Climate Change Vulnerability in South East Asia

HUMAN AND ENVIRONMENTAL CHALLENGES OF ASIA-PACIFIC

Climate change vulnerability in Southeast Asia and future adaptation measures

CONTENTS

1 FOREWORD 3

2 AREAS VULNERABLE FOR CLIMATE CHANGE IMPACT IN ASIA 4

2.1 Environment made way for economical development 4

2.2 Sea-level rise and retreating glaciers 5

2.3 Agriculture 6

2.4 Population 8

3 REDUCING THE ENVIRONMENTAL VULNERABILITY

OF THE POOR 9

3.1 Adaptation focus 10

3.1.1 Water resources 10

3.1.2 Agriculture 10

3.1.3 Forestry 11

3.1.4 Health issues 11

3.2 Strengthening the capabilities 11

3.2.1 Social capital 11

3.2.2 Natural capital 12

3.2.3 Physical capital 12

3.2.4 Human capital 13

3.2.5 Financial capital 13

3.2.6 Human capital 13

4 APPENDIXES 14

REFERENCES 16

FOREWORD

First signs of the climate change can already be seen in Southeast Asia. The current events are still relatively occasional comparing to what is to come without large-scale global human intervention. Without the interference global warming will seriously damage the poverty eradication and sustainable development goals in Southeast Asia. According to the researches, the climate change will increase the frequency of natural disasters such as typhoons, fierce droughts and floods. Southeast Asia is one of the most vulnerable continents to global warming because of the heavy reliance on agriculture for livelihood and the fact that SEA’s 563 million people are living along coastlines which leaves them exposed to the rising sea levels. (The Economics of Climate Change in SEA: A Regional Review, 23.)

Slowing down the already started global warming is an international challenge that lies in the hands of the global community. Measures have to be taken to reduce the carbon emissions globally. Paradoxically most of the emissions are produced in the developed countries,...