ASEAN Member Countries, Australia, China, India, Japan, Korea and New Zealand signed the Singapore Declaration on Climate Change, Energy and the Environment yesterday at the Third East Asia Summit (EAS) in Singapore. The Declaration reaffirms the need for countries in East Asia to tackle the “interrelated challenges of climate change, energy security and other environmental and health issues”. Some key issues that the countries commit to:

Stress that all countries should play a role in addressing the common challenge of climate change, based on the principles of common but differentiated responsibilities and respective capabilities; and that developed countries should continue to play a leading role in this regard;

Participate actively in the process of developing an effective, comprehensive, and equitable post-2012 international climate change arrangement under the UNFCCC process; and in this context, reiterate our support for the successful outcome of the 13th session of the COP to the UNFCCC and the 3rd MOP to the Kyoto Protocol to be held in Bali, Indonesia in December 2007;

Working towards achieving a significant reduction in energy intensity;

Cooperating for the development and use of civilian nuclear power, in a manner ensuring nuclear safety, security and non-proliferation, in particular its safeguards, within the framework of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), for those EAS participating countries which are interested.

Work to achieve an EAS-wide aspirational goal of increasing cumulative forest cover in the region by at least 15 million hectares of all types of forests by 2020;

Pooling our experiences, expertise and technology in areas such as urban planning including transportation, green building, water management, urban greenery and urban biodiversity conservation, sanitation and waste management, 3Rs (Reduce, Reuse and Recycle) and air, noise, water, and land pollution control;

Source: Singapore Declaration on Climate Change, Energy and the Environment. Image attribution: 13th ASEAN Summit.

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ASEAN leaders signed the ASEAN Declaration on Environmental Sustainability yesterday at the 13th ASEAN Summit in Singapore. The Declaration signifies ASEAN member countries’ concern of the environment and climate change, and the need to ensure environmental sustainability while pursuing economic development. The leaders pledged to address issues on environmental protection and management, responding to climate change, and conservation of natural resources. Some key issues that the leaders declared:

Combating Haze Pollution 

To implement measures and enhance international and regional cooperation to combat transboundary environmental pollution, including haze pollution, through, among other things, capacity building, enhancing public awareness, strengthening law enforcement, promoting environmentally sustainable practices, as well as combating illegal logging and its associated illegal trade;

Improving Water Access and Living Conditions 

To endeavour to reduce by half of the number of people without sustainable access to safe drinking water by 2010 in accordance with the VAP to meet the needs of ASEAN citizens, and significant improvement in the lives of slum dwellers by 2020 in ASEAN Member Countries in accordance with the UN MDGs;

Promoting Renewable and Nuclear Energy 

To take concrete measures to promote the use of renewable and alternative energy sources such as solar, hydro, wind, tide, biomass, biofuels and geothermal energy, as well as, for interested parties, civilian nuclear power, while ensuring safety and safeguards that are of current international standards, and environmental sustainability throughout the full life cycle of production and use;

Protecting Biodiversity and Forests

To achieve by 2010, a significant reduction in the current rate of loss of biodiversity, as pledged by countries at the WSSD in 2002 and as envisaged by the Convention on Biological Diversity;

To agree to collectively work towards achieving an aspirational goal of significantly increasing the cumulative forest cover in the ASEAN region by at least 10 million hectares by 2020;

Source: ASEAN Declaration on Environmental Sustainability. Image attribution: 13th ASEAN Summit.

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At the 13th ASEAN Summit in Singapore, ASEAN leaders signed the ASEAN Charter today, giving ASEAN a legal personality and more accountability. The Charter sets the institutional changes for ASEAN to meet future challenges as it celebrates its 40th anniversary since its’ founding in 1967. In the Charter, one of the purposes of ASEAN is:

To promote sustainable development so as to ensure the protection of the region’s environment, the sustainability of its natural resources, the preservation of its cultural heritage and the high quality of life of its peoples

ASEAN’s effort to ensure sustainable development in the region is an important part of contributing to Asia’s efforts to be green. The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) is made up of 10 countries - Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Brunei, Vietnam, Laos, Myanmar and Cambodia. ASEAN has a total population of about 567.5 million, a total area of 4.5 million square kilometers, and a combined GDP of over US$1 trillion. It is also home to a wide range of biodiversity and rich culture. The size and potential impact of ASEAN are usually overlooked and we tend to diminish the role of ASEAN in Asia. We have to recognise that acheiving sustainable development in ASEAN is a necessary step for Asia to be green.

More on the ASEAN Declaration on Environmental Sustainability tomorrow.

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The 13th ASEAN Summit to be held in Singapore will focus on “Energy, Environment, Climate Change and Sustainable Development”. The ASEAN leaders are also expected to sign a Declaration on Environmental Sustainability. More details are available at the official website.

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