Written by Aliyah Assegaf
08 October 2024
Southeast Asia, a region home to over 650 million people, is at a critical juncture where the twin crises of climate change and social inequality present major challenges. The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) has increasingly focused on climate action, aligning with global efforts to mitigate the devastating effects of climate change. However, some argue that this emphasis might divert attention from pressing social priorities like poverty, education, and healthcare. Is ASEAN’s focus misguided, or are these two issues inherently intertwined?
Climate Change: A Critical Threat to ASEAN
The Southeast Asian region is one of the most vulnerable to climate change. Coastal cities face rising sea levels, erratic weather patterns threaten agriculture, and millions of people are exposed to climate-induced displacement. According to the Asian Development Bank (ADB), climate impacts could reduce Southeast Asia's GDP by 11% by 2100 if action is not taken. The devastation caused by extreme weather events, such as typhoons and floods, is also exacerbating poverty and inequality across the region.
In response, ASEAN has prioritized climate action through frameworks like the ASEAN Plan of Action for Energy Cooperation (APAEC), which promotes renewable energy and sustainability, and initiatives that focus on resilience and adaptation. For instance, the ASEAN Green Finance Hub aims to mobilize climate finance to reduce emissions and transition toward greener economies.
Social Inequality: An Overlooked Crisis?
While climate action is critical, some critics argue that focusing too much on climate issues risks sidelining urgent social concerns. Poverty and inequality remain pervasive in the region. According to the World Bank, 24.8% of the population in Southeast Asia lived on less than $3.20 a day in 2021. The COVID-19 pandemic further exacerbated these inequalities, pushing millions back into poverty and straining healthcare systems across ASEAN member states.
Social services such as education and healthcare remain underfunded, with large segments of the population lacking access to quality services. Education is key to lifting people out of poverty, yet disparities in access persist, particularly between rural and urban areas. Healthcare systems also suffer from underinvestment, with gaps in access, quality, and affordability.
The Climate-Social Nexus: Interconnected Solutions
Framing climate action as a competing priority with social issues misses a crucial point: these crises are deeply interconnected. The impacts of climate change disproportionately affect the poor, as they are more vulnerable to extreme weather events, food insecurity, and displacement. The World Bank estimates that, by 2030, climate change could push 132 million people into extreme poverty globally, with Southeast Asia being one of the hardest-hit regions.
Sustainable development requires a holistic approach that integrates climate action with social progress. Green jobs, for example, can create opportunities for employment in renewable energy sectors while reducing emissions. Indonesia’s push toward a green economy, which includes investments in renewable energy and sustainable agriculture, shows that climate action can be aligned with poverty reduction and job creation.
Balancing Priorities: The Way Forward
ASEAN needs to strike a balance between climate action and addressing social inequities. Policymakers must ensure that climate policies are inclusive, benefiting the most vulnerable populations rather than exacerbating inequality. A just transition, which provides support for workers and communities affected by the shift to a green economy, is crucial.
To achieve this, climate finance must be directed toward projects that also address social needs, such as improving healthcare infrastructure, expanding education, and creating social safety nets for those most impacted by climate change. The ASEAN Centre for Energy estimates that the region requires $290 billion in investment by 2030 to meet its climate targets, but these investments can also drive social development if strategically aligned.
Climate and Social Progress Must Go Hand-in-Hand
The debate over whether ASEAN’s focus is misguided by prioritizing climate action overlooks the fact that climate change and social inequality are not separate crises; they are part of the same challenge. Climate action can drive social progress, but only if it is designed with equity in mind. ASEAN must adopt policies that address both climate and social issues in tandem, ensuring that the benefits of climate action are shared widely and contribute to reducing poverty and inequality.
By embracing this integrated approach, ASEAN can lead the way in showing that climate action is not only compatible with social development but essential to achieving long-term sustainability and equity across the region.
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