As Southeast Asia faces the growing prospect of more frequent and severe El Niño events, governments, businesses, and communities across the region will need to contend with heightened risks to food security, public health, energy systems, and economic resilience.
The implications are significant:
- Prolonged droughts and extreme weather could disrupt agricultural production and commodity supply chains
- Haze episodes may affect public health, labour productivity, tourism, and business operations
- Water and energy systems could face increasing strain, raising costs and operational risks
- Climate-related shocks may compound existing geopolitical and economic uncertainties across the region
In his latest commentary for The Straits Times, “There’s no escaping the El Nino. Here’s how ASEAN can blunt its fire and fury”, our Chairman, Simon Tay, argues that ASEAN cannot afford to treat climate-driven challenges as isolated national issues. Instead, greater regional cooperation, stronger early warning systems, and coordinated action will be critical in preparing for and mitigating the impacts of extreme weather.
As he notes, “There is no escaping El Niño. The question is whether ASEAN can work together to blunt its fire and fury.”
Read the full commentary: https://www.straitstimes.com/opinion/theres-no-escaping-the-el-nino-heres-how-asean-can-blunt-its-fire-and-fury
