Leading ASEAN cities towards resilient, sustainable pathways

ASEAN region has undergone transformational changes in economic sectors, socio-economic status with surge in industrial outputs and economic growth driven by market forces and Foreign Direct Investment (FDI). At the same time, continual upward curve of domestic consumption, waste output, destruction of biodiversity with natural assets, increased number of plastic hotspots,and rapid urbanizationwith uncertain pattern in environmental and climatic characteristics has thrown the countries into future
resilience risks. Presently, human societies around the globe including countries in the ASEAN region is suffering from loss of natural capital and erosion in natural assets and problem is further getting worsening by negative impacts on public health with direct impact from toxic air, food, water leading to casualties. Also, increased application of pesticides and fertilizers, antibiotics and zoonotic disease andthrown masses into burden of disease with erosion in GDP. ASEAN is the sixth-largest economy in the worldwith Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of US$2.4 trillion, today with rapid increasing trend in population with expanding circle of urban area. The current urban population in ASEAN accounts for about 47 per cent of the total population and it is expected to reach 63 per cent by 2050.

Regional and transboundary environmental pollution phenomenon of smoke haze and air pollution posing emerging challenges challenges to the countries and demanding regional actions and programme to eliminate the problem

Regional climate change, disaster risks and natural capital risks

The regional atmosphere of ASEANs influenced by El Niño and La Niña weather phenomenon which impact the seasonal monsoon cycle with country wide changes in the weather pattern. Countries being on the ring of fire and on the convergent boundaries of the earth’s tectonic plate and typhoon belt, the countries are frequently exposed to natural hazards, earthquakes, tsunamis, volcanic activities and typhoons. Tropic storms, episodes of typhoons and earthquakes annually pose serious risks and damages to economic activities and life of people.
Regional and transboundary environmental pollution phenomenon of smoke haze and air pollution that is heavily is posing emerging challenges to the countries and demanding regional actions and programme to eliminate the problem. Thailand, Indonesia, Philippines, Vietnam and other Greater Mekong Sub-Region (GMS) countries are historically facing meteoro-climatic disaster with significant surge in the climate disaster phenomenon. The enormity of climate disasters have reversed the economic growth of tune of over US$ 45 billion in economic loss and damage as a result of the prolonged, nation-wide, flood in 2011. In 2013, Typhoon Haiyan (Yolanda) caused US$ 10 billion in loss and damages.

Sectoral challenges and major environmental issues in ASEAN countries

Analysis of the state of atmosphere in the ASEAN region reveals that energy sectors demonstrated slow transition in energy-mix of the countries and increasing air pollution levels because of largecarbon dioxide emissions and it is predicted that energy-related CO2 emission levels may rise by 61 % upto 2025 from the 2014l levels. Continued notification by Governments in the region about new additions of metropolitan regions within the converging municipal councils and regions is creating new sources of GHG hotspots in ASEAN cities need to urgently seek low-carbon economies, infrastructure and transport.
As highlighted in an UNEP report titled as UNEP (2018), Air Pollution in Asia and the Pacific: Science-based Solutions, it was found, around 4 billion people with 92% of the asia pacific being on exposure to pollution levels in excess of WHO impact of air pollution on human health constitutes a serious public health crisis across and has been attributed to as one of major cause of premature death and multiple form of illness. Moreover, surge of (PM 10), (PM2.5) and ground-level ozone in Asia and the Pacific to reduce emissions that lead to serious problem of air pollution as a new kind of social disaster and also compromising food security of and secure food future of asian people. Not only this, degradation of forest, un-planned land-use management and to peat fires related to expansion of large scale commercial plantations has made trans-boundary regional haze pollution as long-standing perennial challenge for countries in the region. Up to 90% of trans-boundary smoke haze in ASEAN is linked. Demand for minerals and materials to fuel the economic growth of the region has resulted in the accelerated, mindless extraction of natural resource exploitation with loss of protected area on land, sea with right to breathe clean and life giving air.
Dwindling freshwater resources and with looming water-insecurity, un-planned urban planning, degradation of catchment, episodes of climate shocks and events of extreme flood, draught is putting more and more risks on cities and municipalities. Exploitation of protects area, nature based ecosystems such as coral reefs, mangroves are facing never before survival challenges. With the growing domestic consumption, increase in per capita income, a vicious cycle of unsustainable consumption and production and lack of awareness on responsible material and chemical consumption. Use of banned chemicals and injection of pesticides and antibiotics into agrifood cycle has will delay the regions progress on SDG Goals before 2030. Above all, one of major environmental challenges of region, plastics, including single use plastic, has caused an estimated 1%–5% decline in benefits or services from oceans— equating to $0.5 trillion to $2.5 trillion per year—particularly those relating to fisheries, aquaculture, recreation, natural heritage, and human well-being (Marine Pollution Bulletin. Volume 142. pp. 189–195), which will be seriously impacting the blue growth and blue economy prospect of the region. About 150 million tons of plastic is already in the ocean, and this amount increases every year by about 8 million to 12 million tons. The 8 major rivers in Asia out of 10 responsible for the load of in the and transport 88%–95% of plastics into the sea are in Asia: the Yangtze, Yellow, Hai, Pearl, Amur, Mekong, Indus, and Ganges rivers are from Asia and spread across the costal one of Bangladesh, Indonesia, India, Malaysia, Philippines, PRC , Sri Lanka, Thailand and Vietnam.

What is needed in the region

When a major region of the world confronting with such an enormity and diversity of challenges of sustainability, achieving the goals of Paris climate agreement and SDG 2030 will remain a far reality! In this discouraging narrative, the role of Local Authorities (LAs), Network of Cities and Local Governments and International and development cooperation from the political and economic union, European Union (EU) could reverse the damage and accelerate commitment towards global goals the region to UN. (LAs) are and will be at the forefront when responding to the challenges on the ground and providing environmental and economic opportunities to citizens of the region. What was more desirable to explore new and enhanced cooperation mechanism among developing countries and economies in transitions, and also among European Union and Global South countries? The role of South-South and triangular cooperation will be vital and crucial in designing, implementing and financial leveraging based on policies, measures and common challenges. Grants, Investment, Policies around common global strategies, pushed by European Union and partners, with also ownership and responsibility towards will further strengthen the action and commitment of south countries
in ASEAN.