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Southeast Asia is highly exposed to floods, but weak funding and governance slow adaptation — and the shock will travel through global supply chains. (Photo: iStock)
Severe floods across parts of South and Southeast Asia since November have killed more than 1,400 people, caused at least USD 20 billion in losses, and disrupted global supply chains. Experts are calling for funding mechanisms that support both frontline communities and the critical sectors that anchor regional supply chains.
Tropical cyclones colliding with the northeast monsoon brought decades-high rainfall and widespread damage from Indonesia to Sri Lanka. Scientists say climate change likely intensified the floods, with deforestation, weak flood defenses, and underfunded resilience efforts deepening the impacts.
Weak funding and poor governance slow adaptation
Adapting to climate impacts is rising on policy agendas, but financing remains far short of need. Southeast Asia requires roughly USD 20 billion in adaptation funding annually yet receives only around USD 2.5 billion, according to a September report from Climate Policy Initiative.
