The SREX is another validation of the link between climate change and current trends in extreme weather, and a warning against the catastrophic costs of inaction on climate change. Its launch comes at a time when millions of people in Southeast Asia are suffering from climate change impacts. Floods in Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam and Myanmar, caused by an unusual monsoon season, have killed hundreds and affected more than 10 million people. Floods have also damaged rice supply and manufacturing, costing ASEAN economies billions of dollars.
“This new IPCC summary report confirms that climate change is fuelling extreme weather and escalating the human and economic costs, which are increasingly being borne by the developing world,” said Francis Dela Cruz, Climate and Energy Campaigner of Greenpeace Southeast Asia.
“ASEAN nations are faced with this growing challenge year after year but we are nowhere near any integrated action plan for the region. Meaningful climate mitigation is also absent from national plans whose energy policies are still heavily reliant on fossil fuels,” Dela Cruz added.
Climate change is an incredibly critical challenge for Southeast Asia, particularly because the region does not have sufficient capacity to cope with its escalating effects. Its impacts also have far-reaching social and economic consequences, affecting health, agriculture, security and economy, aside from creating further suffering on the region’s poor.
Southeast Asia is among the ‘most vulnerable and least prepared’ areas to face the global crisis of climate change. Impacts, such as extreme weather, are already being felt across the region. A 2009 study by the Asian Development Bank (ADB), suggests that, on average, Southeast Asia “is likely to suffer more from climate change than the rest of the world, if no action is taken,” entailing huge economic costs. More recently, a Climate Change Vulnerability Index released by risk advisory firm Maplecroft has identified five ASEAN member countries – Indonesia, Myanmar, Vietnam, the Philippines and Cambodia – to be at extreme risk to climate change due to extreme weather.
Greenpeace believes that ASEAN heads of state must commit to real climate action at home, as well as enforce urgent solutions as a regional body. In particular, ASEAN must ensure strong mitigation actions from member countries and show strong and unified political will by speaking as one to demand an ambitious and legally binding deal in international climate negotiations. The ongoing Summit is the best venue to discuss this, not just between and among ASEAN member states, but also with the leaders of its dialogue partners.
“After two decades of international climate negotiations to reduce emissions, the world has more, not less, greenhouse gases in our atmosphere. Adaptation to climate change impacts is of crucial importance, but there are limits to how high you can build a sea wall, or how strong you can build a structure. Trying to adapt to climate change without dealing with global emissions is like mopping the bathroom floor whilst leaving the tap running – dealing with the consequences whilst ignoring the root of the problem,” said Zelda Soriano, Policy Advisor of Greenpeace Southeast Asia
“Governments gathering in Durban later this month for climate negotiations must respond to the international climate crisis by adopting a clear roadmap towards a science-based, global agreement. This must ensure that all countries take action to dramatically reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and that financial and technical support is delivered to developing countries to help them confront the climate challenge,” Soriano concluded.
For more information:
- Zelda DT Soriano, Political Advisor, Greenpeace Southeast Asia,
+63 917 594 9424
- Francis Dela Cruz, Climate & Energy Campaigner, +63 917 854 2103, +63 2 3321807 loc 118
- JP Agcaoili, Media Campaigner, +63 917 631 2750, +63 2 3321807 loc 108,
