Human Rights and Environment in the Age of Climate Crisis: Justice and Accountability in Southeast Asia
Southeast Asia stands at the frontline of the global climate crisis, facing rising sea levels, stronger typhoons, prolonged droughts, and extreme flooding that increasingly threaten ecosystems, economies, and livelihoods. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change warns that rising temperatures are intensifying heatwaves, monsoon flooding, and other climate extremes across the region.
These impacts are closely linked to human rights and environmental justice, as environmental degradation threatens the rights to life, health, food, water, housing, and livelihoods. A 2015 study by the Asian Development Bank estimates that Southeast Asia’s GDP could decline by up to 11% by 2100 under a business-as-usual scenario, with major impacts on agriculture, tourism, fisheries, health, and labor productivity.