Background
The Eighteenth Policy Consultation Forum of the Seoul Initiative Network on Green Growth (SINGG) will be organized on the theme "Accelerating Collaborative Efforts for Climate Action in Asia and the Pacific". The IPCC Sixth Assessment Report states that human-induced climate change is causing dangerous and widespread disruption in nature. The world will face multiple unavoidable climate hazards over the next two decades, even if global temperatures increase by 1.5°C. If current trends continue, the number of disasters per year globally may increase from around 400 in 2015 to 560 per year by 2030. Additionally, the number of extreme temperature events per year is increasing. Based on current trends, it will almost triple between 2001 and 2030. The lives of billions of people around the world will be affected.
As a follow-up to the Paris Agreement, which keeps signatories committed to reaching carbon neutrality in emissions in the second half of the 21st century, 137 countries have committed to carbon neutrality. In the Asia-Pacific region, most member states of ESCAP have made climate neutrality pledges, and several have advanced in developing national laws, strategies and implementation plans aligning those with NDC commitment and long-term low emissions strategies. Yet, global carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions from energy combustion and industrial processes grew 0.9% or 321 Mt in 2022 to a new all-time high of 36.8 Gt. CO2 emissions growth in 2022 was below global GDP growth (+3.2%). Meanwhile, improvements in CO2 intensity of energy use were slightly slower than the annual average of the past decade (2012-2021).
The eighteenth Policy Consultation Forum of the SINGG will provide member States with the opportunity to discuss regional approaches to climate action. This will help them identify chances to apply relevant strategies and policies at country level. Additionally, the Forum aims to support cooperative efforts with other member countries and sectors to achieve carbon neutrality.
Objectives
The Forum provides a platform for member states to discuss best practices, exchange experiences, and strengthen collaborative efforts in responding to climate change, with the goal of achieving carbon neutrality by 2050.
Expected Outcomes
- Heightened understanding of the importance of green recovery and carbon-neutral strategies for overcoming the economic downturn caused by COVID-19 and responding to climate change
- Enhanced cooperation for accelerating carbon reduction and sharing best practices for carbon neutrality and climate action between the Asia and Pacific Island region
