Duterte to Asean: Hold countries responsible for climate change accountable

BANGKOK — President Duterte urged the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) to hold accountable the countries that contribute the most to climate change, especially since the region usually bears the brunt of its effects.

Speaking at the plenary session with other Asean leaders on Saturday, Mr. Duterte listed the adverse effects of the phenomenon.

“Natural disasters occur more frequently and at an intensity unseen before – be it typhoon, drought, earthquake, landslide or volcanic eruption. The cost is horrendous, especially for us in Southeast Asia: Displacement, destruction, and death. Real lives hang in the balance,” Mr. Duterte said.

“We must hold countries most responsible for climate change to account, to answer,” he added.

At the same time, he said Asean member-states must take steps to help its people cope with the adverse effects.

“We must adapt and build our resilience by advancing initiatives that care for the people and the environment,” he said.

The region must also build more resilient infrastructure, sustainable cities, and innovative systems, he said.

As this developed, Asean leaders launched a satellite warehouse in Chainat province, Thailand which would be under the Disaster Emergency Logistics System for Asean.

The warehouse would allow the bloc’s coordinating centre for humanitarian assistance to strategically deploy relief items to disaster-affected Asean members, according to Thai Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha, who chairs the regional bloc this year. (Editor: Julie Espinosa)