Asean to developed countries: Support low carbon cities

MANILA, Philippines - The foreign ministers of the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) have urged developed country parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) to boost support for efforts to promote low-carbon and climate resilient cities in the region. 

In a joint statement issued in their recent ASEAN meeting in Manila, the foreign ministers expressed “grave” concern about the “multi-faceted impacts” of climate change throughout the region as outlined in the assessment reports of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. 

“We call upon developed country parties to the UNFCCC to enhance support for ongoing efforts to promote low-carbon and climate resilient cities in ASEAN such as the implementation of sustainable energy technology and early warning system to reduce impact of climate-related disasters,” they said. 

The ministers cited the “disproportionate” and “adverse” effects of climate-related disasters on the region’s vulnerable and marginalized groups – women, children, older persons, persons with disability, farmers, fisherfolk, persons in conflict-affected communities. 

“Given the importance of cities to the future growth of the ASEAN community and the welfare of its people, we reaffirmed our commitment to facilitate greater coordination among ASEAN cities to strengthen cities’ climate resilience,” they said. 

They noted the ongoing consultation at the ASEAN Working Group on Climate Change on the proposed ASEAN City Leaders on Climate Resilience initiative as a multi-stakeholder platform for city leaders to exchange experience, share successful approaches and initiate collaborative action on climate resilience. 

The ministers also said they look forward to the ASEAN joint statement on climate change to the 23rd session of the Conference of the Parties to the UNFCCC to be held in November 2017 in Bonn, Germany.