ASEAN delegates discuss forest, climate change issues in Brunei

MATA-MATA, Jul 5, 2019, Borneo Bulletin. THE 16th Meeting of the ASEAN Working Group on Forest and Climate Change (16th AWG-FCC Meeting) opened at the Wafa Hotel and Apartment in Kampong Mata-Mata yesterday. Acting Director of Forestry Noralinda binti Haji Ibrahim officiated the opening ceremony, reported the Borneo Bulletin.

The meeting, organised by the Forestry Department, Ministry of Primary Resources and Tourism and will continue until today.

Participants discussed the Plan of Action (PoA) for ASEAN Cooperation on Forest and Climate Change (2016-2020); update from the COP24 or 24th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC); preparation for the COP on the 25th UNFCCC; and update from the ASEAN member states on National Initiatives on Forest and Climate Change. Presentations from meeting partners were also heard.

ASEAN member state delegates and government officials from Cambodia, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, the ASEAN Secretariat, and Brunei Darussalam – the latter represented by the Forestry Department, Brunei Darussalam Heart of Borneo Centre, Ministry of Primary Resources and Tourism, Brunei Climate Change Secretariat, and Ministry of Energy, Manpower and Industry attended the meeting.

Representatives of meeting partners German Corporation for International Cooperation (GIZ) and the EU-REDD Facility were also present.

The meeting’s goal is to foster cooperation between the ASEAN member states and dialogue and development partners and move forward as one in addressing issues on forest and climate change.

The meeting is hosted and chaired by ASEAN member states on a rotational basis. This year, Brunei Darussalam was elected as the host country and chair for the 16th AWG-FCC Meeting.