In this launch event, Associate Prof Winston Chow, Dr Thang Nam Do, Dr Angel Hsu and Ms Jessica Cheam offer interesting insights into the latest findings of the Southeast Asia Climate Outlook 2023 Survey Report.
CLIMATE CHANGE IN SOUTHEAST ASIA PROGRAMME HYBRID SEMINAR
Thursday, 21 September 2023 – ISEAS – Yusof Ishak Institute organised a hybrid seminar titled “Can Southeast Asia Play Its Part for the Climate?” to discuss the findings of its fourth Southeast Asia Climate Outlook 2023 Survey Report.
The annual regional survey polled 2,225 respondents from ten ASEAN member states on different climate issues affecting them and their perceptions of climate actions taken on the region’s climate future, energy transition issues and attitudes towards climate leadership. The findings were presented by Dr Mirza Huda and Ms Melinda Martinus, Lead Researchers at the Climate Change in Southeast Asia Program (CCSEAP). At the end of each section, a panel consisting of Ms Jessica Cheam from Eco-business, Associate Professor Winston Chow from Singapore Management University, Dr. Angel Hsu from the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill, and Dr Thang Nam Do from the Australian National University gave their thoughts on the survey results. The panel is moderated by Ms Sharon Seah, Coordinator of the CCSEAP.
Mr Choi Shing Kwok gave his Welcome Remarks for the launch of the survey.
He commended plans by 8 ASEAN countries that set up net-zero targets and their governments for implementing policies to ensure that they become reality. In the meantime, as governments make reforms on their economic systems to help ease their transition into a low-carbon society, it is crucial that steps are taken to ensure that no one is left behind and exacerbate inequalities. Mr Choi also mentioned that the survey findings revealed that citizens are becoming more concerned about the climate emergency and are starting to feel its effects in the form of heat waves and droughts. While these endeavours are commendable, it is a sanguine reminder of the urgency needed to address the effects of climate change.
His Excellency (H.E.) Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad delivered the Keynote Address.
In his address, H.E. Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad mentioned that Malaysia has now allowed cross-border renewable energy trading which will help meet increasing demand for clean energy in the region. This also allows Malaysia to play a role in making the ASEAN Power Grid (APG) a reality and strengthening ASEAN integration. H.E. Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad also noted the establishment of the ASEAN Centre for Climate Change in Brunei which will help ASEAN member states build capabilities and technical know-how to handle challenges resulting from a changing climate. Finally, H.E. Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad called for member states to be more unified on climate matters, regardless of development levels and political ideologies. By working as a collective, it will allow member states to have greater influence in climate negotiations in order to help groups in their societies that are most vulnerable to climate change.
Next, Dr Mirza presented the first section which consisted of the respondents’ profile. It included their age, education background, and top source for climate news, among others. Immediately after, Ms Martinus presented data on the realities versus expectations of respondents in Southeast Asia’s climate future. Questions included the top 3 most serious impacts of climate change on their country, and how confident they are that climate will affect their lives in a decade’s time.
Ms Seah asked the panellists if the survey results on the ground reflected the lived experience of everyone. Assoc Prof Chow noted from the data that Southeast Asians felt a sense of vulnerability to climate change on their health in the form of higher heat exposure, displacement from floods and water-borne diseases and more recently, mental health issues. Issues such as transboundary haze and the impacts on businesses due to droughts and severe storms would only get worse due to climate change. He noted the growing mental health issues of the young and old as they felt a sense of uncertainty on how the climate change emergency affects them, which was not covered in this report. When asked by Ms Seah on one recommendation to tackle urban heat stress, Assoc Prof Chow suggested that policymakers can use nature-based solutions and integrate it into our urban spaces. In addition to cooling the environment, it can also help reduce flood risk and if scaled up properly, provide an avenue to sequester carbon from the atmosphere.
Ms Martinus then proceeded to present the 3rd section; obstacles faced by ASEAN countries in their efforts to decarbonise. Ms. Seah queried the panel on the survey results they found most intriguing. All panellists were surprised and disagreed with the respondents that ‘a lack of research & development as being a greater obstacle to decarbonisation over political will’. Ms Cheam argued that current technologies to mitigate climate change already existed, but there needs to be movement by politicians to provide an enabling environment for these technologies to be rolled out in a large scale. Dr. Hsu echoed similar sentiments about the prevalence of technology and cited how solar panels are now cost competitive vis-à-vis with fossil fuels. Assoc Prof Chow remarked on the need to bring in those from the financial sector and supplementing it with effective government messaging to garner public support and push forth initiatives. He cited his recent trip to Vietnam where the government was advocating for foreign direct investment into wind power to help Vietnam achieve net-zero by 2050. Dr Do commented on other schemes like block pricing for electricity so that lower income groups will not be burdened with high electricity prices despite their low electricity usage.
Ms Martinus presented the last section of the report on ‘Climate Leadership and Cooperation’. Moving to the discussion, Ms Seah inquired the panellists if it was unexpected to them that Southeast Asians viewed Singapore as having the greatest potential to be the region’s climate leader. Ms Cheam was not surprised and noted that Singapore is the most proactive in promoting its climate strategy, which could be a reason for its high score. Dr Hsu added that Singapore does above its weight in climate change research and was awed on the amount of research poured into climate change during her visit to NUS.
Ms. Seah also sought views on why respondents felt that Japan is a leading partner in climate innovation. Assoc Prof Chow said that there may be a perception versus reality gap among Southeast Asians, likely caused by the geopolitical situation and relations between member states and other powers. Meanwhile, Dr. Do mentioned that Japan’s high score could be their efforts to support the region in developmental projects such as carbon capture and storage technologies.
The discussion also touched on questions on the decreasing levels of urgency on climate issues from 2023, and why is it seen as a long-term thing when people are already feeling its effects now. There were also queries on the reasons for the older generation being more engaged in climate issues compared to the young, and what can be done to engage younger people on climate issues.
Over 120 in-person and online attendees participated in the hybrid webinar.
Download the Southeast Asia Climate Outlook: 2023 Survey Report.