As the next round of annual global talks on climate change approaches, the European Union and China last month jointly issued a climate declaration underscoring their commitment to submit 2035 emissions targets, accelerate green technologies, and uphold the principles of multilateral climate governance set out in the 2015 Paris agreement. Such commitments should not be the preserve of only two major powers. The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and China should also issue a joint climate compact – concretely mapped, collectively designed, and Paris‑aligned. China and ASEAN already share a well‑established corpus of cooperation, from clean energy to climate resilience. In their joint strategic statements, they reaffirm commitment to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and embrace the principle of common but differentiated responsibilities, including support for capacity building, technology transfer, and finance for mitigation and adaptation. China has pledged to back the ASEAN Centre for Climate Change and launch projects on low‑carbon community development and climate‑resilient cities.
ASEAN and China need their own climate compact | Lowy Institute
