Ryan Wong

Ryan Wong

Lead Researcher (Climate Policy), Climate Change in Southeast Asia Programme, ISEAS – Yusof Ishak Institute

Dr Ryan Wong is Lead Researcher (Climate Policy), Climate Change in Southeast Asia Programme with ISEAS – Yusof Ishak Institute.

People participate in a rally during a global day of action on climate change in Manila on 6 November 2021, as world leaders attend the COP26 UN Climate Change Conference in Glasgow. (Maria Tan/AFP)

China and US could work on building clean and green BRI and Build Back Better World (B3W)

The 26th Conference of Parties in Glasgow (COP26) concluded with several high-level political pledges delivered, but it is another matter if they will be followed through. For the Southeast Asian region, Indonesian commitments to the phase down of fossil fuel subsidies and the global goal to end deforestation by 2030 will be critical. The broken promise of climate finance may also affect several Southeast Asian countries' ability to see through their pledges. China's climate leadership on the phasing out of coal has taken a hit but amid the gloom, there are some bright spots, not least China and the US finally finding some common ground.