EU-funded “Smart Green ASEAN Cities” programme launched
The European Commission’s Executive Vice-President for the Green Deal Frans Timmermans has recently announced the start of a new EU-funded “Smart Green ASEAN Cities” programme, following his meeting with ASEAN Secretary-General Dato Lim Jock Hoi, at the ASEAN Secretariat in Jakarta.
A street in Jakarta, Indonestia (Photo: xinhua/VNA)
Jakarta (VNA) - The European Commission’s Executive Vice-Presidentfor the Green Deal Frans Timmermans has recently announced the start of a newEU-funded “Smart Green ASEAN Cities” programme, following his meeting withASEAN Secretary-General Dato Lim Jock Hoi, at the ASEAN Secretariat in Jakarta.
The programme will support 10 ASEAN cities to exchange bestpractices among them and with European cities as part of a stronger EU-ASEANgreen partnership.
It is important that cities, which face huge challenges, getthe opportunity to also find solutions, Frans Timmermans stated.
“The sustainability of our cities is based on thepossibility to change the energy mix, to change the way public transport isorganised, and to improve rapidly waste treatment and waste management,” headded.
ASEAN cities are currently home to over 300 million people,and in the next 15 years, another 100 million people are expected to live inurban areas. To improve the quality of life for citizens, Smart Green ASEANCities will promote more sustainable urbanisation while reducing environmentaland carbon footprints. It will support ASEAN member states to anticipate thesubstantial pressure from the high urbanisation rates by focusing on green andsmart solutions through digitalisation and the use of technologies.
The approximately 5 million EUR (5.8 million USD) grantunder Smart Green ASEAN Cities is part of the EU-ASEAN green partnership, whichalso addresses forest governance, biodiversity conservation and management ofprotected areas, sustainable use of peat lands, support to farmers’organisations, haze mitigation and emergency response mechanisms./.
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A street in Jakarta, Indonestia (Photo: xinhua/VNA) 
