Search Climate Insights Directory

The report examines how climate change acts as a risk multiplier in Mainland Southeast Asia, specifically Burma, Cambodia, Laos, Thailand, and Vietnam. It identifies state governance capacity and social and economic inequality as the primary drivers of regional insecurity. Through four scenarios—ranging from 'Paralyzed States, Vulnerable Populations' to 'Building Resilience, Strengthening Communities'—the analysis explores how these drivers influence outcomes like food insecurity, forced migration, and the proliferation of criminal networks. The document recommends that external stakeholders support policies to reduce inequality, engage regional security services for cooperation, and utilize ASEAN as a platform for climate risk mitigation to navigate the geopolitical tensions between the U.S. and China.

The report examines how trade policies and climate change impact food security in mainland Southeast Asia, specifically the Mekong region. Using Cambodia as a case study, it argues that food security must be addressed holistically and with a long-term vision, warning against trade protectionism in favor of regional integration through the WTO, ASEAN, and the Greater Mekong Subregion forum.

The report argues that food security in mainland Southeast Asia is a complex, cross-cutting issue that cannot be addressed solely through agricultural policy. It examines how trade liberalization can stimulate economic growth and food access, while climate change threatens agricultural availability and stability through extreme weather events. Using Cambodia as a case study, the document highlights the vulnerability of agrarian economies to external shocks, such as the 2008 food crisis and the 200810 global recession. The author concludes that food security requires a holistic, participatory approach with a long-term vision, urging countries in the Mekong region to resist protectionist measures like rice cartels and to integrate climate adaptation into national planning.