ASIATODAY.ID, LANGKAWI — The 18th ASEAN Ministerial Meeting on the Environment (AMME), held on September 3, 2025, in Langkawi, Malaysia, concluded with concrete steps to enhance regional cooperation in tackling the global environmental crisis.
The forum marked a pivotal moment in uniting ASEAN’s commitment to addressing climate change, pollution, and biodiversity loss with a long-term vision of sustainability.
The meeting was attended by ASEAN environment ministers and strategic partners including Japan, the European Union, China, and the Republic of Korea. The Indonesian delegation was led by the Deputy for Climate Change Control and Carbon Economic Value at the Ministry of Environment/Environmental Control Agency (KLH/BPLH), accompanied by the Director of ASEAN Socio-Cultural Cooperation from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
“Today’s environmental challenges—climate change, biodiversity loss, marine pollution, and the waste crisis—know no national or regional boundaries. ASEAN, as a regional organization, must act collectively to safeguard this region from these threats for future generations,” stressed Ary Sudijanto, Deputy for Climate Change Control and Carbon Economic Value.
Ary also reaffirmed Indonesia’s determination to drive tangible change in the region:
“Indonesia is committed to becoming a pioneer in regional waste management, with a target of achieving 100% proper waste management, including plastics, by 2029. We also call on ASEAN to unite in pushing for a global agreement to end plastic pollution.”
Key outcomes from the meeting included the adoption of the ASEAN Joint Statement on Climate Change for COP30 UNFCCC, reporting progress on the establishment of the ASEAN Center for Climate Change (ACCC), the drafting of the ASEAN Climate Change Strategic Action Plan to be launched in early 2026, and the designation of six new protected areas as ASEAN Heritage Parks. In addition, several cities were awarded the ASEAN Environmentally Sustainable Cities Award for their achievements in clean air, sustainable water and land management, and urban biodiversity protection.
As follow-up, the meeting agreed on key upcoming agendas: COP-21 of the ASEAN Agreement on Transboundary Haze Pollution (AATHP) in Vietnam in 2026, and the 19th AMME and COP-22 AATHP in Nay Pyi Taw, Myanmar in 2027.
The Ministry of Environment/Environmental Control Agency (KLH/BPLH) reiterated Indonesia’s commitment to remain at the forefront of international environmental diplomacy, advocating for inclusive and sustainable regional collaboration to ensure a healthier planet for future generations. (AT Network)
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