After the conclusion of the first Global Stocktake (GST1) in COP28, the period leading up to the updating of Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC) by 2025 presents a critical opportunity for enhanced ambition and urgent climate action. This policy brief reflects on the outcomes of the GST1 in consideration of the diverse adaptation and mitigation strategies of countries in Southeast Asia. This brief offers a regional perspective in the context of the outcomes, drawing insights from the ASEAN Joint Statement on Climate Change to COP28, the ASEAN Climate Change Report, and the policy recommendations by the Independent Global Stocktake Southeast Asia Hub submitted to the GST amongst others.

This study takes stock of the status of the submission of national communications, particularly National Communications, Biennial Update Reports (BURs), Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), and Long-term Strategy, from SEA countries. This study recommends further in-depth analyses to identify and bridge the global gaps in global commitments and country-level implementation.

This summary report outlined the events that transpired during the official launch of the Independent Global Stocktake (iGST) Southeast Asia (SEA) regional consortium on May 16-18, 2023 in Manila, Philippines. During the three-day event, non-state actor (NSA) representatives from the Philippines, Thailand, Vietnam, Indonesia, Cambodia, Malaysia, Timor-Leste, and Lao PDR gathered to discuss key activities of the Hub and develop a flexible common framework for translating the outcomes of the Global Stocktake (GST) in the context of Southeast Asia, and for informing Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC) updates through the GST processes.