30/12/2021
Dr. Vo Tuan Nhan, Deputy Minister of MONRE Viet Nam has the Opening Remarks at AMME 16
16th ASEAN Ministerial Meeting on the Environment (AMME 16) is held every two years, this is an important event for ASEAN Member States (AMS) to review ASEAN co-operation activities in the field of environment, thereby jointly offering solutions and important orientations to make ASOEN's activities more practical and effective; contribute to the achievement of environmental sustainability goals within the framework of the ASEAN Socio – Cultural Community Master Plan and ASEAN Community Vision 2025, at the same time achieve the United Nations' 2030 Sustainable Development Goals.
The AMME 16 were held on 21 October 2021 via video conference hosted by Indonesia. The Meeting was chaired by H.E. Siti Nurbaya Bakar, Minister of Environment and Forestry, Indonesia; Co-Chair of the Meeting is Dr. Saynakhone Inthavong, Deputy Minister of Natural Resources and Environment of Lao PDR. The Vietnamese delegation attending the Meeting led by Dr. Vo Tuan Nhan, Deputy Minister of Natural Resources and Environment. Also in attendance were Dr. Nguyen Van Tai, General Director of Vietnam Environment Administration, Chairman of ASOEN Viet Nam; representatives of agencies under MONRE; together with representatives from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Labor, War Invalids and Social Affairs.
H.E Siti Nurbaya Bakar, Minister of Environment and Forestry, Indonesia, Chairperson of the AMME 16
The Meeting noted the report of the Chairman of ASOEN (Myanmar) on the performance of 7 ASEAN co-operation areas on the environment in terms of nature conservation and biodiversity, coastal and marine environment, water resource management, climate change, chemicals and waste, environmentally sustainable cities, environmental education; Report of the ASEAN Center for Biodiversity (ACB) on governance, institutional review, priorities and challenges as well as the Post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework.
Prior to the Meeting, the ASEAN Environment Ministers adopted the ASEAN Joint Statement on Chemicals and Waste at the Conference of the Parties to the Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm Convention (BRS) in 2021; ASEAN Joint Statement on Biodiversity at the 15th Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD COP 15) and ASEAN Regional Action Plan on combating marine debris; ASEAN Status Climate Change Report (ASCCR).
The Meeting endorsed the nomination for the 5th ASEAN Environmentally Sustainable Cities (ESC) Awards and 4th ASEAN Certificates of Recognition (the award presentation ceremony was then held in the afternoon of 21 October 2021 in Jakarta, Indonesia); agreed to have the ASEAN Joint Statement on Climate Change at the 26th Conference (COP 26) of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, then adopted by Ministers by ad-referendum; Draft ASEAN - China Joint Statement on Strengthening Co-operation for Green and Sustainable Development; The tentative agendas for the 17th ASEAN Plus Three Ministerial Meeting on Environment on October 22, 2021.
In addition, the Meeting also welcomed and supported Brunei Darussalam's initiatives in the ASEAN Chairmanship 2021 on the establishment of the ASEAN Center on Climate Change in Brunei and the ASEAN Youth Climate Action Seminar. (ASEANYouCAN). The initiatives are launched with the desire to promote research, development, co-ordination and co-operation on climate change between AMS and partners. The Meeting appreciated the recognition of youth as essential partners in the climate change adaptation and welcomed the Bandar Seri Begawan Statement on ASEAN Youth Action for Climate as a call by ASEANYouCAN youth delegates to strengthen climate action in the Region.
At the Opening Remarks, Dr. Vo Tuan Nhan, Deputy Minister of Natural Resources and Environment of Viet Nam emphasized: “The Vietnamese Government always emphasizes the importance of environmental protection, especially issues related to nature conservation and biodiversity, water resources management, coastal and marine environment, climate change, chemicals and waste and marine debris.” To achieve the set goals, Deputy Minister Vo Tuan Nhan affirmed: “Firstly, we need to make more efforts, uphold the spirit of solidarity, responsibility, mutual respect for the common interests of the whole region, continue to work together to solve urgent issues on water and air pollution, marine debris, nature conservation and biodiversity; improve capacity to proactively adapt to climate change, and at the same time promote sustainable management and use of transboundary water resources, contributing to ensuring food security, water security and providing a safer living environment for generations of ASEAN people for now and in the future; Secondly, in the context that the impacts of climate change are increasing in scale and intensity, directly affecting sustainable development, environment, water resources, biodiversity, food security and life of people in each country; we need to have specific and strong commitments on efforts to reduce emissions, with appropriate measures and plans to achieve the target of zero emissions as soon as possible; Thirdly, in the context that countries in the region and the world are facing challenges caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, green economic recovery and circular economy need to be strongly deployed in each country, regionally and globally, on the basis of maintaining a relationship of cooperation and mutual trust and linking the participation, cooperation and support of partner countries, the international community, as well as the cooperation of all actors of society, especially citizens and the private sector".
As an active and responsible member of the ASEAN Community, Vietnam will continue to work closely with AMS and partner countries to effectively implement the ASEAN Community Vision 2025 Blueprint. Thereby, Vietnam also expressed its desire to continue to receive close cooperation and support from the Community to realize the commitments of the Meeting
C.Loan (compiled from sources)
(Source: Vietnam Environment Administration Magazine, English Edition IV- 2021)
