Philippines urged to lead ASEAN climate security efforts

Philippine environmental officials are calling for the country to utilize its chairmanship of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) to lead a regional push for climate security. During a forum titled ‘Towards a Peaceful and Sustainable Future: Addressing the Climate-Conflict Nexus in Asean,’ experts emphasized the need to integrate climate resilience into the bloc’s regional security architecture.

Environment Secretary Juan Miguel Cuna stated that the region must act with greater coherence to mobilize the finance, technology, and partnerships required for a just transition. He noted that no ASEAN member state can address these environmental challenges in isolation. Special Envoy for Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Antonia Yulo-Loyzaga added that the Philippines has a unique opportunity to ensure climate change is recognized as a core component of regional security.

The forum, organized by the Stratbase Group and the German Embassy, brought together stakeholders from government, diplomatic missions, the private sector, and academia. German Ambassador Andreas Pfaffernoschke also advocated for deeper regional cooperation, noting that climate change and security can no longer be treated as separate issues.