integrate the endorsed strategies stated in the UAE Declarations on Sustainable Agriculture, Resilient Food Systems, and Climate Action, Declaration on Climate and Health; Declaration on Climate, Relief, Recovery, and Peace, and the ASEAN Regional Guidelines for Sustainable Agriculture into our evolving climate adaptation and mitigation strategies, individually and collectively as a region, as appropriate. d. Strengthen regional climate action at the community level, including through the successful development of the ASEAN Community-based Climate Action framework that involves sharing experiences and best practices, capacity building, and fostering collaboration with various stakeholders, including non-governmental entities.
12. COGNIZANT of the importance of ambitious climate targets through economy-wide emission reduction targets and actions, taking into account different national circumstances and the necessity of mobilizing financial, technological, and capacity support for developing countries, we commit to endeavour to align our next nationally determined contributions with long-term low greenhouse gas emission development strategies, individual and collectively as a region, including:
a. Reiterating our call to all Parties to strengthen their NDCs and urge developed country Parties to provide more financial, technological, and capacity support to ASEAN Member States for achieving climate commitments. ASEAN supports and looks forward to utilizing the outcomes of the first Global Stocktake to inform and guide our regional and national climate action efforts.
b. Promoting the development of long-term low GHG emission development strategies in accordance with Article 4 Paragraph 19 of the Paris Agreement and encouraging the strengthening of science and policy interface in climate change-related decision-making processes.
c. Urging developed country Parties to support developing country Parties in developing their Biennial Transparency Reports (BTR), covering information on national inventory reports (NIRs), progress towards NDCs, policies and measures, climate change impacts and adaptation, levels of financial, technology development and transfer and capacitybuilding support, capacity-building needs and areas of improvement.
12. PROMOTE cooperation in tackling climate change and air pollution issues, in particular short-lived climate forcers, that directly contribute to both adverse climate change and air pollution impacts to human health, agriculture, and the environment.
We CALL UPON:
a. Parties to consider enhancing climate change mitigation ambition by integrating mitigation and air quality planning into their action plans and scaling up action to address short-lived climate forcers;
b. International organizations, development agencies, funding and financial institutions, multilateral development banks, businesses and civil society to support AMS in implementing these efforts;
c. Member States to adopt and integrate in their national policies and practices the recommendations of the Report on Clean Air and Climate Solutions for the ASEAN produced by the project, Advancing ASEAN Initiatives on Clean Air, Health and Climate Change, which identifies priority measures that would benefit approximately 250 million people in the ASEAN region in 2030.
13. ENCOURAGE a supportive and open international economic system and other existing regional and international cooperation frameworks that promotes sustainable economic growth and development for all parties, particularly developing countries, thus enabling them to address climate change problems effectively. Trade and climate policies should be mutually supportive and contribute to the objectives of sustainable development. Measures taken to combat climate change, including unilateral ones, should not result in arbitrary or unjustifiable discrimination or disguised trade restrictions in international trade in accordance with the UNFCCC. As such, we re-emphasize ASEAN’s measures to address and facilitate a just transition including:
a. Development of the ASEAN Taxonomy for Sustainable Finance (ASEAN Taxonomy) as a tool to guide transition financing, allowing capital to be allocated in a more focused and impactful manner to help companies progressively move towards achieving the Green Tier over time;
b. Release of the ASEAN Transition Finance Guidance, which serves as a common guidance for what constitutes a credible, transparent, and inclusive transition. The Guidance focuses on aligned and aligning transition finance opportunities and serves as a complement to the ASEAN Taxonomy; and
c. Collaborating in the development of low emission technologies such as hydrogen and CCUS, and facilitating the transboundary flows of clean and renewable energy.
14. REAFFIRM our commitment to addressing climate change and call for unity and enhanced collaboration among ASEAN countries and with global partners.
15. URGE all Parties to take decisive action to mitigate climate change, adapt to its unavoidable impacts, and support developing countries, in particular least developed countries and small island developing States, in their climate action efforts.
Adopted on this Ninth Day of October in the Year Two Thousand and Twenty-Four in a single original copy in the English Language.
