NDCs in ASEAN Countries: Dreams or Reality? Assessing Case Studies from Indonesia and the Philippines

ASEAN Members States (AMS) have ratified the 2015 Paris Agreement and most have submitted their enhanced Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) recorded as of 2023. This study aims to find the extent of subnational regulation and policies on climate and NDCs in support of AMS’ climate pledges. The study concludes that based on the NDCs submitted to the UNFCCC, the roles of subnational governments have been well recognized by AMS. However, examining the case studies of Indonesia and The Philippines, subnational level climate and NDCs policies and regulations are not representing the level of ambition of NDCs present on a national level. This study further identifies the root causes of the problem in relation to NDCs and climate change policies and regulation at the local level. The policies and regulation are: (i) introduced superficially; (ii) slowly trickle down from national to subnational level; (iii) project oriented; (iv) do not hold climate as a priority issue (except when paired with disaster risk reduction); and (v) show a lack of understanding and awareness of climate change impact at the local level. Hence, as the climate change issue is not being prioritized, they are unable to formulate comprehensive arrangements at the subnational level.