Tuesday, 17 September 2024 – The fifth Southeast Asia Climate Outlook Survey 2024 Report was launched by H.E. Dr Eang Sophalleth, Minister of Environment of the Kingdom of Cambodia in a hybrid seminar on 17 September 2024. The Survey consisted of 2931 self-identified Southeast Asians’ responses to 39 questions concerning climate change, energy transition, and international climate leadership. This was followed by a lively panel discussion on regional and global (in)actions towards climate priorities moderated by Ms. Sharon Seah, Climate Change in Southeast Asia Programme (CCSEAP) Coordinator.
CLIMATE CHANGE IN SOUTHEAST ASIA LAUNCH HYBRID SEMINAR
The fifth Southeast Asia Climate Outlook Survey, a poll of 2,931 Southeast Asians’ perceptions and attitudes across 39 questions relating to energy transition, food security, and climate leadership, was launched by H.E. Dr Eang Sophalleth, Minister of the Environment of Cambodia. Its findings were discussed in a panel consisting of Dr. Benjamin Horton, Director of the Earth Observatory of Singapore and Professor in Earth Science at the Asian School of the Environment in Nanyang Technological University (NTU); and Dr. Masyita Crystallin, Partner and Head of Sustainable Finance & Policy, Asia Pacific, Systemiq Ltd and moderated by Ms Sharon Seah, Senior Fellow and Coordinator of the CCSEAP. The findings were presented by Ms. Melinda Martinus, Lead Researcher of the CCSEAP.
Mr. Choi Shing Kwok opened the seminar by acknowledging Southeast Asians’ anxieties and concerns towards climate change. With yearly record breaking temperatures and extreme weather, everyone risks becoming desensitised to climate change. Although Southeast Asians appear more accepting towards decisive climate transition, they desire their governments to reduce emissions more actively. Mr. Choi iterated that regionally, ASEAN members are working closely to build consensus on common goals through guidelines and roadmaps to achieve sustainable energy production. However, Mr. Choi qualified that energy transition has potential social and economic impacts on vulnerable Southeast Asians. To protect vulnerable communities and allow them to gain from a low-carbon future, inclusivity and sensitivity to local contexts are crucial. Mr. Choi hoped that the Survey results will provide critical insights into the climate concerns and aspirations of Southeast Asians.
In his keynote speech, Dr. Eang reminded the seminar participants of the scientific community warning that we may be approaching, or have already surpassed, a critical climate tipping point. Impacts of climate change like intensifying heat waves, unprecedented storms, and prolonged droughts are no longer isolated events, but accelerating trends threatening Southeast Asia. Dr. Eang regretted that collective responses thus far have been insufficient. Despite Cambodia and ASEAN making significant strides in raising climate ambitions, they were not enough to maintain global temperatures within the 1.5 degree Celsius threshold. Dr. Eang shared Cambodia’s current climate and environmental mitigation policies like the Circular Strategy on Environment 2023-2028 and the Long-Term Strategy for Carbon Neutrality 2050. Dr. Eang stressed that Cambodia is committed to global climate change mitigation, but it cannot achieve it alone; mitigation requires cooperation, innovation, and a shared vision for a sustainable and resilient future. Dr. Eang expressed confidence that by collaborating, raising ambitions, and taking decisive action, Cambodia and the region can trailblaze a more sustainable and prosperous future.
Following his keynote speech, Dr. Eang fielded questions on Cambodia’s proposal for an ASEAN Green Deal, utility of nature-based solutions with references to Cambodia’s tree planting initiatives, and overcoming challenges in inter-sectorial government coordination to tackle climate change.
Ms. Martinus began presenting the Survey results by contextualising the respondents’ profiles. They consisted of country breakdown, age groups, gender, affiliations, type of city, and income levels divided into quintiles. Carbon taxes and fossil fuel subsidies dominated discussions during the seminar. Discussions on carbon taxes has gained momentum in recent years – 70.4% of regional respondents support national carbon taxes, an increase from 68% in 2023. Contrastingly, only 46.8% support cutting fossil fuel subsidies. Those that support removing fossil fuel subsidies believe that those funds can be reallocated to address climate change’s damages and social programmes, but potentially increase energy and food prices.
When asked what the most intriguing results were, Dr. Crystallin said that she was surprised by the respondents’ willingness to pay for carbon taxes but not forego subsidies. She rationalised that since carbon taxes are not presently regionally widespread apart from Singapore, direct impacts are thus not yet felt compared to more directly experienced inflationary pressures due to rising fuel prices. Dr. Horton highlighted that concerns of diversifying from fossil fuels raises household bills is insidious misinformation propagated by fossil fuel companies. He advocated enhanced public communication to clarify that removing fossil fuel subsidies and directing subsidies elsewhere, through incentives for renewable energy or protecting against rising household bills, can be beneficial. Dr. Horton expressed frustration that subsidies are continually given to highly profitable petroleum companies that have been retreating from renewable energy efforts.
Ms. Martinus proceeded to showcase regional and global climate leadership perceptions. Perceptions of Singapore’s potential as ASEAN’s climate leader increased from 38.7% in 2023 to 43.1% this year, and Japan was perceived as global climate leaders in championing Paris Agreement goals and climate innovation. On Singapore’s potential as the region’s climate leader, Dr. Horton supported Singapore becoming the regional climate leader as it possesses requisite investments in research and development (R&D), people, and education needed to advance climate research. He recounted his appointment as Chair of the Asian School of the Environment where in the last two years, employability levels of his students were at 100%, the only major at NTU to achieve full employability potential, indicating significant expansions in green careers. He thus expressed confidence that Singapore will become a future climate innovator. On climate innovation, Dr. Horton remarked that although efforts need to be global through studying different regions, innovations in countries and regions like Japan, the EU, the US may not work in the tropics. Thus, Dr. Horton advocated for “home-grown solutions to home-grown problems” and Singapore has the potential to become an ASEAN leader in this aspect. Through her experience leading the Just Energy Transition Partnership (JETP), Dr. Crystallin felt that Japan had focussed on both regional and domestic plans that were pragmatic and open to transition activities. This allowed countries and policy makers in the region to perceive Japan as being understanding towards energy transition issues.
Overall, the results of the Survey ignited discussions regarding the disconnects between priorities and scientific realities of climate change and energy transitions. Dr. Horton acknowledged that this social survey is necessary to address knowledge gaps between scientists and stakeholders. Despite positive trends of individuals taking responsibility for climate action, Dr. Horton lamented public and private sector lags in responding to climate challenges. Climate responsibilities have consequently been burdened upon individuals. Dr. Horton highlighted that a significant problem in climate action is priorities. Despite decades of warnings from climate scientists, the international community has not responded quickly enough. Dr. Horton believed that there was a stark lack of action from national and international leadership to avoid breaching the 1.5 degree Celsius threshold. Resultantly, calls to respond to the climate crisis were placed upon individuals through poorly conceived notions like the ‘carbon footprint.’ Ms. Seah empathised with Dr. Horton’s frustrations, but she believed that every individual effort still counts towards positive outcomes through individual duties of care to the environment as members of the global community. In a similar vein, Dr. Crystallin felt that internationally, the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) had not been very successful as it victimises countries with lower emissions targets. In reality, Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) numbers are lower than net zero numbers, indicating fragmentations and a lack of global ambition and willingness for action.
During the Q&A session, the panellists answered questions regarding the changing perceptions of nuclear energy in Singapore, implications surrounding the lack of distinct global climate leaders, and practical frameworks towards removing fossil fuel subsidies and renewable energy transition. This hybrid launch was attended by 42 in-person and 82 online participants.
Download the Welcome Remarks and Opening Remarks.