Greenpeace statement on sections 48 and 49* of the Joint Communique of the 40th ASEAN Ministerial Meeting in Manila

Greenpeace Southeast Asia Climate and Energy Campaigner Jasper Inventor said:
"The fact that we are already experiencing the catastrophic impacts of climate change demands that governments in the region start taking aggressive action that goes beyond mere rhetorical concern typically expressed in such political gatherings.
“As a start, the countries of Southeast Asia must start stabilizing their own carbon dioxide emissions and initiate the shifting away of their economies from the use of fossil fuels, especially coal, and move towards the use of renewable energy and enhanced energy efficiency measures.

“In addition, ASEAN governments must work together to reduce greenhouse gas emissions brought about by massive deforestation which, together with the increasing use of fossil fuels, constitute a significant threat to the climate. Currently, Southeast Asia collectively ranks third highest in greenhouse gas emissions among developing countries, after China and India. Because of massive deforestation rates, Indonesia alone ranks as the third top source of emissions in the world today.

“Southeast Asia is among the most vulnerable regions when it comes to climate change impacts. Recent reports from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), predict cataclysmic impacts if the world fails to reduce carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions. The frequency of extreme weather events like super typhoons and droughts which have visited the region in recent memory offer us a glimpse of what awaits us should climate change worsen..

“Southeast Asia must not follow a path that would further increase its greenhouse gas emissions. ASEAN countries, in support of the global initiatives to prevent the further warming of the planet, must instead start building their economies on a foundation powered by sustainable energy sources.

“While the ASEAN has started to recognize the perils that climate change pose to the region and its economies, its member governments, however, still fail to act. And time is running out. The right policy support for the massive uptake of renewable energy continues to be at the bottom of the priorities of ASEAN governments. We have yet to see our governments set strong renewable energy targets and policies, and develop comprehensive energy efficiency measures to bring down fuel consumption even as the region strives to sustain its thriving economies.”