MNRE Joins ASEAN-US and ASEAN Plus Three Meetings at 35th Senior Officials Meeting on the Environment

Today (August 1, 2024) in the Lao People's Democratic Republic, Mr. Thalerngsak Phetsuwan, Deputy Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment (MNRE) as the head of the Thai delegation, participated in the 35th ASEAN Senior Officials Meeting on the Environment. He also attended the 3rd ASEAN – U.S. High-Level Dialogue on Environment and Climate Change and the 21st ASEAN Plus Three Senior Officials Meeting on Environment (ASEAN + 3), which includes the People's Republic of China, Japan, and the Republic of Korea.

At the ASEAN-US meeting, there was an exchange of policies on natural resources and environmental management. The United States emphasized its support for ASEAN in addressing climate change, focusing on cooperation in both reducing greenhouse gas emissions and adapting to climate change impacts under the U.S. Climate Adaptation and Resilience Plan. This includes special attention to the energy sector, land use, and support for ASEAN countries to achieve their Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) through the U.S.-ASEAN Climate Solutions Hub. This initiative aims to strengthen long-term strategies tailored to the needs of each country and to develop National Climate Change Adaptation Plans.

During the ASEAN Plus Three meeting, the importance of transboundary environmental issues and climate change was highlighted. Key projects under ASEAN Plus Three cooperation include the ASEAN Plus Three Marine Plastics Debris Cooperative Action Initiative, which features important activities such as developing the Atlas of Ocean Microplastic (AOMi). Additionally, Laos invited ASEAN member countries to participate in the 12th ASEAN Plus Three Leadership Program on Sustainable Consumption and Production (SCP), scheduled for November 2024 in Vientiane, to exchange knowledge on SCP policies and promotion in the region.