The private sector has presented their views and inputs towards the development of the ASEAN Strategy for Carbon Neutrality at the recent 9th ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) Dialogue in Jakarta, Indonesia.

The dialogue was organised by the ASEAN Secretariat, with the support of the Australian Government through the Australia for ASEAN Futures – Economic and Connectivity. Participating in person and virtually were more than 200 participants consisting of corporate leaders from various industries such as food and beverage, cement, logistics, shipping, agriculture, carbon offset project developers, textiles, independent power producers, banks, and infrastructure financing institutions.

Its breakout sessions focused on such key issues as green infrastructure, integration of decarbonised value chains, and circularity in regional trade; green skill development and mobility, and interoperable carbon markets, among many others. The inputs gathered from the dialogue will be incorporated in the study for ASEAN Strategy for Carbon Neutrality, one of the bloc’s priorities under Indonesia’s chairmanship this year.

In his remarks, Deputy Secretary-General of ASEAN for AEC Satvinder Singh said the bloc houses one of the world’s largest natural carbon sinks, accounting for 36% of global cost-effective nature-based solutions potential.

He also highlighted the need for ASEAN to take a collective approach that will accelerate the region’s transition towards low-carbon economy, and called upon the business communities to take part in the transition by integrating sustainability into current business models, adopting cleaner technologies, promoting energy efficiency, and investing in renewable energy.

Ambassador of the Australian Mission to ASEAN Will Nankervis underscored the importance of the ASEAN Strategy on Carbon Neutrality and affirmed Australia’s ongoing support for the regional efforts to realise a carbon neutral future./.

Source: Vietnam News Agency