Climate change poses a threat to Southeast Asia
Southeast Asia, with tens of thousands of islands, long coasts and cities in low-lying deltas, is particularly threatened by climate change. Weather changes, storms and typhoons are already causing immense damage and numerous fatalities. Future scenarios predict that large cities like Bangkok, Jakarta or Ho Chi Minh City will be under water.
The complex ecosystems of the Coral Triangle - home to the world's greatest marine biodiversity - are likely to die due to water warming and acidification. The livelihoods of millions of people who live from fishing or tourism depend on them.
The historical responsibility for global warming, which threatens the future of the people of South East Asia, lies with Europe and North America. At the same time, the governments of the countries of Southeast Asia are forcing a development based on accelerated growth and exploitation of natural resources - thus exacerbating the climate crisis.
Guests from Southeast Asia
In the series of lectures, experts and activists will analyse the effects of climate change on the region, discuss the socio-ecological transformation of important sectors (such as energy, agriculture or mobility) and debate the challenges and strategies of the climate justice movement.
Climate controversies: Topics and dates
There are 11 dates, the series starts in early November and ends in early February.
The lectures take place every Wednesday afternoon from 4pm to 5.30pm.
- 4 November 2020
Climate Change and Environmental Controversies in Southeast Asia: An Overview (Guest: Prof. Dr. Philip Hirsch, University of Sydney) - 11 November 2020
The Mekong Delta Under Threat
(Guest: Prof. Dr. Le Anh Tuan, Can Tho University) - 18 November 2020
Storms, Typhoons and Climate Injustice in the Philippines
(Guest: Marinel Sumook Ubaldo, Youth Leaders for Environmental Action Federation) - 25 November 2020
The Impending Death of the Coral Triangle
(Guest: Lauretta Burke, World Resources Institute) - 2 Dezember 2020
Struggles over Coal and Energy in Indonesia
(Guest: Siti Maimunah, Passau University) - 9 December 2020
Land Use Change, Fires and Haze in Southeast Asia
(Guest: Dr. Helena Varkkey, Universiti Malaya) - 16 December 2020
The Future of Transport in Southeast Asia
(Guest: Gurmit Singh K.S., Centre for Environment, Technology and Development) - 13 January 2021
The False Promise of REDD+ in Southeast Asia
(Guest: Chris Lang, REDD Monitor) - 20 January 2021
Climate Justice Struggles in SEA
Joseph Purugganan, Focus on the Global South - 27 January 2021
Climate and Cement: the struggle of the Samin in the Kendeng Mountains in Indonesia
Marianne Klute, Rettet den Regenwald - 3 February 2021
Panel Discussion: Perspectives for Climate Justice in SEA and Europe
Nanticha Lynn Ocharoenchai, Climate Strike Thailand; and Yuyun Harmono, WALHI with Fridays for Future (HSG Bonn and Cologne), Ende Gelände, Polluters Out Germany
Weekly seminar on Zoom and Stream on Facebook
The series of lectures will take place as an active discussion via Zoom and will be broadcasted live on Facebook on Wednesdays from 4pm to 5.30pm CET.
Zoom can be accessed via this link (Meeting ID: 928 0355 7236), the Facebook livestream can be found here.
Cooperation project
The series "Climate Controversies" is organised by the Department of Southeast Asian Studies at the University of Bonn in cooperation with Fridays for Future (HSG Bonn), Fridays for Future (HSG Cologne), the Working Group AG Ressourcen of the Stiftung Asienhaus and the philippinenbüro.
