ASIATODAY.ID, BAKU – Leaders and delegates from ASEAN countries together with international partners launched the Community-Based Climate Action (CBCA) program under the 2023 ASEAN Chair by Indonesia. The launch was held at the Indonesian Pavilion, at the 29th UN Climate Change Conference (COP29), Baku, Azerbaijan, Monday 18 November 2024.
This initiative emphasizes the important role of local communities in overcoming the impacts of climate change which increasingly threatens the Southeast Asian region.
The Director General of Climate Change at the Indonesian Ministry of Environment and Forestry, Laksmi Dwanthi, called the launch of the CBCA a historical milestone in climate action in the region.
“ASEAN is highly vulnerable to the impacts of climate change, from rising sea levels to more frequent droughts and storms. “Without real action, regional economic losses could reach 35 percent of GDP in 2050,” said Laksmi at the CBCA launch.
CBCA is designed to empower local communities as the front guard in mitigating and adapting to climate change. Through this program, ASEAN is committed to integrating local knowledge, innovation and community leadership in a sustainable climate action strategy.
“This community-based approach emphasizes the importance of collaboration between local communities with government, the private sector and civil society organizations, with initiatives such as sustainable agricultural practices and renewable energy solutions, we can encourage more effective and sustainable action,” said Laksmi.
As a first step, ASEAN identified more than 100 best practices for community-based climate action across the region. In Malaysia, the Penang Nature-Based Adaptation Program has utilized innovative approaches to increase climate resilience. Meanwhile in the Philippines, community-based forest management has become a model for adaptation and environmental conservation.
Director of Sectoral and Regional Resource Mobilization of the Ministry of Environment, Dr. Wahyu Marjaka, explained the results of the study which became the basis for the development of CBCA. This study highlights the challenges facing ASEAN member countries, ranging from limited funding to a lack of local technical capacity.
“This study identifies six core elements of the CBCA, including strong policy support, broad stakeholder participation, and a transparent monitoring system. To meet these challenges, we need to strengthen policy frameworks, build cross-sector partnerships, and ensure funding sustainability,” said Revelation.
One example of success raised is PROKLIM (Climate Village Program) in Indonesia.
Director of Climate Change Adaptation at the Ministry of Environment, Irawan Asaad, explained that PROKLIM has involved more than 11,000 villages throughout Indonesia in community-based climate action.
“Since 2013, PROKLIM has helped local communities change their lifestyles to be more adaptive to climate change. We are targeting 20,000 villages involved by the end of this year, creating a snowball effect to mobilize collective action,” said Irawan.
CBCA emphasizes the importance of collaboration between government, society, NGOs, the private sector and the media to strengthen community-based climate action. The role of the media is considered crucial in spreading success stories and encouraging public awareness.
“The ASEAN community is not just victims of climate change, they are also agents of change, by providing them with the tools, knowledge and resources, we can harness their creativity and resilience to ensure long-term impact,” said Wahyu.
This program receives support from the ASEAN-European Union Climate Action Program, which also provides funding and technical guidance to member countries.
ASEAN leaders agreed that CBCA is a key strategy for development that is resilient to climate change.
Laksmi Dwanthi closed the launch with a message of optimism. “ASEAN’s strength lies in its people, by embracing community-based climate action, we can create a more sustainable and resilient future for the entire region,” said Laksmi.
This launch was accompanied by the screening of a short film depicting the journey of community-based climate action in ASEAN. The CBCA guidance document has also been made available for public access via the official link.
As part of the implementation of the CBCA, ASEAN will strengthen cross-sector cooperation, increase local capacity, and expand program coverage to the most vulnerable areas.
Through these efforts, ASEAN is determined to become a region that is not only resilient to the impacts of climate change, but also becomes a global model for community-based climate action. (AT Network)
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