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Climate change threatens ASEAN integration |
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The ASEAN goal of economic integration by 2015 could be 'crippled' by climate change, warned a regional coalition led by Greenpeace and Oxfam. The warning issued on Friday by ASEAN for a Fair, Ambitious and Binding Climate Deal (A-FAB) at the UN climate change talks in Bangkok called on leaders of Southeast Asian nations to cooperate in the push for concrete results in the upcoming UN climate change conference in Doha in November.
Climate change is a critical challenge for Southeast Asia, particularly because the region does not have the capacity to cope with its escalating effects, A-FAB representatives said at a press briefing on the sidelines of the Bangkok conference.
Civil society leaders from Myanmar and other ASEAN country climate negotiators, joined A-FAB at the briefing to press for solutions to the region's common challenge.
"Only a few days ago, heavy monsoon rains in my country submerged vast swathes of crop lands and forced tens of thousands of our people to seek shelter in emergency camps," said Kyaw Thiha, a member of parliament representing Aung Sang Suu Kyi.
Zelda DT Soriano, political advisor for Greenpeace Southeast Asia, called on ASEAN countries to act urgently. "Governments must design a work program to put the climate negotiations back on the right track so that the next discussion in Doha in December can focus on concrete decisions that make a difference for the climate," he said.
By Rachel Rivera
Tempo
No. 02/13, September 04, 2012
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