UK, ASEAN Roll Out New Climate Policy Pillar To Strengthen Institutional Capacity

By Mohd Iswandi Kasan Anuar

JAKARTA, Nov 25 (Bernama) -- The United Kingdom (UK) Mission to ASEAN has launched a new climate policy initiative with ASEAN at the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP30) aimed at strengthening institutional capacity and accelerating Southeast Asia’s transition to a low-carbon economy.

The Climate Policy and Institutional Capacity Development pillar, part of the ASEAN-UK Green Transition Fund (GTF), will provide technical assistance to help the region improve climate governance, raise ambition under the Paris Agreement, and prepare for implementation of carbon market mechanisms.

Launched at a recent official COP30 side event in Belém, Brazil, the initiative was officiated by the UK Department for Energy Security and Net Zero Deputy Director for International Climate Finance, Julia Ellis and ASEAN Secretariat Head of Environment Division, Dr Vong Sok.

“Through the ASEAN-UK GTF, we’re strengthening institutional capacity, unlocking climate finance, and advancing evidence-based policies that will enable member states to deliver on their most ambitious climate commitments,” Ellis said in a statement on Tuesday.

Vong said the initiative aligns with the ASEAN Climate Vision 2050 and the forthcoming ASEAN Climate Change Strategic Action Plan, and stressed the importance of stronger mitigation, adaptation, and transparency efforts.

A key feature of the launch was a deep dive into one of the workstreams under the pillar, the ASEAN Strategic Transition for Resilient, Inclusive, and Decarbonised Economies (STRIDE). It is led by Perspectives Climate Research, provider of science-based tools to enhance Nationally Determined Contributions.

Complementing this are two additional workstreams, namely Advancing Learning and Capacity in ASEAN on Mitigation (ALAM) led by Manila Observatory, and supporting preparedness for harmonised enhanced transparency framework of the Paris Agreement reporting in ASEAN (SPHERE) led by Ernst & Young.

The launch event concluded with a panel featuring experts across the sector exploring how regional cooperation and institutional capacity can drive the region’s climate ambition, according to the UK Mission to ASEAN.

ASEAN, a region of more than 680 million people that contributes nearly five per cent of global emissions, is seeing its carbon footprint rise amid growing energy demand and land-use changes. The region is also facing escalating climate threats such as stronger storms, flooding, drought, and risks to food security.

-- BERNAMA