A Resilient Workforce, Adapting to Climate Change in Southeast Asia
The impact of climate change has escalated globally, with an estimated 2.8 trillion US dollars in global loss and damage from 2000 to 2019, according to a 2023 study cited by the UN Environment Programme (UNEP). Southeast Asia, one of the most vulnerable regions to climate change impacts, has seen a surge in extreme weather events in recent years. This year, four powerful storm systems, including Super Typhoon Man-Yi, battered the Philippines in just ten days. Strong typhoons also recently hit Thailand, Viet Nam, and Myanmar, causing floods and landslides and displacing thousands. In previous years, scorching and dry weather in parts of the region disrupted the livelihoods of affected communities. These climate change-related disasters cause significant death and destruction, impacting workers’ incomes, productivity, and livelihoods. The region is foreseen to suffer the most losses in GDP due to the exacerbating effects of climate change on agriculture (UNESCAP, 2023).