May 20, 2026
BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN – With the consent of His Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu’izzaddin Waddaulah ibni Al-Marhum Sultan Haji Omar ‘Ali Saifuddien Sa’adul Khairi Waddien, Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam, the Prime Minister’s Office through the Brunei Climate Change Office (BCCO) announced that, upon receiving the Instrument of Full Powers by His Majesty, Minister of Development Dato Seri Setia Awang Haji Muhammad Juanda bin Haji Abdul Rashid as Brunei Darussalam’s representative to the ASEAN Ministerial Meeting on Environment (AMME), signed the Instrument of Ratification to ratify the Agreement to Establish the ASEAN Centre for Climate Change (ACCC).
The centre will contribute to a more coordinated and effective ASEAN region in addressing climate change alongside international partners while also supporting the climate change policy and goals of ASEAN member states, both in reducing greenhouse gas emissions and adapting to the future negative impacts of climate change.
The minister signed the Agreement to Establish the ACCC on August 23, 2023 on the sidelines of the 17th AMME in Vientiane, Lao People’s Democratic Republic. Subsequently, on February 10, 2025, the Agreement was signed by 10 ASEAN member states.
As part of Brunei Darussalam’s process to ratify the agreement, the Instrument of Ratification signed by the minister on April 20 is deposited with the ASEAN Secretariat as the final step for Brunei Darussalam to ratify the Agreement.
Currently, the Agreement is in the process of being ratified by other ASEAN member states.
The Agreement will only enter into force and allow the centre to be fully established 60 days after the sixth ASEAN member state has deposited its Instrument of Ratification with the ASEAN Secretariat. The signing of the Instrument of Ratification by the minister signals Brunei Darussalam’s commitment to the establishment of ACCC and its readiness to enact an Implementation Act to grant ACCC privileges and immunities as well as autonomy in line with what is accorded to diplomatic missions in Brunei.
Brunei Darussalam also contributed USD1.5 million to fund the centre’s operations for the first three years after its establishment.
The Brunei Darussalam National Climate Change Council and the Brunei Climate Change Office will continue to play a key role in supporting the establishment of the ACCC and encourages other ASEAN member states to ratify the Agreement to Establish the ACCC.
The ACCC is an ASEAN regional initiative to establish a climate change centre to be hosted in Brunei Darussalam, aimed at strengthening regional cooperation among ASEAN member states and international organisations, as well as publish policy recommendations to better address climate change.