The Guidelines on ASEAN Green Meetings aim to serve as a reference to support AMS/ ASEAN organs/ other entities in organising ASEAN-related meetings that are more resource-efficient and environmentally responsible. Given the number of meetings that ASEAN organises each year and as an intergovernmental organisation, ASEAN undoubtedly plays a pivotal role in setting a benchmark in this respect and in encouraging its AMS/ organs in becoming green meeting hosts/ organisers within the context of their local circumstances.

Although greening meetings might only be a small positive change on itself for the environment, the initiative may have the potential to inspire broader action and wider organisational change, for example, by creating demand for environmentally friendly services or by raising awareness of individuals and service providers involved in the meetings. While efforts have been carried out to implement the format of paperless meeting, it would be worthwhile for ASEAN to move further by adopting a “green meeting” scheme which promotes environment-friendly setup beyond the elimination/ reduction of paper consumption. Towards this end, the 10th Meeting of the AWGEE held on 18-19 July 2018 in Da Lat, Viet Nam, identified the need to develop a guideline on green meetings for future ASEAN meetings, starting with meetings under the environment sector.

With support from the ASEAN Secretariat, the ASEAN Guidelines on Green Meetings was subsequently developed by AWGEE. The Guidelines was strongly supported and endorsed by the ASEAN Senior Officials on Environment (ASOEN) at the 30th ASOEN Meeting in 2019.