- Excellencies, ladies, and gentlemen. The Association of Southeast Asian Nations or the ASEAN, Centre for Biodiversity or the ACB expresses its gratitude to the Secretariat and the Parties during this COP28 for its admission as an intergovernmental organizations (IGO) observer at sessions of the Conference of the Parties (COP) beginning at this historic COP 28 here in Dubai. We look forward to more opportunities in contributing to the UNFCCC processes as we take on two of the most pressing issues of our time: climate change and biodiversity loss.
- The Southeast Asian region is home to more than twenty-five per cent of the world’s known plant and animal species despite only possessing three per cent of the world’s surface area. However, it remains to be one of the world’s most vulnerable regions to climate change directly affected by extreme weather events over the past years.
- Our leaders in the ASEAN, recognise that we cannot tackle climate change without the vital services provided by our rich biodiversity and ecosystem health. Healthy species and ecosystems diversity enhances nature’s ability to store and sequester carbon, and acts as our natural defence against climate change-related impacts. A well-balanced ecosystem regulates climate, reduces the risk of pandemics, and provides water and food security.
- We join the ASEAN Member States in calling for support to adaptation and resilience through nature-based solutions that protect vulnerable groups. We also highlight ongoing efforts on forest protection and rehabilitation as part of our climate action, as mentioned by Indonesia and Brunei Darussalam in their high level statements.
- Our interconnected forests, rivers, coastal, mangrove and marine ecosystems in the ASEAN Region require concerted action among our Member States as one Community, to address the common environmental challenges that we face.
- The ACB stands ready to contribute to the synergy of actions and partnerships in the ASEAN Region and across other regions and subregions, to optimize available resources and efforts in addressing the intertwined crises of climate change and biodiversity loss. And so together, we can move forward towards a more sustainable and resilient future, where no one is left behind.
Messages
UNITED NATIONS (UN) DAY FORUM 2023
“Charting a New Generation Partnership:The Philippines and the UN”
22 November 2023, 9:00 AM – 1:00 PM
Fairmont Makati, 1 Raffles Drive, Makati Avenue, Makati City
Hon. Secretary Enrique Manalo
