Statement by
H.E. Mr. Thongloun SISOULITH
Prime Minister of the Lao People’s Democratic Republic
At the virtual Climate Ambition Summit 2020
New York
13 December 2020
Mr. Chair,
At the outset, Lao PDR has attached great importance to the climate change issue. The Lao Government has mainstreamed the goals of the Paris Agreement into its National Socio-Economic Development Plan, as well as its National Green Growth Strategy. The Government has set an ambitious target of reaching 70% of forest coverage of the country total land area by 2020. In addition, the Government has also adopted policies and measures, particularly on land and forest use behavior change in agriculture which is a main sector responsible for greenhouse gas emission in the Lao PDR. The Government has set the target from 2020 to 2030 to reduce carbon dioxide at the average of 1,100 Kilotons per year of which compared to the achievement reached during the period of 2000 to 2015 is threefold reduction. In this spirit, the Government has updated its Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC) which is a 2nd version to be submitted soon to the UNFCCC aimed at strengthening Lao PDR’s response to the threat of climate change and contribute to the country’s post COVID-19 economic recovery by increasing resilience in the most vulnerable sectors and accelerating decarbonization. The Lao NDC introduces a new unconditional GHG mitigation commitment by reducing GHG at the rate of 34% of the 2020 baseline by 2030 of which the average abatement of almost 4,000 kiloton carbon dioxide (KtCO2) from 2020 onward and will reach net zero emissions by 2050.
In this regards, Lao PDR requests development partners and international community to extend their support and assistance to the Lao PDR in this endeavor. It also calls for concerted efforts from all countries to consume natural resources in a sustainable manner, employ clean energy and follow the commitment under the Paris Agreement on reducing the GHG emissions that significantly contribute to the rising of the world’s temperature.
Mr. Chair,
In conclusion, I would like to reiterate the commitment of the Lao PDR to continue close cooperation with the international community in implementing the Paris Agreement.
Thank you.
Pre-recorded Statement: https://youtu.be/QA_4EH8vUQM
Source: https://www.climateambitionsummit2020.org/index.php#watch
