Jakarta, 13 August 2022 – The Secretary-Basic of ASEAN Dato Lim Jock Hoi and the Ambassador of the European Union (EU) to ASEAN Igor Driesmans formally launched the Bike45Ride biking occasion at present (13/8) in Jakarta, as ASEAN and EU have a good time 45 years of strategic partnership.

Representatives of ASEAN, EU Delegations and EU Member States marked the event with a symbolic trip from the ASEAN Secretariat to the premises of the EU Delegation in Jakarta.

Previous to flagging off the beginning of the Bike45Ride, ASEAN Secretary-Basic Dato Lim Jock Hoi, in his opening remarks famous that the exercise not solely serves as a reputable platform to create public consciousness of the work of ASEAN-EU but additionally a significant type of effort to encourage extra folks in the direction of the shift for extra sustainable transportations.

Of ASEAN’s inhabitants of over 650 million, almost 300 million folks dwell in city areas and greater than 25% dwell in cities with over a million inhabitants. Within the subsequent 15 years, ASEAN’s city areas are anticipated to accommodate one other 100 million folks. With €5.1 million help from the EU for 2021-2024, the Sensible Inexperienced ASEAN Cities (SGAC) programme will help ASEAN Member States to seek out inexperienced and sensible options to the excessive urbanisation fee by digitalisation and use of applied sciences.

In his opening remarks, Igor Driesmans, EU Ambassador to ASEAN, stated “Inexperienced progress and the atmosphere are key strategic sectors of our partnership with ASEAN. This Bike45Ride occasion not solely marks 45 years of our relationships with ASEAN but additionally our dedication to proceed working collectively in the direction of a greener future. Within the 45 years of partnership between our two areas, we’ve got repeatedly labored to handle our widespread challenges and to create a greater future for each ASEAN and EU residents. This bike trip competitors goals to encourage all ASEAN and EU residents within the area to participate in making our future greener.”

“Local weather motion is without doubt one of the Philippines’ priorities as Nation Coordinator for the ASEAN-EU Dialogue Relations. Local weather motion and environmental sustainability are additionally central to ASEAN’s priorities,” stated Elizabeth T. Te, Chargé d’Affaires, a.i. of the Everlasting Mission of the Philippines to ASEAN. “Every one in every of us has the power to make a big impression to the atmosphere by our personal particular person actions and steps, and in addition by inspiring others to observe go well with. Biking, taking public transport and different eco-friendly alternate options are small however concrete steps that every of us can take to scale back air air pollution,” she added.

The Bike45Ride occasion is a digital biking competitors organised from 13 August to 11 September 2022 for all ASEAN and EU residents residing within the ten ASEAN Member States. Individuals can participate as a person or in a gaggle of as much as 5 members to finish a complete distance of 45 km inside the race interval.

“Cities are main sources of greenhouse gases, and evaluation of the state of the ambiance within the ASEAN area reveals that air air pollution ranges are rising, with the vitality and transport sectors being answerable for the biggest carbon dioxide emissions,” stated Fakri Karim, Performing Supervisor of SGAC Programme.

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