The European Union (EU) hopes Asean will come up with a solid joint statement on environment and sustainable development during the 27th Asean Summit, prior to the United Nations Conference of the Parties (COP), the supreme decision-making body of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, end of this month.
In making the suggestion, EU Ambassador to Malaysia Luc Vandebon, said that the statement should, as a whole, commit Asean towards fighting climate change for the benefit of the future generations in the region and the world.
“For a lot of Asean and its partners, trade is the absolute priority, then comes security.
“But, I find that if we do not work together for sustainable development and fight against climate change, then ultimately, you will have nothing left to trade for,” he told Bernama, on the sidelines of the 27th Asean Summit and Related Summits, here Friday.
The 21st edition of the COP, will be held in Paris, from Nov 30 to Dec 11.
Vandebon said that as a region, the EU has always been committed in its fight against climate change and, as a result, the people became highly conscience about the products they used and consumed.
“I think there has been more and more attention being paid to environment and sustainable development in Asean. The same about businesses here too,” he added.
On another note, Vandebon said he welcomed the Malaysian government’s plans to submit a bill to drop the mandatory death sentence imposed on some serious crimes, especially in drug related offences and fire arms possession.
He said this would return the discretionary to judges to impose punishment on offenders.
