Thailand’s Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha (Source: The Nation) Bangkok (VNA) – Thailand’s PrimeMinister Prayut Chan-o-cha, as Chair of the Association of Southeast AsianNations (ASEAN) in 2019, has reiterated the commitment of the grouping topartnering with the international community to cope with climate change.
He made the assertion while addressing theUnited Nations (UN) Climate Action Summit 2019 in New York, the US, onSeptember 23.
Prayut said ASEAN member countries arevulnerable to climate change and that its impacts have threatenedsocio-economic development of the region.
ASEAN has been adopting measures to reducegreenhouse gas emissions while its member nations are also taking steps toadjust to climate change, he said.
At the global level, ASEAN supports the Parisagreement on climate change while at the regional level, its member nations areimplementing measures under the 2025 ASEAN Social and Cultural Master Plan tobuild sustainable communities that are resilient to climate change.
The ASEAN master plan has two goals, which areenergy transition and reduction of reliance on petrol, he said, adding that theregion has reduced energy intensity by 21.9 percent compared to 2005.
ASEAN nations will continue saving energy andstrive to reach a 30 percent reduction in energy intensity by 2025 and increasethe component of renewable energy mix by 23 percent in the same year, Prayutsaid.
The association is also working to reduce theuse of petrol by small vehicles by 26 percent between 2015 and 2025, he toldthe meeting.
Moreover, ASEAN will propose fiscal policiesbased on energy conservation and reduction of carbon emissions, as well asannounce an energy conservation standard for the use of small vehicles, headded.
The PM called on developed countries to providefinancial and technological support to ASEAN to help it achieve the energyconservation goals.
He emphasised that no single country can fightclimate change alone, so ASEAN is ready to be a partner of the internationalcommunity to take actions regarding climate change to ensure a sustainableclimate for the current and future generations./.
VNA
