On July 14, 2023, the ASEAN Plus Three (10+3) Seminar on Advancing Low Carbon Development Partnership was successfully held in a hybrid format, combining online and offline participation. The seminar was organized under the guidance of the International Cooperation Department of China’s Ministry of Ecology and Environment, China-ASEAN Environmental Cooperation Center/Foreign Environment Cooperation Center, with support from the World Resources Institute and the World Wide Fund for Nature.
During the Seminar experts from various regions, including ASEAN countries, China, Japan, South Korea, United Nations agencies, and international organizations, engaged in comprehensive and insightful deliberations on three primary subjects. These topics encompassed “Advancing Towards COP28: Enhancing Regional Carbon Market Development and Collaboration,” “Promoting Low-Carbon Development and Establishing Green Value Chains for Regional Green Recovery,” and “Climate Change and Plastic Pollution Governance: Green Low-Carbon Consumption and Youth Leadership in Plastic Reduction.”
Throughout the Seminar, experts exchanged valuable insights on the key national accomplishments, case studies, and practical know-how pertaining to the aforementioned subjects. They offered valuable recommendations and perspectives on establishing regional low-carbon alliances, promoting tangible cooperation through policy discussions, collaborative research, and capacity enhancement. The overarching objective was to establish a robust framework for elevating the region’s sustainable low-carbon development efforts.
In the Seminar’s first session, titled “Advancing Towards COP28: Enhancing Regional Carbon Market Development and Collaboration,” Julia Mao, the Director of the International Cooperation Department at the International Institute of Green Finance, offered her perspectives. She summarized the viewpoints expressed by experts from China, Japan, Singapore, and South Korea. Furthermore, she delved into the importance of green finance in promoting cooperation among these countries and ASEAN nations in the region. Additionally, she provided valuable insights into the potential expansion of regional low-carbon collaboration.
The participants unanimously acknowledged that APT form the fundamental pillars of East Asian collaboration, with 10+3 cooperation emerging as a significant platform for both regional South-South and North-South cooperation. Within this framework, ecological environment and climate change are critical areas of focus for 10+3 cooperation. In light of this, the countries in the region are encouraged to align their efforts with the “ASEAN Plus Three Cooperation Work Plan (2023-2027)” actively. This alignment aims to effectively address climate change, foster low-carbon trade, and promote the development of sustainable value chains. Encouraging green and low-carbon consumption, along with active engagement in regional and global climate and environmental governance, is highlighted as essential.
The China-ASEAN Environmental Cooperation Center was established in 2010 and is a specialized institution directly under the Ministry of Ecology and Environment. Its primary mission is to serve as a research-oriented and technically supportive organization for international environmental cooperation, fostering South-South collaboration on environmental matters, and playing a crucial role in regional environmental cooperation.