On 23 January 2020, Beni Suryadi, Manager of Policy Research and Analytics Programme of the ASEAN Centre for Energy (ACE), in his capacity as Programme Manager of the ASEAN Climate Change and Energy Project (ACCEPT) paid a courtesy visit to the ASEAN Centre for Sustainable Development Studies and Dialogue (ACSDSD), and met with Orawan Yafa, Executive Director of ACSDSD and her team.

The ASEAN Centre for Sustainable Development Studies and Dialogue (ACSDSD) is the new ASEAN body that was launched by the ASEAN Leaders at the 35^th ASEAN Summit in Bangkok, Thailand on 3 November 2019. This Centre is an important follow-up to the ASEAN Leaders’ Vision Statement on Partnership for Sustainability adopted at the 34^th ASEAN Summit in June 2019. It plays a catalytic role in promoting sustainable development cooperation in the region and enhancing the complementarities between the ASEAN Community Vision 2025 and the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, also known as the “Complementarities Initiative”.

It serves as a regional platform to encourage research and studies as well as build capacities of ASEAN Member States, and promote dialogue and cooperation on sustainable development within ASEAN, and between ASEAN and external partners, including the implementation of concrete cooperation projects relating to sustainable development. Operating within the Centre for Research on Sustainable Leadership, College of Management of Mahidol University in Bangkok, the Centre will also work in partnership and develop networks of cooperation with relevant centers and institutions within ASEAN and beyond.

ACCEPT works on two pillars of Sustainable Development Goals (SDG); SDG 7 Affordable and Clean Energy and SDG 13 Climate Action. It aims to improve the coherence between the ASEAN energy and climate policies, contribute to more climate-friendly development of the energy sector.

Hence, through this courtesy visit, ACCEPT discussed the potential collaboration with ACSDS on the synergy for the promotion of energy and climate change issues in the ASEAN region.