This press release is available in English and Korean

Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei Darussalam, June 30, 2026 – Brunei Darussalam has taken an important step toward strengthening its greenhouse gas (GHG) monitoring and climate action through the ASEAN-Korea Cooperation for Methane Mitigation (AKCMM) Project. The two-day AKCMM Project Introduction and Capacity Building Program, held at Universiti Teknologi Brunei, brought together government agencies, academia, industry, and international experts to enhance national capacity for greenhouse gas measurement, reporting and verification (MRV), emissions modelling, and methane mitigation. 

Jointly organized by the Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI), the Brunei Climate Change Office (BCCO), Universiti Teknologi Brunei (UTB) and Universiti Brunei Darussalam (UBD) with support from the ASEAN-Korea Cooperation Fund (AKCF), the program supports Brunei Darussalam’s efforts to strengthen its greenhouse gas inventory system, improve technical readiness for international climate reporting, and advance implementation of Brunei’s climate and development plans. 

The opening ceremony was graced by Her Excellency Datin Paduka Professor Dr Dayang Hajah Zohrah binti Haji Sulaiman, Vice-Chancellor of Universiti Teknologi Brunei, with representatives from GGGI, BCCO, government agencies, industry stakeholders, academic institutions, and local and international climate experts. 

In his welcoming remarks, Professor Dr Mohamed Hasnain Isa, Assistant Vice-Chancellor (Research and Innovation) of UTB, highlighted the importance of collaboration among policymakers, industry practitioners and researchers in addressing climate-related challenges. 

“Climate change is a complex challenge that cannot be addressed by any single institution. It requires collaboration, knowledge sharing, and collective action. The expertise gathered here presents a valuable opportunity to strengthen partnerships and advance climate-related initiatives that will benefit Brunei Darussalam and the wider region.”   

Representing Universiti Brunei Darussalam, Dr Elvynna Leong Md Dennis Leong highlighted the importance of strengthening technical capacity and robust MRV systems to support evidence-based climate policy and emissions reduction.  

“Improving how we measure methane emissions— and ultimately how we reduce it — is among the most impactful steps any nation can take. For Brunei Darussalam, this introduction and capacity building program arises at a particularly important moment, as we advance our national commitments under the Brunei National Climate Change Policy, Updated Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC), and our Biennial Transparency Report.”  

Furthermore, Chiden Balmes, Asia Regional Lead of GGGI, underscored the critical role of universities and research institutions in building the scientific foundations needed for effective climate policymaking.  

“We need better data, stronger modeling capabilities, improved forecasting, and a clear understanding of where methane emissions come from and how they evolve over time. This is where I see the opportunity for UBD, UTB, and other academic actors — not simply as educational institutions, but as active national knowledge partners, as centers of research, as incubators of innovation, and as bridges connecting science with practical decision-making.” 

The program brought together approximately 50 participants from government agencies, academia, industry and research institutions to discuss key topics related to greenhouse gas MRV, emissions modelling, methane mitigation, carbon capture technologies and emerging monitoring tools. 

Technical sessions delivered by experts from UTB and UBD featured topics such as carbon capture, storage and utilization methods and technologies, GHG mitigation from landfill systems, and decarbonization efforts in the power sector. International experts from GGGI, WeatherPia, and Seoul National University’s ClimateLab also contributed to discussions on methane MRV systems, emissions forecasting, monitoring technologies, and institutional readiness for climate action. The program continued on 1 July with technical sessions on sector-specific methane MRV challenges, methane measurement technologies, climate modelling, and pathways for translating technical findings into practical climate action. 

The AKCMM Project is a regional initiative implemented across ASEAN Member States from 2024 to 2027 under the Partnership for ASEAN–Republic of Korea Methane Action (PARMA). The project aims to strengthen regional capacity for methane mitigation and support the development of robust GHG MRV systems. 

In Brunei Darussalam, the project supports ongoing efforts to strengthen GHG accounting and reporting systems, enhance technical readiness for climate-related reporting obligations, and reinforce collaboration among government, academia, and industry.  By strengthening the country’s climate information systems and institutional capacity, the AKCMM Project contributes to Brunei Darussalam’s long-term transition toward a low-carbon and climate-resilient future. 

(Korean Translation)  

브루나이 다루살람, 한-아세안 메탄 감축 협력사업 (AKCMM) 통해 온실가스 모니터링 및 기후 행동 강화 

반다르스리브가완, 2026년 7월 3일 – 브루나이 다루살람이 한–아세안 메탄 감축 협력 사업 (AKCMM)을 통해 온실가스(GHG) 모니터링 및 기후 행동 강화를 위한 중요한 발걸음을 내디뎠다. 브루나이공과대학교(UTB)에서 열린 이틀간의 AKCMM 사업은 소개 및 역량 강화 프로그램에는 정부 기관, 학계, 산업계, 국제 전문가들이 모여 온실가스 측정·보고·검증(MRV), 배출량 모델링, 메탄 감축을 위한 국가 역량을 강화했다. 

이 프로그램은 글로벌녹색성장기구(GGGI), 브루나이 기후변화청(BCCO), 브루나이공과대학교(UTB), 브루나이다루살람대학교(UBD)가 아세안–한국 협력기금(AKCF)의 지원을 받아 공동 주최했으며, 브루나이 다루살람의 온실가스 인벤토리 시스템 강화, 국제 기후 보고를 위한 기술적 준비 태세 향상, 브루나이의 기후 및 개발 계획 이행 촉진을 위한 노력을 뒷받침한다. 

개회식에는 브루나이공과대학교 부총장(Vice-Chancellor)인 다틴 파두카 다양 하자 조라 빈티 하지 술라이만 교수가 참석해 자리를 빛냈으며, GGGI, BCCO, 정부 기관, 산업계 이해관계자, 학술 기관, 국내외 기후 전문가 대표들도 함께했다. 

브루나이공과대학교 연구혁신 담당 부총장보(Assistant Vice-Chancellor)인 모하메드 하스나인 이사 교수는 환영사에서 기후 관련 과제를 해결하는 데 있어 정책 입안자, 산업 실무자, 연구자 간 협력의 중요성을 강조했다. 

“기후 변화는 어느 한 기관만으로는 해결할 수 없는 복잡한 과제입니다. 협력과 지식 공유, 그리고 공동의 행동이 필요합니다. 이 자리에 모인 전문성은 파트너십을 강화하고 브루나이 다루살람과 더 넓은 지역에 도움이 될 기후 관련 이니셔티브를 발전시킬 소중한 기회가 될 것입니다.” 

브루나이다루살람대학교를 대표해 참석한 엘비나 리옹 (Elvynna Leong Md Dennis Leong) 박사는 증거 기반 기후 정책과 배출량 감축을 뒷받침하기 위한 기술 역량 강화와 견고한 MRV 시스템 구축의 중요성을 강조했다. 

“메탄 배출량을 측정하는 방식을 개선하고, 궁극적으로 이를 감축하는 것은 어느 국가든 취할 수 있는 가장 영향력 있는 조치 중 하나입니다. 브루나이 다루살람에게 있어 이번 소개 및 역량 강화 프로그램은 브루나이 국가 기후변화 정책, 개정된 국가결정기여(NDC), 그리고 격년투명성보고서(BTR)에 따른 국가적 약속을 이행해 나가는 특히 중요한 시점에 이루어졌습니다.” 

또한 GGGI 아시아 지역 리드(Asia Regional Lead)인 치덴 발메스(Chiden Balmes)는 효과적인 기후 정책 수립에 필요한 과학적 기반을 구축하는 데 있어 대학과 연구기관이 수행하는 중요한 역할을 강조했다. 

“우리에게는 더 나은 데이터, 더 강력한 모델링 역량, 향상된 예측 능력, 그리고 메탄 배출이 어디에서 비롯되고 시간이 지남에 따라 어떻게 변화하는지에 대한 명확한 이해가 필요합니다. 바로 이 지점에서 저는 UBD, UTB, 그리고 다른 학술 기관들이 단순한 교육 기관이 아니라, 활발한 국가 지식 파트너이자 연구 중심지, 혁신의 인큐베이터, 그리고 과학과 실질적인 의사결정을 연결하는 다리로서의 기회를 발견합니다.” 

이번 프로그램에는 정부 기관, 학계, 산업계, 연구 기관에서 약 50명의 참가자가 모여 온실가스 MRV, 배출량 모델링, 메탄 감축, 탄소 포집 기술, 신규 모니터링 도구 등 주요 주제에 대해 논의했다. 

UTB와 UBD 전문가들이 진행한 기술 세션에서는 탄소 포집·저장·활용 방법 및 기술, 매립지 시스템의 온실가스 감축, 전력 부문의 탈탄소화 노력 등의 주제가 다루어졌다. GGGI, 웨더피아(WeatherPia), 서울대학교 기후연구실(ClimateLab)의 국제 전문가들도 메탄 MRV 시스템, 배출량 예측, 모니터링 기술, 기후 행동을 위한 제도적 준비 태세에 관한 논의에 참여했다. 프로그램은 7월 1일에도 이어져 부문별 메탄 MRV 과제, 메탄 측정 기술, 기후 모델링, 그리고 기술적 연구 결과를 실질적인 기후 행동으로 전환하는 방안에 관한 기술 세션이 진행되었다. 

AKCMM 사업은 아세안–한국 메탄 행동 파트너십(PARMA) 하에 2024년부터 2027년까지 아세안 회원국 전역에서 시행되는 지역 이니셔티브다. 이 사업은 메탄 감축을 위한 지역 역량을 강화하고 견고한 온실가스 MRV 시스템 개발을 지원하는 것을 목표로 한다. 

브루나이 다루살람에서 이 사업은 온실가스 산정 및 보고 시스템 강화, 기후 관련 보고 의무에 대한 기술적 준비 태세 향상, 정부·학계·산업계 간 협력 강화를 위한 지속적인 노력을 뒷받침하고 있다. AKCMM 사업은 브루나이 다루살람의 기후 정보 시스템과 제도적 역량을 강화함으로써, 저탄소·기후 회복력을 갖춘 미래로의 장기적 전환에 기여하고 있다.