Vol. IV / No. 7 | November 2023
Authors:
Ali Abdullah Wibisono (Associate Professor at the Department of International Relations, Universitas Indonesia)
Ahmad Hidayat (Associate researcher at the Department of International Relations, Universitas Indonesia and and Carbon Policy Lab by CarbonEthics)
Summary
Climate change has become a significant issue in ASEAN, considering the critical geographical and socio-economic developments that intensify natural disasters, food insecurity, and territorial and migration conflicts. It transformed the climate change/environmental problem from potential risks into a real, pervasive threat to survival. Unfortunately, ASEAN has yet to see concerted significant regional efforts to achieve a global standard of climate change mitigation, preventing a 1.5°C temperature rise by 2100. ASEAN member states’ Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) have not aligned with the Paris Agreement as commitment varies regarding targets, strategies, and monitoring and evaluation control. The regional efforts to combat climate change could not yet qualify as an established commitment to act. Differentiated obligations based on historical emissions should be elaborated with investment, technology development, and green infrastructure to support net-zero, which should be promoted unconditionally or conditionally to international support in ASEAN countries.
Keywords: ASEAN, Climate Change Mitigation, Commitment, Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC), Southeast Asia