In this webinar, Dr Michael Schaper and Dr Serina Rahman from the ISEAS – Yusof Ishak Institute, and Dr Ruth Lusterio-Rico from the University of the Philippines Diliman discuss the state of environmental politics, its progress and challenges in Southeast Asia.
CLIMATE CHANGE IN SOUTHEAST ASIA PROGRAMME WEBINAR
Tuesday, 26 April 2022 – Dr Michael Schaper, Senior Visiting Fellow at the Climate Change in Southeast Asia Programme in ISEAS, Dr Ruth Lusterio-Rico, Professor and Associate Dean for Academic Affairs at the College of Social Sciences and Philosophy, University of the Philippines Diliman and Dr Serina Rahman, Visiting Fellow at ISEAS – Yusof Ishak Institute, spoke on the main features of environmental politics in the region, with particular focus on the Philippines and Malaysia. The session was moderated by Ms. Sharon Seah, Senior Fellow and Coordinator of the Climate Change in Southeast Asia Programme and ASEAN Studies Centre at ISEAS.
Dr Schaper began by providing an overview of environmental politics and green parties globally. He observed that while increasingly common in Southeast Asia, green parties are not yet as successful in earning publicity and seats as their counterparts in other countries. Dr Schaper attributed this to barriers such as traditional political identities, incumbent advantages held by existing parties and caution towards the unfamiliar. Some posit that green parties can succeed given certain conditions, such as federal systems, a service-based economy, and a younger, wealthier, highly educated, middle-class electorate; as well as growing mainstream concern for the environment. Dr Schaper argued that many of these conditions are strengthening in Southeast Asian countries; and green parties may rise as a result, especially as climate change impacts become more evident to the public.
Dr Lusterio-Rico went on to discuss the landscape of environmental politics in the Philippines. She stressed that environmental issues are linked to poverty, equity, access to natural resources and political rights. Though green parties have little influence on electoral politics, there are many active environmental non-governmental organisations (ENGOs). This largely grassroots green movement consists of many groups of diverse political backgrounds. Many have built alliances which serve as watchdogs to monitor the implementation of environmental regulations and commitments at local levels, thus playing a role in environmentally-sensitive policies like the Clean Air Act and Mining Act. However, to strengthen the government’s weak implementation of environmental laws, more public support is needed to push the green agenda.
Finally, Dr Serina Rahman provided a Malaysian perspective. She observed that although there is general concern about climate change, election discourse often focuses more on transparency and corruption. She also emphasised the differences between urban and rural populations, with rural voters preoccupied with other pressing concerns. As rural voters have greater influence due to the nature of the electoral system, politicians are less motivated to prioritise environmental issues. Like the Philippines, Malaysia has a variety of different ENGOs competing for space and funding; with different political approaches as well as varying and sometimes conflicting agendas hindering the formation of a united political movement. These challenges combined create a complex path to navigate in environmental politics.
During the Q&A session, the panellists addressed questions relating to international laws, political strategies of civil society groups, the role of businesses in supporting environmental movements.
The webinar drew an audience of almost 120 participants.
To view the recording of this webinar, click here.