ASEAN’s latest climate plans will face intense scrutiny as climate impacts worsen.

Synopsis: Every first and third Tuesday of the month, The Straits Times analyses the beat of the changing environment, from biodiversity conservation to climate change.

Fast-growing South-east Asia is highly vulnerable to climate change.

As the climate risks grow, the region needs to lift its game to ramp up green energy investment and adopt stronger climate targets.

This year is a key test of the region’s climate resolve. All 10 ASEAN members are obliged to submit updated and more ambitious 2035 climate plans to the UN this year. Only Singapore has done so to date.

The question is, though, with the United States and Europe rolling back on climate finance and targets, does South-East Asia have the will to boost green investment? And where will the money come from?

Green Pulse podcast hosts Audrey Tan and David Fogarty discuss SE Asia’s climate plans with Ms Sharon Seah, Senior Fellow and Coordinator, ASEAN Studies Centre, at the ISEAS Yusof Ishak Institute in Singapore.