The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) has issued a historic declaration recognizing the right to a safe, clean, healthy, and sustainable environment as a fundamental human right for both current and future generations. This marks the first time the regional bloc has officially acknowledged environmental protection as an integral part of human rights. The declaration, released on October 28, 2025, emphasizes that environmental degradation poses a serious threat to future generations and highlights the importance of meaningful public participation by children and youth in environmental decision-making.
The non-binding declaration serves as a framework for Southeast Asian governments to integrate environmental rights into national policies, promote stronger enforcement of environmental laws, and enhance regional cooperation in combating environmental degradation. It aims to guide member states toward adopting sustainable practices and reducing the region’s growing vulnerability to climate-related threats.
Save the Children played an instrumental role in shaping the declaration, ensuring that children’s voices were heard during its drafting through regional consultations and expert contributions. The organization views this as a critical step forward in advancing children’s environmental rights at a time when Southeast Asia is warming nearly twice as fast as the global average.
Recent data from the World Meteorological Organization shows that Asia’s temperatures have risen at almost double the rate of the previous three decades. The region recorded its highest sea surface temperatures in 2024, with accelerated glacier melt and rising sea levels surpassing global averages, putting coastal communities at increased risk. Asia and the Pacific also account for over half of global greenhouse gas emissions, intensifying the urgency for regional climate action.
Vishna Shah-Little, Director of Child Rights at Save the Children, called the declaration a vital step toward recognizing environmental rights as human rights. She urged Southeast Asian governments to align national policies with the declaration’s framework and to prioritize children’s rights in climate finance, loss, and damage funding. She emphasized the need to phase out fossil fuels and ensure children play an active role in shaping a sustainable future.
Save the Children, operating in around 110 countries, continues to address climate change through both direct community support and global advocacy. The organization helps children and families adapt to and recover from climate disasters by rebuilding homes, establishing floating schools, and providing financial aid. It also advocates for stronger global climate policies, giving children a voice at international platforms such as the UNFCCC COP summits.
