Kuala Lumpur: The United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) has called on ASEAN countries to step up climate commitments and uphold the Paris Agreement despite shifting global policies on climate action. United Nations (UN) Under-Secretary-General and Executive Secretary of ESCAP, Armida Salsiah Alisjahbana, stressed that ASEAN must take a unified stance in mitigating climate change, as scientific evidence indicates the world is dangerously close to breaching the 1.5°C global warming threshold.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, Alisjahbana emphasized that ASEAN needs to maintain its climate leadership even though some major economies have withdrawn or weakened their commitments to the Paris Agreement. She highlighted the urgent need for ASEAN to take significant steps in climate action, despite the United States having withdrawn from the agreement twice, most recently under President Donald Trump on January 20, 2025.

The Paris Agreement, which was adopted on December 12, 2015, and came into force on November 4, 2016, aims to limit global warming to well below 2°C, preferably to 1.5°C, compared to pre-industrial levels. Alisjahbana noted that ASEAN nations, especially those like Malaysia, Indonesia, and Vietnam, should lead in green investments and renewable energy to attract investors and establish sustainable financing mechanisms.

Alisjahbana also mentioned that ESCAP is collaborating with ASEAN countries to facilitate climate financing and help developing nations meet their Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) under the Paris Agreement. She reiterated that ASEAN must leverage its regional strength to demonstrate its commitment to climate action to the global community.

During her two-day working visit to Malaysia from February 17, 2025, Alisjahbana met with Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim and other key officials to discuss regional cooperation in green investments and climate adaptation strategies.