‘Bad for the Earth’: Southeast Asian environmental leaders wary of lack of US climate leadership under Trump

“We heard that the United States may withdraw from the Paris Agreement. If this happens, it will be bad for the world climate community. This is a concern,” said Dr Ching Thoo Ki, secretary-general of Malaysia’s Ministry of Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability.

“The Global North must act fairly to help the Global South fight climate change.

“Put all the geopolitical issues aside, focus on what is on the table right now, that is climate change. Glaciers are melting. Sea levels are rising. “So it’s happening,” he said.

The Philippines is a leading player in providing more financing to the Loss and Damage Fund for countries bearing the brunt of climate impacts. It currently houses the fund’s board of directors.

Secretary of Environment and Natural Resources, Ms. Maria Antonia Yulo-Loyzaga, told CNA that while the United States is “a very important country in terms of achieving our climate goals,” the Philippines must be pragmatic going forward.

“I think the general feeling for the Philippines is that we should keep walking,” he said.

“Of course there are geopolitical, geostrategic considerations to every decision we make, but we know how vulnerable we are and so our roads will basically remain on the right track.”

Indonesia’s new environment minister, Mr Hanif Faisol Nurofiq, did not directly mention the impact of Mr Trump’s re-election but raised general concerns about the lack of cooperation and progress on climate diplomacy in the current political environment.

“Our hope is that with the opportunity of COP29, all countries will open up to clear, realistic actions that can be taken together. “If all countries can work together, it will be easier to achieve globally acceptable results,” he said.

“If we get too caught up in endless debates and continue to produce and emit greenhouse gases, we will achieve nothing but endless debates.”