• ACCEPT II’s representative attended the 3^rd ASEAN Climate Change Partnership Conference (ACCPC) that was held in Siem Reap, Cambodia. The conference is arranged by the ASEAN Working Group on Climate Change as one of the supporting activities for COP 28 in Dubai, UAE.
• The conference consists of several roundtable discussions from various stakeholders, international organisations, and intergovernmental institutions that examine ASEAN’s progress and readiness to achieve the regional net zero target from a climate change perspective.
• It is aimed that the meeting could determine a concrete step for ASEAN to become a trusted net-zero mediator in the region, champion transparency, enable market solutions for nature, declare its concern on the low-carbon value chain and food security, and highlight the regional view of loss and damage related to climate change disaster.

Photo 1. ASEAN Climate Change Partnership Conference 2023

On 25 May 2023, Ms Aldilla Noor Rakhiemah, ASEAN Climate Change and Energy Project (ACCEPT) Senior Researcher of ACE, presented ACCEPT Phase II journey at the 3^rd ASEAN Climate Change Partnership Conference (ACCPC) in Siem Reap, Cambodia. ACCPC is one of the events initiated by the ASEAN Working Group on Climate Change (AWGCC), which is envisaged to be a consultative and collaborative platform. It is aimed to gather ASEAN member states and donor agencies to exchange ideas and strengthen cross-sectoral partnerships. The ASEAN sectoral bodies presented their work and action plans regarding climate change. ACCPC 2023 “Road to COP 28 UNFCCC: Stronger Partnership for ASEAN” is divided into seven sessions:

1. Regional Climate Change Priority Agenda (AWGCC Action Plan)
2. Debriefing of COP-26 and COP-27 and Briefing of COP-28

• Key Priorities of COP-28 and Opportunities for ASEAN Member States

1. Elaborating ASEAN Perspectives for COP 28
2. ASEAN Sectoral Priorities in Decarbonisation and Loss & Damage
3. Partners’ Commitment towards COP-28

• Wrap-Up and Way Forward on Common Areas of Priorities/Cooperation at the COP 28

In this opportunity, ACCEPT introduced the energy-climate nexus during the 5^th session of the conference. The session consisted of 7 panellists from different institutions, who presented different sub-topics related to climate change and decarbonisation in ASEAN from different perspectives.

Photo 2. ACCEPT II Presentations in ACCPC 2023

The discussions were based on three guiding questions: (1) How do climate change topics transpire under the work of ASEAN sectoral bodies/division work of bodies/division? Is there any plan to present/showcase at COP-28? (2) Potential collaboration on mainstreaming climate change, (3) Is there any plan to present/showcase actions at COP 28? Aligned with the topic, Aldilla, presented ACCEPT’s results and achievements in the first phase and its continuation to the second phase. She also mentioned that ACCEPT project is the first integrated project on energy and climate change in the ASEAN region.

Emphasising the power of collaboration, Aldilla sees several promising opportunities that are aligned with the AWGCC Action Plan that was conveyed during the event. ACCEPT Phase II is parallel with five out of eight action plans of AWGCC; namely, the first action plan on Long-term Planning & Assessment of NDCs, the second action plan about Climate Change Mitigation, the third action plan on Climate Modelling and Assessment, the fourth action plan about Climate Financing and Market, and the fifth action plan about Technology Transfer. The proposed supporting activities will be focusing on capacity building in enhancing NDCs in the energy sector, low carbon energy and decarbonisation technology, and financing the energy transition. Since ACCEPT Phase II is also highly related to energy modelling, Aldilla suggested having further collaboration in net-zero energy modelling and assessment to give ASEAN member states a better understanding of net-zero perspectives.

Brendan Board, the representative of BCG, stated that ASEAN is well positioned to strive for carbon neutrality due to its manageable gap to neutrality, high nature-based potential, the complementarity of the region, and the availability of capital growth. Meanwhile, Hajah Noorafidah, Chair of the ASEAN Taxonomy Board, mentioned the urgency of sustainable cooperation inclusivity and guidance towards ASEAN’s energy transition. Moreover, Mr Colonel (Rtd) Muhd Harrith Rashidi, Vice Chair of the ASEAN Committee on Disaster Management in Brunei Darussalam, brought up the climate change topic under the AADMER Work Programme 2021-2025 in specific for Disaster Risk Reduction and Climate Change Adaptation. The conference also highlighted that ASEAN is still in need of sufficient funding schemes and resources for further climate-related projects. In this case, ASEAN cross-sectoral cooperation is the highest priority ASEAN member states need to address.

Detailed information on ACCEPT II can be found at https://accept.aseanenergy.org/.

ACCEPT II welcomes any collaboration, please feel free to contact us at [email protected]