Strengthening ASEAN's Climate Governance: Challenges, Opportunities, and Pathway for Regional Cooperation

抄録

This study examines ASEAN's climate governance framework, exploring how the region can enhance its institutional mechanisms to address the pressing challenges of climate change. Drawing on Regime Theory and complementary perspectives such as Ostrom's principles of commons governance and Ruggie's multilateralism framework, the research evaluates ASEAN's normative approach, its reliance on voluntary agreements, and the limitations posed by non-binding commitments and economic disparities. The study highlights ASEAN's progress through initiatives like the ASEAN Agreement on Transboundary Haze Pollution and the ASEAN Plan of Action for Energy Cooperation while addressing the challenges of balancing national sovereignty with regional goals. The research employs a qualitative methodology, integrating policy analysis with comparative insights from ASEAN's economic integration successes. It identifies transferable strategies, such as differentiated commitments, flexible decision-making mechanisms, and capacity-building initiatives, to strengthen climate cooperation. However, the study also underscores the unique challenges of climate governance, including the intangible and long-term nature of climate benefits, uneven financial and technical capacities among member states, and competing national priorities. The findings suggest that while ASEAN's normative framework fosters trust and dialogue, institutional innovation and stronger enforcement mechanisms are critical for effective climate action. The study concludes with actionable recommendations for enhancing regional climate governance, including establishing a dedicated ASEAN Climate Secretariat, promoting subregional partnerships, and leveraging regional climate financing mechanisms. These strategies aim to bridge the gap between ASEAN's institutional realities and the urgent need for comprehensive and sustainable climate solutions.