LANGKAWI: Asean and the European Union (EU) need to cooperate on environmental sustainability as it complements the former’s growing environmental agenda, says Datuk Seri Johari Abdul Ghani.
He said this during his opening speech at the First Asean-EU Ministerial Dialogue on Environment and Climate Change held here on Thursday (Sept 4).
The dialogue held on the sidelines of the 18th Asean Ministerial Meeting on the Environment (AMME-18), was attended by Asean environment ministers from 12 member countries.
The EU was represented by the Commissioner for Climate, Net-Zero and Clean Growth Wopke Hoekstra and Commissioner for Environment, Water Resilience and a Competitive Circular Economy Jessika Roswall.
Johari, who is the Plantations and Commodities Minister, chaired the Asean-EU ministerial dialogue in his capacity as the acting Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability Minister.
The minister said that Asean should learn from the EU's initiatives like the European Green Deal and its commitment to carbon neutrality to ensure sustainable development in South East-Asia.
“Our two regions - Asean and the EU represent diverse ecosystems, economies and communities, yet we share common challenges and aspirations for a sustainable future.
“Both of us are committed to ambitious climate targets and environmental protection. The EU's leadership in global climate action, through initiatives like the European Green Deal and its commitment to carbon neutrality, complements Asean’s growing environmental agenda and our collective efforts toward sustainable development.
“This inaugural dialogue provides us with an unprecedented opportunity to establish a robust framework for an Asean-EU environmental cooperation, share innovative solutions and best practices, explore synergies in addressing plastic pollution, biodiversity loss and climate change.
“It would also strengthen capacity building and technology transfer initiatives and align our efforts with international agreements and frameworks,” said Johari.
EU commissioner Roswall, in her opening remarks said that the meeting sends a strong signal that Asean and EU relations are more important than ever.
“Our regions are far apart on the map, but we are deeply connected in the challenges that we face and also in the opportunities that we can explore together. Degraded environments do not stop at any borders. Most environmental challenges are global, and they also need international solutions,” said Roswall.
Commissioner Hoekstra said that climate change demands urgent action.
“If you look at the data, 2024 was the warmest year on records and the first to exceed 1.5 degrees above pre-industrial levels.
“And alarmingly, the pace of global climate action, unfortunately, remains too slow and everyone in your beautiful region, as well as in ours, is at the receiving end of what that means. So, we have no choice.
“We do need to become more ambitious. And for us, our dialogue today confirms our joint commitment and alliance to support ambitious domestic and international climate action,” said Hoekstra.
Malaysia is this year’s Asean chair and will host the summit under the theme "Inclusivity and Sustainability”.
The 47th Asean Summit and Related Summits, scheduled to take place in Kuala Lumpur this October, is set to be one of the largest in the grouping's history.
