This archive report was first published on 2 November 2019.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has sounded the alarm on the need for Asian countries to reduce their dependence on coal, a major contributor to climate change.
Speaking ahead of a meeting of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in Bangkok on November 2, 2019, Guterres emphasized that coal remains a significant threat to the environment.
"There is an addiction to coal that we need to overcome," he said, adding that countries in the region must be at the forefront of the fight against climate change by introducing carbon pricing and reforming energy policies.
According to Guterres, the region is lagging behind in its efforts to combat climate change, and the rollback of coal could help curb rising global temperatures.
Coal remains a major source of power across Southeast Asia, where rapid economic development has led to soaring energy demands, but at a significant cost to the environment.
Coastal areas across Southeast Asia have already experienced major floods and seawater incursion linked to climate change, with new research predicting that at least 300 million people worldwide will be living in areas at risk of inundation by 2050.
The UN chief also spoke about the plight of Myanmar's persecuted Rohingya Muslims, nearly three-quarters of a million of whom were driven into Bangladesh in 2017.
He urged Myanmar's government to address the root causes of displacement and allow the voluntary return of the Rohingya to Myanmar in safety and dignity.
