MANILA — The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) is strengthening regional cooperation on loss and damage, as member states work to address the growing impacts of climate-related disasters on communities, economies, and infrastructure across Southeast Asia.
During the inaugural session of the ASEAN Climate Week 2026, officials emphasized that beyond mitigation and adaptation, countries must also prepare for the impacts that cannot be fully avoided such as damage to homes, loss of livelihoods, and disruption to essential services following extreme weather events.
The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Secretary Juan Miguel T. Cuna underscored the importance of coordination at the regional level.
“What ASEAN is doing with regard to this is pushing for stronger coordination and collaboration among ASEAN member- states, and also pushing for the sharing of resources and technical expertise,” Sec. Cuna said.
He added that ASEAN is also working to better assess the preparedness of member -states and identify gaps in responding to climate impacts.
“There’s a study on loss and damage… which aims to be able to assess the readiness of the different ASEAN member-states to deal with climate change, and in the process identifying their specific needs so that these can be addressed,” he said.
In practical terms, strengthened cooperation on loss and damage can help improve how countries respond after disasters— enabling faster mobilization of assistance following typhoons, improving access to financing for rebuilding damaged homes and infrastructure, and supporting recovery programs for affected sectors like agriculture and fisheries.
Regional efforts also focus on improving climate risk management systems, enhancing data sharing, and building technical capacity so that governments can better plan for and respond to climate-related losses. These include developing clearer mechanisms for accessing international climate funds and aligning national and regional approaches to disaster response and recovery.
Through ASEAN Climate Week, member states are engaging in technical discussions, knowledge exchange, and capacity-building activities aimed at strengthening these systems and ensuring that support mechanisms are in place when climate impacts occur.
As the Philippines leads ASEAN in 2026, advancing cooperation on loss and damage remains a key priority—supporting a more coordinated, responsive, and resilient region in the face of increasing climate risks. — END —
