- 3 months ago
In this exclusive interview, European Commissioner for Climate, Net Zero and Clean Growth, Wopke Hoekstra, shares how ASEAN and the EU can join forces to tackle climate change and build a greener future.
Category
đź—ž
NewsTranscript
00:00Hello and good evening. I'm Khalid Skadir. You are watching Pantau Agenda Reformasi.
00:13We are coming to you from Langkawi, Kedah, where the 18 ASEAN Ministerial Meeting on the Environment or AMME 18 is taking place.
00:22So we turn our focus to the region's environmental priorities and the role of international cooperation.
00:30This gathering brings together regional and international leaders to discuss urgent climate and environmental challenges facing our world today.
00:40And I'm honored to be joined by His Excellency Wabka Hosra, the European Commissioner for Climate Zero and Clean Growth.
00:52Thank you, Commissioner, for taking your time and to speak with us today.
00:57So as we all know, ASEAN countries are among the most climate vulnerable, while the EU positions itself as a global leader in green transition.
01:06So how can ASEAN and the EU move from dialogue to concrete joint projects that bring a real impact on the ground? His Excellency.
01:16You're absolutely right. The ASEAN region is very vulnerable, but make no mistake, the same is true for Europe.
01:25If you look at what is happening at a global scale, you see that the world is heating up by roughly 1.5 degrees already, but Europe is at double that number.
01:35So we're talking about 3 degrees with huge ramifications all across the European Union, but particularly in our southern member states.
01:44So we do need to join forces. And that is exactly what we're doing in the domain of carbon pricing and carbon credits.
01:54In the domain of learnings on adaptation, hugely important because mitigation alone is not enough.
02:02And increasingly we're also teaming up to shape global climate diplomacy.
02:09We're going to have the COP in Brazil in just a couple of weeks, and we're adamant to make sure that our joint voice is going to be heard over there as well.
02:19Before we move on to the question of financing, the transition, I recall something.
02:24I'm just reminded of what you said two years ago.
02:28We acknowledged that Europe is only responsible for 7% of global emissions and 93% takes place outside of EU.
02:40So if we don't want to stop the boiling of the planet, we need to look at ourselves.
02:46I was struck by a phrase you used back in 2023, the boiling of the planet.
02:54At the time, you also pointed out that Europe accounts for only about 7%, as I said before.
03:01So happening outside the EU, what do you say about this term that you used before?
03:15Well, that's right, but actually our relative share has further decreased.
03:20So if you take the current number, it went down from 7% to 6%.
03:24So 6% of all the emissions the world is creating are generated in Europe.
03:32The 94% are generated outside of Europe.
03:35But what you do need to understand is that climate change truly is a global phenomenon.
03:42So it doesn't matter where stuff is being pumped into the air.
03:47If it happens somewhere else, you're still at the receiving end of climate change.
03:54So it's a necessity that as an international community we do work together and we drive down emissions all over the world.
04:04Because that's the only way to make sure we get out of harm's way.
04:08Your Excellency, one of the consistent teams we hear across ASEAN is the struggle to secure and affordable climate financing.
04:20Southeast Asia is among the regions most vulnerable to climate shocks.
04:28Yet, adaption projects which are critical for protecting communities often receive far less attention and funding compared to mitigation efforts like renewable energy.
04:41The gap is enormous.
04:43According to the ASEAN Development Bank, ASEAN needs hundreds of billions of dollars annually in climate investment.
04:51But current flows fall far short of this.
04:55So many developing countries argue that international partners, especially advanced economies, should do more to ensure finance is not just accessible but also affordable, predictable and tailored to local needs.
05:14So one of the biggest challenges in Southeast Asia is access to affordable climate financing.
05:20So how can the EU help bridge the financing gap, especially for adaption projects that often receive less attention compared to mitigation?
05:34Yeah, you're absolutely right.
05:36And it's actually two sets of problems that are interlinked.
05:41One is indeed the financing.
05:44And the European Union is doing, frankly speaking, more than its fair share.
05:49If you would look at the total amount that the world is spending and the aid that we're managing to bring to the table, out of 100 billion Europe is doing roughly 30 billion, which is a very significant amount.
06:03And we're doing that, for example, through green financing arrangements that are part of the Asian Development Bank.
06:10But there are also many bilateral ways where we're currently doing that.
06:16So more is needed, but we will continue to make sure that we practice what we preach and that we invest and help here in the region as well.
06:24Secondly, adaptation, in my view, is an underdeveloped area, basically across continents.
06:34What is true here in your beautiful part of the planet is also true in Europe.
06:40We have not done enough in terms of mitigation and therefore more in terms of adaptation is needed, just to make sure that we survive.
06:51So we need to step up, we need to join forces and make sure that mitigation is basically matched also by adaptation.
07:01Many ASEAN economies are still developing and heavily reliant on fossil fuels.
07:08So how can the EU support ASEAN in balancing economic growth with the agency of cutting emissions without creating threat future or widening inequality?
07:23So one of our lessons is that economic growth and decarbonisation actually can go hand in hand.
07:33If you were to take the European numbers, you would find that in the same time where we managed to grow our economy by 70%,
07:42we managed to reduce our emissions by one third.
07:45It's not always easy, but particularly with the technologies and the costs of these technologies, the ever lower costs of these technologies,
07:54there is a huge business opportunity for decarbonisation as well.
07:59Just think about the cost curve of solar.
08:02Think about the huge potential of wind.
08:04Think about geothermal.
08:06There is truly much more possible than what we have done so far.
08:11And it gets ever cheaper.
08:15That's a striking observation, Commissioner.
08:19And one that deserves to be highlighted, I guess.
08:24So we move to the EU's deforestation regulation, EUDR.
08:30It has raised serious concerns in Malaysia and Indonesia.
08:34Especially for smallholders, is Brussels prepared to adjust or delay implementation if ASEAN producers cannot comply in time?
08:47So this is more the domain of one of my colleagues in the Commission.
08:52But what I can say is that, you know, for all these topics, the solution is important.
09:00But it is equally important that we make sure we deal with these topics in the true spirit of partnership and come up with solutions that work for everyone.
09:12And I think that is one of the lessons we have also learned and that we bring to the table going forward.
09:18Making sure we do these type of things in close dialogue with our friends and partners in ASEAN.
09:24Another recurring crisis in our region is transboundary haze.
09:30For decades, it has been torn in ASEAN's side.
09:34Because it not only has economic losses, but also testing the credibility of regional cooperation.
09:42ASEAN has its agreement on transboundary haze pollution,
09:47but enforcement remains largely voluntary, leaving accountability gaps unresolved.
09:57Transboundary haze has been a since recurring environmental crisis for decades.
10:04How far is EU willing to push accountability mechanism instead of leaving it as voluntary cooperation issues?
10:16Yeah, so, in general, and that in my view is true for almost any policy area,
10:24only if it is clear what you are doing, if it is clear where there is potentially a gap.
10:32If you get feedback about what works and what doesn't work, you can improve.
10:37So, I've always been a huge advocate for transparency and for monitoring progress.
10:45Feedback is not always nice to get, but it's the only way and the best way to then actually improve.
10:53That is a very compelling response, his excellency.
10:57And then after the break, we will continue exploring the future of ASEAN EU,
11:03climate cooperation, including carbon markets and the road to COP30 in Brazil.
11:09So, stay with us, we'll be right back.
11:13Welcome back. You are still watching Fantao Agenda Reformasi.
11:17So, we move to the next question, one of the interesting areas of cooperation between ASEAN and EU lies in the field of COP30.
11:19So, ASEAN is actively studying the ASEAN and EU lies in the field of carbon markets.
11:26So, ASEAN is actively studying the idea of establishing a regional carbon market through progress from country to country.
11:33The EU, meanwhile, has developed one of the world's most established emission trading system.
11:40The EU ETS, which is often seen as a global benchmark.
11:47The EU ETS, which is often seen as a global benchmark.
11:52The question now is, whether these two regions can eventually align their systems or at least create some from, well, do you see scope of, for lean,
11:59or through progress through progress through progress from country to country.
12:04The EU, meanwhile, has developed one of the world's most established emission trading system, the EU ETS, which is often seen as a global benchmark.
12:09The question now is, whether these two regions can eventually align their systems or at least create some from, well, do you see scope of, for linking or aligning ASEAN's carbon initiative with the EU ETS in the future?
12:29This truly is an area where the sky is the limit.
12:32And it is fantastic to see that our friends and partners in ASEAN are embarking on this and are seeing the potential of this.
12:41One of the most effective things humanity can do is basically put a price to carbon.
12:48It's a market-based mechanism.
12:51It has worked phenomenally well in Europe and it gets traction all over the world.
12:58Here, in your beautiful part of the globe, but also in Latin America and elsewhere in Asia.
13:06So, we're very much looking forward to further develop this.
13:11And this was a very significant part of the conversation here with the various ministers as well.
13:18I think that's a quote worth remembering. It really frames the issue in a powerful way.
13:28So, with COP2T in Brazil approaching, what specific role do you expect ASEAN and the EU to play together in shaping a more ambitious global climate deal?
13:42Well, in general, I feel a huge sense of gratitude for the conference that we're having here.
13:48It's true partnership and it is true ambition in the domain of climate action.
13:54And Brazil provides us, or the COP in Brazil provides us with an excellent opportunity to bring that into practice.
14:02There are very few problems as complicated as climate action in a geopolitical timeframe that is hugely complex.
14:15And yet, we don't have a choice. We do need to work together.
14:19So, the strong fundamentals between ASEAN and the European Union provide us with a stepping stone for evermore climate diplomacy, also at the COP in Brazil.
14:34Some in this region feel that Europe is asking ASEAN to go green while historically the West contributed most to the global emissions.
14:47How do you respond to acquisitions of climate standards?
14:54I would not agree with it. What I do agree with is that with affluence comes responsibility.
15:01And the responsibility to make sure you fast-forward the transition at home.
15:09And the responsibility to help out friends and partners across the globe.
15:13And that is exactly what the European Union is doing.
15:16We have managed to drive down our own emissions very significantly.
15:21And by 2030, we will have reduced our emissions by 55% compared to the 1990 level.
15:28At the same time, we're helping out our friends and partners with financing, with best practices, with information sharing, with companies that are teaming up.
15:39And I think that is precisely what we should be doing.
15:42One of the highlights of this ASEAN Ministerial Meeting on the Environment, or the MME, is the involvement of youth.
15:52Across Southeast Asia, young people have been at the forefront of climate activism.
15:59So from grassroots campaigns to innovative startups that push for greener solutions.
16:06Their voices often bring agency, creativity, accountability to policymakers.
16:12From the EU's perspective, why is it critical to bringing younger voices into the climate conversation?
16:22Because it's the younger generation that has the most longevity, right?
16:27They're going to be on this earth longer than the older generations.
16:34So they have a huge interest to make sure this problem is not further getting out of hand, but is being dealt with effectively.
16:43And that is why I always like to bring the young generation and the next generation into the conversation.
16:49Beyond regulations, how can the EU concretely support ASEAN in terms of green finance and technology transfer?
17:03What it all boils down to is a sense of partnership and joining forces.
17:11And it is about regulation that we should jointly embark on.
17:16It is about pricing carbon, as we were just discussing.
17:20It is about standard setting.
17:23And it is about creating an environment for our businesses to continue to do business.
17:30But do business in a 21st century way that actually respects the planetary boundaries.
17:37That respects the way our people want to live.
17:44that respects the rules and regulations that come with decent employment.
17:53All these things we can put in place together.
17:56ASEAN has been criticised as a talk shop.
18:01The EU itself is sometimes seen as over-regulated.
18:07So how do we ensure this partnership delivers concrete results rather than more, I can say that, just declarations?
18:19Well, if you look at what we have embarked on today, it's a whole set of extremely concrete actions.
18:25And I can only commend also the climate minister from Malaysia who made it even more concrete at the end of the meeting.
18:36Asking for very specific deliberals and get-togethers on carbon pricing, the topic you were asking about as well.
18:44That is hugely important.
18:46And personally I think ASEAN is doing a phenomenal job in bringing together the countries in the region.
18:55Is it always easy to do things together with a set of countries?
19:01Talking about European experience, no it is not.
19:04It is sometimes very complicated.
19:07At the same time it is very much worthwhile because there is so much that we have in common in terms of interests.
19:14Looking at the discussions and commitments made throughout this ASEAN ministerial meeting on the environment, EMME, what would you say the main conclusions we can take away?
19:31And how do you see this dialogue influencing not just regional but also global efforts in making climate change and advancing sustainability?
19:42This was a first.
19:45It is the very first time that the European Commission and ASEAN have joined forces in such a fundamental way as during this conference.
19:55And for me that is a stepping stone into the future.
19:59It provides us with an opportunity to do more in the domain of climate action.
20:04But we don't need to limit ourselves to that.
20:06In general, if you look at the similarities that we have, the outlook on geopolitics, the outlook on trade, the outlook on more climate action.
20:17This is a partnership between the European Union and ASEAN that could become even more than what it already is today.
20:28Thank you very much for your time and for sharing your insights with us today.
20:36We truly appreciate your time and valuable perspective.
20:40Thank you once again. I'm Khalil Skadir.
20:43That's all from us for now.
20:45Thank you for watching Pantau Agenda Reformasi.
20:48I'm Khalil Skadir.
20:49Goodbye.
20:58Goodbye.
20:59Goodbye.
Be the first to comment