NEW YORK, Sept 24 (TNA) – Thai Prime Minister Prayut
Chan-o-cha has pledged on behalf of 10 ASEAN member states to be actively
involved in global climate action at various levels during his speech at the
United Nations Climate Action Summit 2019.
In his capacity as the chair of the Association of Southeast
Asian Nations (ASEAN), Gen Prayut delivered a statement at the Summit held in
the United Nations Headquarters in New York on Monday.
He praised the UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres for his
leadership in addressing the climate change issue.
ASEAN nations were vulnerable to impacts of climate change
since most of the population lived along low-lying coasts and river plains, he
said, and, thus, the region’s economic and social progress had been threatened.
The regional bloc had been taking measures to reduce
emissions of greenhouse gases, under the ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community
Blueprint 2025 in order to move towards “Sustainable Climate” and to realize a
resilient community, said Gen Prayut.
At the global stage, “ASEAN is committed to be actively
involved in global climate action at various levels,” the Prime Minister said,
noting that all ASEAN members were Parties to the Paris Agreement.
Gen Prayut also urged for capacity-building, transfer of
technology and financial support developed nations in the fight against climate
change.
“Today is an opportunity for developed countries to deliver
on their financial commitments, and we also hope to see their strong political
signals to scale-up climate finance that is secure, predictable and sustainable
in the post-2020 context,” he said. (TNA)