The "ASEAN-Korea Cooperation for Methane Mitigation (AKCMM) Project" was officially launched on January 16 at the Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI). The initiative marks a significant step in strengthening climate cooperation between Korea and the ASEAN region.
The launch ceremony was attended by key figures including Han Min-young, Director-General for Climate, Environment, and Science Diplomacy at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs; Chun Ui-jin, Director of the ASEAN Cooperation Division at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs; Kim Sang-hyup, GGGI Director-General; Park Yoon-joo, Minister-Counselor at the Mission of Korea to ASEAN; and Vong Sok, Head of the Environment Division at the ASEAN Secretariat. Representatives from the ASEAN Working Group for Climate Change (AWGCC) were also present, underscoring the collaborative nature of the project.
This initiative is the first pilot project under the "Partnership for ASEAN-ROK Methane Action (PARMA)," an effort aimed at reducing methane emissions in ASEAN member countries. Supported by the ASEAN-Korea Cooperation Fund, the project will assist ASEAN in creating policies and institutional frameworks for methane reduction, improving methodologies for measuring methane emissions, developing and implementing national methane reduction strategies, and fostering regional awareness and knowledge-sharing on methane mitigation.
In her congratulatory address, Han Min-young highlighted the project's significance as a model of enhanced cooperation under the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership (CSP) between Korea and ASEAN. She emphasized that the Korean government, in collaboration with GGGI, will work to strengthen ASEAN's capacity to reduce methane emissions while broadening climate change cooperation across the region. She also noted that these efforts would play an active role in supporting ASEAN's green transition and achieving carbon neutrality.
Following the ceremony, the first meeting of the project steering committee was held, with Park Yoon-joo, Minister-Counselor at the Mission of Korea to ASEAN, in attendance. During the meeting, participants adopted the annual work plan, as well as the regulations for the steering committee and methane reduction committee. They also engaged in detailed discussions on the project's progress and future direction.
This project is designed to address the specific needs of ASEAN by strengthening its capacity for methane mitigation. It is expected to provide tangible support for the region's efforts to combat climate change.
The Korean government plans to continue expanding regional cooperation on methane reduction through the PARMA initiative, addressing methane as one of the primary greenhouse gases and contributing to a more sustainable future for the ASEAN region.