Manila, Philippines – 11 March 2026 — Policymakers and sustainability leaders from ASEAN Member States gathered in Manila from 9-11 March 2026 for the 13th ASEAN+3 Leadership Programme on Sustainable Consumption and Production (SCP) to strengthen regional cooperation and policy leadership on climate action through sustainable consumption, circular economy policies, and resource-efficient economic strategies.
Hosted by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) of the Philippines, serving as Chair of the ASEAN Senior Officials on the Environment (ASOEN), the event was organised in collaboration with the ASEAN Secretariat, the EU SWITCH-Asia Policy Support Component, the Delegation of the European Union to the Philippines, and the Hanns Seidel Foundation.
Held under the theme “Climate Resilience through SCP and Circular Economy for a Sustainable Future,” the three-day leadership programme provided a platform for policymakers to exchange experiences, policy tools, and innovative approaches to integrating sustainable consumption and production, circular economy practices, and climate strategies.
More than thirty-eight policymakers and experts participated in the event, representing nine ASEAN Member States, alongside representatives from international organisations, development partners, and the private sector. The programme explored how SCP and circular economy policies can accelerate climate mitigation, strengthen adaptation, and support resilient economic development across the ASEAN+3 region.
Sessions focused on practical policy instruments such as:
- Green Public Procurement (GPP) as a tool to drive sustainable markets;
- Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) frameworks to reduce waste and strengthen circular value chains;
- Innovative business models and green financing mechanisms supporting low-carbon and resource-efficient economies;
- Regional collaboration and knowledge exchange among ASEAN policymakers.
These discussions highlighted how policy alignment between SCP, circular economy, and climate strategies can help countries advance commitments under the Paris Agreement and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 12 on Responsible Consumption and Production and SDG 13 on Climate Action.
Participants highlighted that circular economy approaches can contribute significantly to climate action by reducing material extraction, minimising waste, improving resource efficiency, and lowering greenhouse gas emissions throughout product life cycles and supply chains.
Atty. Jonas R. Leones, Chairperson of the ASEAN Senior Officials on the Environment (ASOEN) and Undersecretary for Policy, Planning and International Affairs of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), Philippines, emphasised:
Climate change is reshaping development priorities across all sectors, posing significant challenges. It requires the deliberate integration of material considerations within climate action through circular economy.
Dr. Vong Sok, Head of the Environmental Division of the Sustainable Development Directorate at the ASEAN Secretariat, noted:
Circular economy and sustainable consumption and production are tools to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and increase climate resilience throughout the economy.
Dr. Zinaida Fadeeva, Team Leader of the EU SWITCH-Asia PSC, highlighted that:
Policy instruments such as Green Public Procurement and Extended Producer Responsibility can translate circular economy principles into practical solutions that support both resource efficiency and climate action in Southeast Asia.
The event also reflects the Philippines’ leadership in strengthening regional environmental cooperation as part of its ASEAN Chairmanship in 2026. By advancing dialogue on sustainable consumption and production and circular economy policies, the leadership programme reinforced ASEAN+3 collaboration in addressing climate change and accelerating the transition toward resource-efficient, low-carbon, and climate-resilient economies across the region.
About the ASEAN+3 Leadership Programme on SCP
Launched in 2008, the ASEAN+3 Leadership Programme on Sustainable Consumption and Production is a regional capacity-building initiative that supports policymakers in developing and implementing SCP policies and scaling up sustainable production and consumption practices across ASEAN and its dialogue partner countries. The programme promotes policy learning, regional cooperation, and practical solutions that enable countries to transition toward resource-efficient, low-carbon, and climate-resilient economies.
Contact
Ms. Loraine Gatlabayan
SCP awareness raising and regional partnership building Expert, SWITCH-Asia Policy Support Component
Email: [email protected]
