The Asia-Pacific Climate Week (APCW) 2023, scheduled for November 13-17, 2023, in Johor Bahru, is set to be a momentous occasion marked by the signing and exchange of several Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) between Johor State Government agencies and diverse stakeholders, the launch of Johor Sustainability Centre and the Johor Green Deal.
The MoUs encompass a wide array of collaborations, featuring initiatives aimed at fostering public-private sector partnerships dedicated to championing and bolstering the state’s regional sustainability agenda which include the establishment of the Johor Sustainability Centre and the implementation of the Johor Green Deal, a framework designed to address the climate change concerns within the state.
Her Royal Highness Raja Zarith Sofiah binti Almarhum Sultan Idris Shah, the Permaisuri of Johor, will grace the event with her presence on 13 November 2023. Meanwhile, YAB Dato’ Seri Anwar Ibrahim, the Prime Minister of Malaysia, has been invited to officiate APCW 2023 and to witness the signing of the MoUs, the launch of the Johor Sustainability Centre and Johor Green Deal.
Representatives from the Malaysian Government include Johor Menteri Besar YAB Datuk Onn Hafiz Ghazi and Minister of Natural Resources and Climate Change YB Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad. UN Climate Change executive secretary, Mr Simon Stiell, will also be present.
APCW 2023 is hosted by the Johor State Government in collaboration with the Government of Malaysia. It is organised by the UN Climate Change, the secretariat for the United Nations Framework for Climate Change Convention (UNFCCC) in collaboration with its global partners – UN Development Programme (UNDP), UN Environment Programme (UNEP), and the World Bank Group (WBG); and regional Asia-Pacific partners – the Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP), the Asian Development Bank (ADB), the Institute for Global Environmental Strategies (IGES) and the UN Global Compact Network Malaysia & Brunei (UNGCMYB).
The five-day convention will feature more than 300 speakers who will address climate concerns related to four major systems-based tracks, namely:
- Energy systems and industry;
- Cities, urban and rural settlements, infrastructure, and transport;
- Land, ocean, food and water; and
- Societies, health, livelihoods, and economies.
There will also be a series of events, including high-level dialogues, technical workshops, exhibitions, and side events, covering a wide range of topics related to climate change mitigation, adaptation, finance, and policy.
APCW 2023 is set to attract over 2,000 delegates from 150 countries. Delegates, including heads of governments, policymakers, and experts will discuss best practices, development of partnerships, and advancement of regional climate priorities and expectations, leading to the first global stocktake concluding at UN Climate Change Conference (COP28) in Dubai, United Arab Emirates in December this year. It is the final of the four Regional Climate Weeks in 2023.