Urgent Call to Action on Unprecedented Climate Disasters in Southeast Asia and Sri Lanka

MAPIM PRESS RELEASE

Immediate Release

Date: 1 December 2025

Subject: Urgent Call to Action on Unprecedented Climate Disasters in Southeast Asia and Sri Lanka

MAPIM URGES GLOBAL ACTION IN RESPONSE TO ESCALATING CLIMATE CATASTROPHES IN MALAYSIA, THAILAND, INDONESIA, AND SRI LANKA

The Malaysian Consultative Council of Islamic Organization (MAPIM) expresses its deep concern over the rapidly escalating climate-related environmental catastrophes that have struck Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia, and Sri Lanka in recent months. These events, marked by unprecedented flooding, prolonged droughts, massive deforestation, rising sea levels, and displacement of vulnerable communities, reflect the devastating impact of unchecked climate change in our region.

The scale and severity of these disasters are without precedent:

This week’s floods and landslides are the latest extreme weather events to devastate Southeast Asian countries in recent weeks, including two typhoons that hit the Philippines within a week of each other last month, killing at least 242 people.

The flooding that hit Indonesia, Thailand and Malaysia was also exacerbated by a rare tropical storm that dumped heavy rain on Sumatra Island in particular.

Climate change is increasing the intensity and frequency of storms and producing more heavy rain events because a warmer atmosphere holds more moisture.

Malaysia has endured back-to-back monsoon floods, leaving thousands homeless and causing substantial economic disruption.

Thailand faces urban submersion threats with Bangkok on the frontline of sea-level rise.

Indonesia is grappling with catastrophic floods wildfires and the impending loss of its capital to coastal submersion.

Sri Lanka continues to battle flash floods and water scarcity, compounded by environmental degradation and economic instability.

As a humanitarian and faith-based organization, MAPIM recognizes that climate justice is a moral imperative. The disproportionate suffering of marginalized and poor communities must not be ignored.

We therefore call on:

1. National governments to prioritize climate adaptation and resilience in their development agendas.
2. ASEAN leadership to establish a regional emergency climate response framework.
3. The global community, especially developed nations, to fulfill their climate finance commitments to support vulnerable countries.
4. Faith-based organizations and civil society to mobilize awareness, preparedness, and sustainable practices grounded in ethical and environmental stewardship.

MAPIM is currently coordinating with its partners to deliver emergency relief and climate-resilient aid packages to affected regions. We urge the public to join us in this mission by contributing resources and raising awareness.

Let us act now – not only to respond to these disasters but to prevent a worsening climate future for our children and generations to come.

“Protecting the Earth is Protecting Humanity.”

Issued by:

Mohd Azmi Abdul Hamid
President, MAPIM

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Unprecedented Climate Change-Related Environmental Catastrophes in Southeast Asia & Sri Lanka

In recent years, Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, and Sri Lanka have faced a surge in climate change-induced environmental catastrophes. These events have grown in frequency and intensity, pushing the region into unprecedented ecological, social, and economic turmoil.

🌪️ MAJOR ENVIRONMENTAL CATASTROPHES

1. Severe Flooding

Thailand & Malaysia (2021–2023): Torrential monsoon rains, intensified by a warming atmosphere, caused widespread urban and rural flooding. Thousands were displaced, and infrastructure suffered multi-billion-dollar damage.

Sri Lanka (2021): Flash floods affected over 100,000 people; deforestation and poor urban planning worsened the impacts.

2. Rising Sea Levels & Coastal Erosion

Indonesia: Jakarta, the capital, is sinking. The sea is encroaching so rapidly that the government is relocating the capital to Nusantara in East Kalimantan.

Thailand: Bangkok faces similar threats with parts of the city predicted to be underwater by 2050.

3. Wildfires & Deforestation

Indonesia (especially Sumatra & Kalimantan): Slash-and-burn agriculture and dry conditions have led to massive wildfires, creating hazardous haze that affects air quality across Southeast Asia.

These fires release millions of tons of CO₂, worsening global warming.

4. Droughts and Water Shortages

Malaysia & Sri Lanka: Unpredictable rainfall patterns are causing seasonal droughts. Crops are failing, and water reserves are shrinking.

5. Biodiversity Loss

Rainforest ecosystems in all four countries are under severe threat due to deforestation, changing rainfall, and habitat destruction.

Iconic species like the Sumatran orangutan and Sri Lankan leopard are critically endangered.

📉 UNPRECEDENTED IMPACTS

Health Crises: Air pollution, heatwaves, and waterborne diseases are spiking.

Food Insecurity: Climate instability is severely affecting rice, tea, and palm oil production.

Economic Loss: Damage to agriculture, tourism, and fisheries runs into billions of USD.

Migration & Displacement : Entire communities are being forced to relocate due to flooding and land degradation.

🔍 What’s Driving This?

■ Rising global temperatures (Southeast Asia is warming faster than the global average)

■ Unchecked urban expansion

■ Deforestation and unsustainable land use

■ Weak climate adaptation infrastructure

■ High emissions from agriculture, industry, and energy

🌏 Regional Response (So Far)

Indonesia : Capital relocation project and carbon trading markets.

Thailand & Malaysia: Improved flood defense systems and climate-smart agriculture initiatives.

Sri Lanka : National Adaptation Plan, but political and economic instability hinder implementation.

Still, coordination across borders and a move from reactive to proactive climate policies are urgently needed.