ASEAN secretary-general sounds alarm on climate risks to region
With extreme weather and natural disasters becoming more common across Southeast Asian nations, ASEAN Secretary-General Kao Kim Hourn has sounded the alarm over the “urgent” challenge posed by climate change, which he said threatened the region’s safety, food security and economic resilience.
ASEAN Secretary-General Kao Kim Hourn has issued a warning about the climate risks facing the region, highlighting the "urgent" threat posed by extreme weather and natural disasters. Speaking at the ASEAN Day celebrations in Jakarta, Kao emphasized that climate change is increasingly transcending national borders and affecting the safety, food security, and economic resilience of Southeast Asian nations.
He cited the increasing frequency of floods, droughts, and extreme weather events, which are threatening homes, livelihoods, agriculture, and food security, while testing the resilience of communities and economies. Kao stressed the need for stronger regional cooperation, noting that no ASEAN member state can tackle the climate crisis alone.
The warning came as Indonesia faces drought and land fires during its peak dry season, with a blaze burning 60 hectares of Mount Bromo National Park in East Java. Neighboring countries like Vietnam and Thailand have also experienced flooding from torrential rains. Kao's remarks came as ASEAN marked its 59th anniversary amidst geopolitical tensions that have disrupted trade routes and driven up food and energy prices, further illustrating the global impacts on the region.
Written by urgent.news from The Jakarta Post's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
