The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), composed of various nations, is currently having its 43rd summit in Jakarta, Indonesia. It opened on Sept. 5, 2023, with leaders wasting no time to address a host of issues and challenges faced by the region.

During a plenary session, President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. urged member-countries of the ASEAN to strengthen their commitment to combat climate change, considering this as the “most urgent threat to progress.”   

“The impact of climate change… is a looming reminder of the injustice of disproportionate impact on our people,” the President said. “At the upcoming COP28, ASEAN must call on developed countries to heighten the implementation of their commitments — climate finance, technology development and transfer, and capacity building in order to drive ASEAN’s capabilities to prevent, mitigate, manage, and adapt to the impacts of climate change.” 

It is widely acknowledged that the Philippines ranks among the world's most disaster-prone nations, a fact painfully underscored in recent weeks as devastating typhoons have wrought havoc on our infrastructure, decimated crops, and tragically claimed lives. With each passing year, natural calamities exact a heavy toll, resulting in the destruction of assets worth billions of pesos.

Inherently linked to climate change is the threat to food security. Intense heat leaves land drier than ever before; while during typhoon season, it is difficult to grow anything. These situations not only escalate food prices due to supply shortages, but pushes more families to the brink of hunger — a great injustice in these modern times.

What the President recommended at the ASEAN Summit is to harness the power of international cooperation that will make ASEAN “climate-smart” and “disaster-ready.” 

“In achieving food security, we must build on cooperation that will harness the transformative potential of our agricultural sector to ensure that food production is responsible and will be of benefit for future generations,” he said.

Aside from calling for climate action, the President also expressed the country’s readiness to chair the ASEAN Summit in 2026. 

Just a few months ago, in May, also in Indonesia, the President already called for unity among ASEAN member-states in urging developed countries to fulfill their longstanding commitments to the Paris Agreement.

“Developed countries have a moral obligation to support adaptation and mitigation efforts of the most vulnerable countries through technology transfer, capacity building, and climate financing; to address loss and damage; and to achieve necessary breakthroughs for climate action at a global scale,” he said. “Although developing countries, such as the Philippines, only account for less than one percent of global emissions, our countries bear the brunt of the devastating impacts of climate change.” 

The President’s call for immediate and bolder climate action is not a mere alarmist stance or just a complaint about “spilled milk.” It is rooted in the harsh reality that we face a catastrophic future if climate issues remain unaddressed by this generation. As the President steadfastly champions the cause of our planet in the global stage, it is our fervent hope that ASEAN members will support and stand with him. Eventually, citizens of the world will realize that it takes all of our voices, minds, and spirit to truly save our planet for the future.