The Smart Green ASEAN Cities initiative, which will start in 2020, aims to support sustainable urbanization in the ASEAN region, reduce the environmental impacts of urban areas and improve the quality of life of citizens.
The initiative aims to combine city-level solutions with national capacity building and regional approaches. This includes the ASEAN Smart City Network, which supports green and smart city solutions in selected ASEAN cities.
According to the EU, an integral element of the initiative is an increased exchange of proven environmentally-sound city management practices between the EU and ASEAN. Particular attention will be paid to reducing carbon footprints, sustainable development and targeting plastic waste, reports The Jakarta post.
The project was announced by the EU Ambassador to ASEAN, H.E. Igor Driesmans, during the opening of the 3rd ASEAN-EU Cooperation and Scholarships Day earlier this month. At that time, Driesmans announced two other cooperation projects focusing on sustainable forest management and audit institutions.
“With this announcement, the EU and ASEAN show their strong commitment to enhance their partnership and cooperation despite the Coronavirus pandemic, and the resulting global economic uncertainties,” said Driesmans. “In these difficult times, we show that cooperation, not isolation, is the way forward to address today’s urgent challenges including climate change and the coronavirus pandemic.”
