Senior Officials from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and the European Union (EU) gathered today for the fourth ASEAN-EU High-Level Dialogue on Environment and Climate Change. As part of the EU – ASEAN Strategic Partnership, the dialogue aims to enhance cooperation between ASEAN and the EU on shared regional and global challenges related to protecting the environment and addressing climate change. The dialogue was hosted by the Royal Government of Cambodia and co-chaired by the Philippines and the European Commission.

"This ASEAN-EU high level dialogue is invaluable in providing us an avenue for the meeting of minds on the environment and climate change. Through this dialogue, we can further enhance cooperation on shared environmental challenges and the necessities of climate action and nature protection, we would like to further emphasize that a collective need will be addressed faster if the solution is designed and implemented together as a real cooperative endeavor,” said Mr Marcial C. Amaro, Jr., Assistant Secretary for Policy, Planning and Foreign-Assisted and Special Projects, Department of Environment and Natural Resources-Philippines, as Country Coordinator for ASEAN-EU Dialogue Relations.

The EU and ASEAN are celebrating 45 years of our cooperation. Jointly, we need to more actively address the triple planetary crisis of climate change, biodiversity loss and pollution. This includes protecting and restoring ecosystems, tackling wildlife trafficking and curbing environmental pressures linked to the burgeoning use of plastics worldwide. Close international cooperation is needed to achieve climate-neutral, resource efficient and circular economies,” said Mrs Astrid Schomaker, Director of Green Diplomacy and Multilateralism, at the Directorate General for Environment of the European Commission.

Both sides exchanged on latest policy developments in their respective regions. ASEAN presented key updates on ASEAN cooperation on the environment and climate change, guided by the ASEAN Comprehensive Recovery Framework, while EU shared information on EU’s implementation of the European Green Deal and- the envisioned development of programmes under the Green Team Europe Initiative, which should advance green and sustainable development. Both sides stressed the importance of the upcoming United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP27) in November and the UN Biodiversity Conference (COP15) in December and agreed to work together closely towards successful outcomes of these meetings that will allow the global community to keep global warming to 1.5 degrees and turn the tide of biodiversity loss.

Environment

The two sides discussed tackling plastics pollution, marine litter, and sound management of waste and chemicals as common areas of interest and explored further exchanges on policies and best practices to make their economies more circular and less carbon-intensive and polluting. They also exchanged views on the intergovernmental negotiations on the global plastics agreement.

To promote circular economy practices among stakeholders, on 15 September 2022, the EU and ASEAN inaugurated the Secretariat of the ASEAN Circular Economy Stakeholder Platform hosted by the ASEAN Centre for Sustainable Development Studies and Dialogue (ACSDSD) in Bangkok, with the support of the E-READI programme.

It was highlighted that nature conservation and biodiversity and ecosystem restoration are also key priority areas for both the EU and ASEAN. The two sides exchanged views on the proposed ambitious Global Biodiversity Framework, as well as a robust monitoring and review actions. ASEAN expressed appreciation to the EU for their longstanding support in particular to the ASEAN Centre for Biodiversity for the conservation and sustainable use of the region’s rich biodiversity through projects such as the Biodiversity Conservation and Management of Protected Areas in ASEAN Project. ASEAN looks forward to continued partnership with the EU in the implementation of the Global Biodiversity Framework. The EU outlined their policies to tackle deforestation and forest degradation and combating wildlife trafficking, as well as updated ASEAN on its supports in validating and implementing a Natural Capital Roadmap in ASEAN and promoting a common ASEAN position on Natural Capital. The EU also sees smart green cities as a potential field of cooperation for harnessing the environmental pressures linked to burgeoning urban areas worldwide.

Climate Change

During the dialogue, both sides outlined their main policies to meet their respective nationally determined contributions (NDCs) and communicated their climate actions to help achieve the long-term goals of the Paris Agreement towards low-greenhouse gas emissions and climate resilient development.

The EU provided updates on its implementation of key climate commitments such as climate related long-term strategies, sustainable climate finance, including mobilising the private sector’s involvement in climate-related investments and carbon pricing instruments.

Both regions, in the context of the upcoming COP-27 in Sharm-el-Sheikh, Egypt, stressed that, COP27 is not only a moment for accountability, but also the time to demonstrate implementation and further ambition to keep the 1,5 degrees Celsius goal within reach.

ASEAN expresses appreciation in cooperation with the EU and welcomes continued support from the EU for enhancing capacity and resources to turn goals and pledges into action by providing necessary financial and technical supports needed. Both sides agreed to further discussion on the Global Goal on Adaptation. On the issue of loss and damage, ASEAN and the EU are working hard to ensure that attention to this crucial challenge results in more finance and support to those that need it most as quickly as possible. Support will continue to be scaled-up and the EU will remain being transparent on their delivery of climate finance.

On the initiative of an ASEAN Green Deal, the EU appreciated and expressed its support for the initiative of the Royal Government of Cambodia, as ASEAN Chair, on an ASEAN Green Deal.

Planning for the EU-ASEAN Ministerial Dialogue on Environment and Climate Change

Building on the high-level dialogue, both sides seek to maintain robust dialogues between their respective ministries. The first EU-ASEAN Ministerial Dialogue on Environment and Climate Change is planned to be held back-to-back with the 17th ASEAN Ministerial Meeting on Environment (AMME) in 2023 in Lao PDR. The Ministerial Dialogue will provide an opportunity for EU and ASEAN Ministers to express their commitment to cooperation on environment and climate change and providing high-level political guidance for future dialogue and cooperation.