SHAPE-SEA 2023 Essay Writing Competition for Undergraduate Students

The ASEAN region is home to abundant natural resources, breathtaking sceneries, and rich biodiversity. However, over time, our activities have accelerated the constant destruction of our environment. Climate injustices have, indeed, caused tremendous impacts on our social, economic, and political lives. Extreme weather events, such as droughts and heatwaves and rising sea levels and wildfires have constantly displaced vulnerable peoples and destroyed livelihoods. It has also disrupted our health and well-being. In less developed parts of the region, food and water insecurity and the spread of climate-sensitive infectious diseases have constantly posed threats. Furthermore, we have seen an increase in forced migration and civil conflicts, attacks on environmental rights defenders, and reduced access to basic services, as well as rights and freedoms.

The right to safe, clean, and sustainable environment is espoused in the ASEAN Human Rights Declaration (AHRD). In principle, ASEAN member-states have forged a collective commitment to shift from a growth-oriented to a people and planet-centered approach to addressing critical environmental issues. Furthermore, the ASEAN Intergovernmental Commission on Human Rights (AICHR) has been at the forefront of this regional agenda. Since 2014, it has been establishing collaborations with relevant organizations, co-designing strategies with affected communities, and achieving action.  As we continue to experience climate injustices, it has become more obvious that the protection of the environment has become everyone’s responsibility. Postponing action is no longer an option. Young people, all the more, have a huge stake in this struggle. In this light, the 2023 Edition of our Essay Writing Competition shall serve as a vehicle for Southeast Asian students to raise their voice on diverse issues and lived experiences reflecting the state of the environment and human rights in the region. Moreover, essays are expected to delve deep into intersectional issues impacting the environment at either regional and local levels. Furthermore, we strongly encourage writers to creatively come up with concrete recommendations for policy and action to address climate emergencies/injustices in ASEAN. Essays writers are urged to fully exercise critical thinking and creative expression.