Road to UNFCCC COP28: ASEAN to Strengthen Forestry Sector’s Role in Climate Action
Jakarta – ASEAN actively enhances its contributions to global climate initiatives by collectively shaping common understanding on the forestry sector’s strategy for the upcoming United Nations Climate Change Conference (UNFCCC), also known as the Conference of the Parties (COP28), in Dubai.
The “Regional Workshop for the Preparation of the ASEAN Common Understanding on Forestry Sector for COP28″ was convened on 12-13 September 2023 in Jakarta. With both in-person and online participants from the ASEAN Member States, its purpose was to synchronise regional forestry approaches for the upcoming COP28 conference.
The workshop sought to extend dialogues from COP27. Key discussions during the workshop encompassed themes such as the impact of loss and damage, rules dictating the international carbon market (as stated in article 6 of Paris Agreement), and forestry tactics for decarbonisation. Furthermore, the significance of forests in relation to ecosystem benefits, food and sustainable living was also highlighted.
The ASEAN has a history of joint initiatives aimed at environmental conservation and climate mitigation, including on forestry sector. For example, ASEAN established the Common Position on Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation (REDD+) in 2010, highlighting the diverse functions of forests, from preserving biodiversity and protecting watersheds to sustaining livelihoods and promoting socio-economic progress. The discussion highlighted REDD+ in 2030 target, the Paris Agreement and further strategies to amplify decarbonisation initiatives up to 2050 and beyond.
The workshop’s outcome includes sharing updated policies and program implementations across the ASEAN region and insights into decisions made during COP27 regarding forest-related issues. A draft policy brief on the forestry sector for COP28 is expected to emerge, encapsulating the region’s stance on key forestry-related matters and strengthening regional understanding and capacity for future UNFCCC COP forestry negotiations.
In addition, the participants discussed the need of enhancing cross-sectoral cooperation by establishing stronger connections between environmental and economic aspects, with a specific focus on enhancing private sector engagement in climate action needs. This includes exploring avenues to improve financial accessibility for smallholders and local communities.
The Food, Agriculture and Forestry Division (FAFD) of the ASEAN Secretariat, and the ASEAN Working Group on Forest and Climate Change (AWG-FCC) is a host of the workshop, with technical assistance from the GIZ ASEAN Cluster and funding from the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) implemented by the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH.
Contact Person
Taufiqul Mujib
Key Buzzwords
Forestry, COP28, ASEAN, decarbonisation
