Latest news with #MGMAC
The Sun
5 days ago
- Politics
- The Sun
Push for local action on global environmental policie
KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia will, for the first time, push to integrate the New Urban Agenda into the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), a landmark move aimed at ensuring that global environmental policies translate into action at the local level. Housing and Local Government Minister Nga Kor Ming yesterday launched the Kuala Lumpur Call to Action for the UN Climate Change Conference (COP30), to be presented at the UN climate summit in Belem, Brazil in November. 'This initiative will be the central engine driving our collective efforts. 'I urge everyone to not just participate, but to actively lead and champion this cause. We must ensure that no one and no place is left behind in our urbanising world,' he said at the closing ceremony of the Asean Sustainable Urbanisation Forum (Asuf), Asean Governors and Mayors Forum (AGMF) and Meeting of Governors and Mayors of Asean Capitals (MGMAC) 2025. The week-long gatherings brought together more than 9,000 participants from across Asean and beyond, culminating in commitments to strengthen cooperation in building sustainable, inclusive and climate-resilient cities. Nga, who also serves as UN-Habitat Assembly president, said the meetings were proof of Asean's shared recognition that urbanisation is no longer just the backdrop to development, but 'the driving engine of our future.' 'Urban leadership is not a choice, it is a necessity. Local voices are not peripheral, they are pivotal. 'The future of Asean must not be written from the top down, but co-authored by our cities, our communities and our people.' He added that the region's collective commitment safeguards the well-being of nearly 700 million people in Asia against challenges such as climate change, housing affordability and urban sprawl. The following are key outcomes from the forum. Asuf – Reaffirmed alignment with the Asean Sustainable Urbanisation Strategy and Asean Community Vision 2045. Malaysia will establish an Asean Smart and Sustainable Centre, led by Urbanice Malaysia, to support innovative, scalable projects and facilitate city-to-city partnerships under the Asean Smart Cities Network. AGMF – Adopted shared commitments to promote greater inclusion of women and youth in urban governance, reinforcing the importance of bottom-up approaches to sustainability. MGMAC – Adopted the Joint Communique of MGMAC 2025, agreed to establish a permanent secretariat in Jakarta, formalised the MGMAC City Network, advanced Voluntary Local Reviews and issued a call for international investment at the local level, including from the UN and World Bank. 'These milestones are not just agreements on paper, but living commitments to build cities that are sustainable, people-centred and climate-resilient.' On behalf of the participants, Nga also formally submitted the Kuala Lumpur Sustainable Declaration on Localising Asean Community Vision 2045 as an official input to the 47th Asean Leaders' Summit in October. 'This declaration sends a message that without action, we risk fracturing our cities and increasing disparity in equity distribution.' His proposal to integrate the New Urban Agenda into UNFCCC would mark the first time urban priorities are formally embedded within the climate change framework, ensuring that global environmental policies translate into actionable measures for local governments. He said the Kuala Lumpur Call to Action for COP30 would drive this mission forward and serve as a rallying point for governments, cities and communities ahead of the UN climate talks in Brazil. The next AGMF and MGMAC would be held in Manila in 2026, while Kuala Lumpur would welcome international visitors for Visit Malaysia 2026. He also said the gatherings this week are 'a testament to the strength of Asean cooperation' and a step toward shaping cities that are 'inclusive, innovative, sustainable and united in purpose.' He added that Malaysia would continue to mobilise its 156 local governments to align climate policies with local development plans, budgeting and on-ground projects, reinforcing its position as a global best practice in multi-level governance.
The Star
5 days ago
- Politics
- The Star
KL Declaration to be submitted to Asean Summit
KUALA LUMPUR: The Kuala Lumpur Sustainable Declaration on Localising Asean Community Vision 2045 will be submitted to the 47th Asean Summit in October, says Nga Kor Ming. The Housing and Local Government Minister, who is also president of the UN Habitat Assembly, said the declaration sends a clear and urgent message that urban leadership is essential and that local voices are central to shaping Asean's future. 'These milestones are not just agreements on paper; they are a promise of stronger regional cooperation and a shared resolve to build cities that are resilient, sustainable and people-centred. 'I take note of the need for action on the ground. I am calling for constructive and innovative actions to ensure that cities and member states work together to realise Asean Vision 2045,' he said. Nga said this at the joint closing ceremony of the Asean Sustainable Urbanisation Forum, Asean Governors and Mayors Forum (AGMF) and the Meeting of Governors and Mayors of Asean Capitals (MGMAC) 2025. The events, attended by more than 9,000 participants from Asean and beyond, addressed pressing urban challenges such as climate change, housing affordability and urban sprawl. Nga also launched the KL Call to Action for COP30, calling it the 'central engine' to drive Asean's collective climate response. The AGMF adopted shared commitments, including promoting greater inclusion, while the MGMAC agreed to establish a permanent secretariat in Jakarta. Meanwhile, Kuala Lumpur Mayor Datuk Seri Maimunah Mohd Sharif stated that the establishment of the secretariat in Jakarta would monitor and report on commitments and support for the Philippines, which is the upcoming Asean host.
New Straits Times
5 days ago
- Politics
- New Straits Times
KL Declaration to be presented at the Asean Summit in October
KUALA LUMPUR: The Kuala Lumpur Sustainable Declaration on Localising Asean Community Vision 2045 will be presented at the 47th Asean Summit in October as an official input, says Housing and Local Government Minister Nga Kor Ming. Nga, who is also president of the UN Habitat Assembly (UNHA), said the declaration would send a clear and urgent message that urban leadership was essential and that local voices are central to shaping Asean's future. "These milestones are not just agreements on paper, they are a promise of stronger regional cooperation and a shared resolve to build cities that are resilient, sustainable, and people-centred. "As president of UNHA, I take note of the need for action on the ground. I call for constructive and innovative actions to ensure that cities and member states work together to realise the Asean Vision 2045," he said. Nga said this at the joint closing ceremony of the Asean Sustainable Urbanisation Forum (ASUF), Asean Governors and Mayors Forum (AGMF) and the Meeting of Governors and Mayors of Asean Capitals (MGMAC) 2025. The three-day events, attended by more than 9,000 participants from across Asean and beyond, addressed pressing urban challenges such as climate change, housing affordability and urban sprawl. Apart from the declaration, Nga also launched the KL Call to Action for COP30, calling it the "central engine" to drive Asean's collective climate response. The initiative aims to integrate the New Urban Agenda into the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) process so that environmental policies are implemented effectively by local governments and communities. At the same time, it will push for the integration of the New Urban Agenda into the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) process, ensuring environmental policies are effectively implemented at the local level. Nga said the ASUF reaffirmed its alignment with the Asean Sustainable Urbanisation Strategy (ASUS) and Asean Community Vision 2045, with Malaysia set to launch an Asean Smart and Sustainable Centre led by Urbanice Malaysia to drive scalable projects and city-to-city partnerships. The AGMF, on the other hand, adopted shared commitments including promoting greater inclusion of women and youth in urban governance, while the MGMAC agreed to establish a permanent secretariat in Jakarta, Indonesia. "Among its key commitments are the formalisation of the MGMAC City Network, the advancement of Voluntary Local Reviews, and a united call for greater investment at the local level from international institutions such as the UN and the World Bank," he said. Meanwhile, in her speech, Kuala Lumpur Mayor Datuk Seri Maimunah Mohd Sharif said that the establishment of the secretariat in Jakarta would monitor and report on commitments and support for the Philippines, which is the upcoming Asean host. "With the generous support of the Governor of Jakarta, The Honorable Pramono Anung, the secretariat will help us coordinate, share resources and manage projects on the ground," she said. – BERNAMA
The Star
5 days ago
- Politics
- The Star
KL Declaration to be submitted to Asean Summit, says Nga
KUALA LUMPUR: The Kuala Lumpur Sustainable Declaration on Localising Asean Community Vision 2045 will be submitted to the 47th Asean Summit in October as official input, said says Housing and Local Government Minister Nga Kor Ming. Nga, who is also UN Habitat Assembly (UNHA) president, said that the declaration sends a clear and urgent message that urban leadership is essential and that local voices are central to shaping Asean's future. "These milestones are not just agreements on paper, they are a promise of stronger regional cooperation and a shared resolve to build cities that are resilient, sustainable and people-centred. "As president of UNHA, I take note of the need for action on the ground. I call for constructive and innovative action to ensure that cities and member states work together to realise the Asean Vision 2045," he said. Nga pointed out this at the joint closing ceremony of the Asean Sustainable Urbanisation Forum (Asuf), Asean Governors and Mayors Forum (AGMF) and the Meeting of Governors and Mayors of Asean Capitals (MGMAC) 2025. The events, held over three days, were attended by more than 9,000 participants from across Asean and beyond, and addressed pressing urban challenges such as climate change, housing affordability and urban sprawl. Apart from the declaration, Nga also launched the KL Call to Action for COP30, calling it the "central engine" to drive Asean's collective climate response. The initiative aims to integrate the New Urban Agenda into the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) process so that environmental policies are implemented effectively by local governments and communities. At the same time, it will push for the integration of the New Urban Agenda into the UNFCCC process, ensuring environmental policies are effectively implemented at the local level. Nga said the Asuf reaffirmed its alignment with the Asean Sustainable Urbanisation Strategy (Asus) and Asean Community Vision 2045, with Malaysia set to launch an Asean Smart and Sustainable Centre led by Urbanice Malaysia to drive scalable projects and city-to-city partnerships. The AGMF, on the other hand, adopted shared commitments including promoting greater inclusion of women and youth in urban governance, while the MGMAC agreed to establish a permanent secretariat in Jakarta, Indonesia. "Among its key commitments are the formalisation of the MGMAC City Network, the advancement of Voluntary Local Reviews, and a united call for greater investment at the local level from international institutions such as the United Nations and the World Bank," he said. Meanwhile, in her speech, Kuala Lumpur Mayor Datuk Seri Maimunah Mohd Sharif stated that the establishment of the secretariat in Jakarta would monitor and report on commitments and support for the Philippines, which is the upcoming Asean host. "With the generous support of the Governor of Jakarta, The Honorable Pramono Anung, the secretariat will help us coordinate, share resources and manage projects on the ground," she said. – Bernama
The Star
6 days ago
- Business
- The Star
Asean capital cities unite to address waste and climate challenges
KUALA LUMPUR: A collaborative network has been established for Asean capital cities to work together to address various common challenges, including waste management, climate change and natural disasters. This was among the outcomes announced by Kuala Lumpur mayor Datuk Seri Maimunah Mohd Sharif after chairing the 2025 Meeting of Governors and Mayors of Asean Capitals (MGMAC) at Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre today (Aug 13). The network, known as the MGMAC City Network, will promote knowledge-sharing and progress reporting on the implementation of sustainable development goals and the New Urban Agenda by carrying out voluntary local reviews, according to Maimunah. "All Asean capital cities have agreed to support the implementation of the New Urban Agenda, especially concerning zero-waste initiatives and climate action. "This includes the voluntary participation in the UN-Habitat Waste Wise Cities initiative. Each capital city will also submit a report on their waste management efforts," she said. Asean capital cities have also agreed to promote and advocate for local-level climate investments by international institutions such as the United Nations System, the World Bank and the Asian Development Bank, according to Maimunah. "We will leverage on these organisations' technical expertise and financial capabilities to support climate mitigation and adaptation initiatives in our cities," she said. She added that Asean capital cities will also adopt a thematic approach to assist each other in the areas of zero waste as well as climate adaptation and mitigation. The 10 Asean capital cities have also agreed in principle to set up a secretariat in Jakarta, Indonesia, to deepen their partnership to better implement the Asean Vision 2045, according to Maimunah. "The details of the secretariat will be discussed in the technical meetings that will be held after this. "The secretariat can help monitor the cities' commitments towards the Asean Vision 2045 and prepare for future meetings," she added. Also present were United Cities and Local Governments Asia-Pacific (UCLG ASPAC) secretary-general Dr. Bernadia Irawati Tjandradewi, Manila vice mayor Angela Lei "Chi" Atienza and Urbanice Malaysia chief executive officer Norliza Hashim. MGMAC will be held in Manila, the Philippines, next year as the country assumes the chair of Asean.
