SUMMER 2009 Climate Alert
The Copenhagen Challenge: Prospects for Successful Climate Negotiations [ PDF ]
In this Newsletter:
ASEAN: A Common Stance
Lynn Kirshbaum
At the Bonn Conference in early June, the ten member states of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) held a side meeting during which they agreed to take a common stand on climate change to call on developed countries to make significant cuts in their greenhouse gas emissions [i]. This type of cooperation is a marked change from usual ASEAN behavior as the two pillars of the “ASEAN way,” consensus and non-interference , typically prevent widespread agreements [ii].
While the whole group has demanded significant greenhouse gas emission reductions, the Philippines in particular submitted interventions at the UNFCC meeting calling for developed countries to cut CO2 emissions 30-40% between 2013-2017, and by more than 50% from 2018-2022 based on 1990 levels [iii], [iv].
Beginning on June 15, the Asian Development Bank (ADB) held a week-long high level dialogue on climate change in Asia and the Pacific in an effort to enhance awareness and knowledge, share information and best practices, promote regional cooperation, and foster partnerships among the ASEAN community [v]. The consensus of this conference was that funding for climate change mitigation remains a problem: ADB reported that $320 million of public funds are now available annually, but Oxfam estimates that $50 billion is needed by developing countries each year, and the UN projects that this number will increase to $250 billion per year by 2020 [vi], [vii], [viii]. ADB president Haruhiko Kuroda stated that the Bank has recently doubled its annual clean energy investment to $2 billion in developing Asia [ix].
In general, ASEAN countries see climate change as a challenge to their continued development. Collectively , Asia accounts for 37% of global greenhouse gas emissions [x]. ASEAN member states are responsible for 4.26% of global GHG emissions, but contribute 7.6% of the world’s CH4 emissions, due in part to extensive rice cultivation and rice straw burning [x]. Indonesia is ASEAN’s biggest emitter accounting for 36.93% of all GHG emissions , and is followed by Thailand with 21.82% and Vietnam with 11% [x].
Asia has experienced intensive economic growth in recent years, but this has come at great environmental costs. According to ADB, 70% of the world’s 1.3 billion poor live in Asia, many of whom subsist on traditional agricultural practices. Southeast Asia in particular is a region uniquely susceptible to extreme weather events, and much of its population relies on weather patterns to maintain a source of livelihood.
By presenting a common stance in Copenhagen, the ASEAN nations may have the opportunity to further the cause of developing nations in climate change negotiations, and to help shape global solutions which engage both developed and developing nations.
Works Cited
[i] Katherine Adraneda, “Asean agrees to RP call to ‘deep, early’ carbon emission cuts,” Philstar.com, June 11, 2009.
[ii] ASEAN, “Overview: Association of Southeast Asian Nations,”
[iii] Republic of the Philippines, “UNFCC backs RP’s call for deep emissions cuts; reduction targets not deep enough, says de Boer,” June 16, 2009.
[iv] United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, “Ideas and proposals on the elements contained in paragraph 1 of the Bali Action Plan,” March 24, 2009. PDF
[v] ADB, “High Level Dialogue: Climate Change in Asia and the Pacific – A Development Challenge,” PDF
[vi] Prime Sarmiento, “News Analysis: Funding is crucial to climate change,” Xinhua, June 18, 2009.
[vii] Yu Tianyu, “Climate change root cause for poverty, says report,” China Daily, June 18, 2009.
[viii] Greenpeace, “Climate Change Undermines China’s fight against poverty,” June 17, 2009.
[ix] Manolo Serapio Jr., “ADB targets $2 billion clean energy investment by 2013,” Reuters, June 17, 2009.
[x] Climate Analysis Indicators Tool (CAIT), World Resources Institute. http://cait.wri.org/
Other items of interest:
Background Papers for ADB High-Level Dialogue: PDF
Understanding and Responding to Climate Change in Developing Asia (ADB): PDF
Other Articles in this Newsletter:
Ecuador: A Sustainable Development Model
India: Poverty Eradication for Climate Adaptation
Africa and AMCEN: A United Front
South Africa: A Leader on the Continent
Red Alert: The Impact of Climate Change on Northwest Coast Tribal Fisheries
Russia: Emissions Without Concessions