ASEM promotes coordinated actions to address climate change

The Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) Conference on “Climate Action to Achieving the Sustainable Development Goals – Ways Forward” wrapped up in Can Tho on June 20, after three days of discussion, during which the ASEM unanimously agreed to promote coordinated action to address climate change.

Delegates in discussion at the closing session of the ASEM Conference on “Climate Action to Achieving the Sustainable Development Goals – Ways Forward.” (Photo: sggp.org.vn)
Delegates in discussion at the closing session of the ASEM Conference on “Climate Action to Achieving the Sustainable Development Goals – Ways Forward.” (Photo: sggp.org.vn)

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The conference focused on a number of important topics, including development in the context of climate change, capacity building for climate change adaptation, increasing the role and involvement of stakeholders and strengthening the cooperation between Asia-Europe continents in response to climate change for sustainable development.

Delegates argued that the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Paris Climate Agreement are global frameworks that contribute to addressing the core issues of development, creating new momentum for economic restructuring and transforming the growth model into a green economy with low emissions and enhanced self-reliant capacity of the people, the community and the nation.

Practical experience and the typical models in ASEM members were also shared at the conference, especially in smart agricultural development, adaptation to climate change, food security, renewable energy use, clean technologies and infrastructure development for climate change response. The ASEM members highly appreciated Vietnam’s efforts and agreed to continue supporting the country, especially the 13 provinces in the Mekong Delta region, in sustainable development which is adaptive to climate change.

At the closing session, the delegates agreed on several measures to enhance the coordination among ASEM, with the highlight focusing on the promotion of ASEM's contribution to the global effort to implement the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Paris Climate Agreement; identifying a holistic and integrated approach to link climate change adaptation with sustainable development; strengthening the links of ASEM specialised cooperation initiatives and projects; and promoting cooperation on forecasting, impact assessment, capacity building, as well as promoting corporate social responsibility and public-private partnership projects.

The ASEM members also agreed to continue supporting the developing country members that are faced by severe challenges in climate change, especially in terms of financial support, experience, and the transfer of green and clean technology, as well as strengthening ASEM cooperation on reducing plastic waste in the ocean and supporting global efforts in this area.

Landslides are causing serious damage in the Mekong Delta region. (Photo: sggp.org.vn)

The conference also agreed to support regional and sub-regional cooperation mechanisms, including the Mekong-Danube cooperation.

At the closing session, the Head of Vietnam ASEM Senior Official highlighted that the outcomes of the conference contributed to the realisation of the ASEM Leaders’ vision on strengthening inter-regional cooperation and decisive action in responding to climate change.

The conference unanimously approved a report to be presented to the 12th ASEM Summit in Brussels, Belgium in October.

During the conference, the delegates held meetings and contacts between the Mekong Delta provinces and the relevant Vietnamese ministries, agencies and research institutes with ASEM partners.

They also joined an exhibition on climate change and a field trip to Con Son islet in Can Tho, which introduced the challenges and efforts of the Vietnamese Government and the Mekong Delta provinces in adapting to and reducing the impacts of climate change, towards the goal of sustainable development, thereby promoting cooperation between Vietnam and the ASEM members.