ASEAN cooperation a model for climate action, COP30 president says

“ASEAN is a good example of a group of countries that try to solve problems they share and identify opportunities,” Corrêa do Lago said in an interview on the sidelines of the 18th ASEAN Ministerial Meeting on the Environment in Langkawi.

He said ASEAN’s demographics and growth could position the region to lead on climate-friendly development. “ASEAN has an incredibly dynamic population. It has shown many advances from an economic point of view, and it can direct its development toward sustainability while fighting climate change,” he said.

On concerns over climate justice and financing, Corrêa do Lago said COP30 would put just transition at the centre of talks. “Each country has to find its own way of organising this transition. For each, it will be different. If you don’t make people’s lives better, they will not engage in this agenda,” he said.

He noted that while past summits produced ambitious pledges, turning commitments into action remains difficult. “This is the big issue. Most people, and even governments, don’t know very well what they can do in the months ahead,” he said. “The Brazilian presidency wants to stress that the opportunities the COPs have created are greater than the difficulties. There is a lot to do, but also a lot we can do.”

COP30 will take place in Belém, Brazil, in November 2025, the first time the UN climate summit will be hosted in the Amazon. It is expected to focus on accelerating the Paris Agreement, scaling up finance, and advancing adaptation in vulnerable regions.