Civil society voices from Southeast Asia have raised alarm over aggressive fossil gas expansion plans across the region, warning of grave implications for marine ecosystems and frontline communities.
The call was made at a side event at the ongoing 10th Our Ocean Conference Busan, South Korea.
Southeast Asia, home to some of the world’s most biodiverse marine habitats including the Coral Triangle, the Verde Island Passage, and the Mekong Delta is under threat from a wave of fossil gas infrastructure projects.
Civil society groups say these plans are incompatible with the region’s climate and environmental commitments.
“The Coral Triangle is the beating heart of our planet’s marine life, yet it and other crucial ecosystems in Southeast Asia are in peril from the expansion of liquefied natural gas and other fossil operations,” said Gerry Arances, Executive Director of the Center for Energy, Ecology, and Development (CEED).
Arances also convenes the Southeast Asia Working Group on Fossil Gas and Just Energy Transition, a coalition urging a shift away from fossil fuels toward sustainable energy.
Despite widespread recognition of Southeast Asia’s ecological importance, the region is projected to build over 136 gigawatts (GW) of new fossil gas power plants, along with numerous import and export terminals.
Offshore oil and gas development is advancing rapidly, with approximately 80 marine protected areas in the Coral Triangle overlapped by oil and gas blocks.
“If these blocks proceed to production, up to 16 per cent of the Coral Triangle would be directly impacted by fossil fuel development,” Arances warned. “This buildout promises nothing but the destruction of marine life and the pollution of our air and water, jeopardising the health and livelihoods of our region’s many coastal communities.”
The Coral Triangle, which spans the waters of Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Papua New Guinea, Timor Leste, and the Solomon Islands, supports more than 120 million people through fishing, tourism, and other ocean-dependent livelihoods.
Renewable Alternatives Gaining Ground
Proponents of gas expansion have argued that fossil fuels are needed to meet Southeast Asia’s growing energy demands. But civil society groups and climate advocates say that narrative is both outdated and dangerous.
“Southeast Asia currently operates 33.8 GW of renewable energy capacity, with plans to expand nearly 398 GW an eleven-fold increase,” said Arances. “Countries like Vietnam and the Philippines are leading this charge. Governments must now act decisively to ensure that these plans translate into a just and inclusive energy transition.”
He added that prioritising renewable energy would not only deliver sustainable power, but also enhance climate resilience and protect marine biodiversity.
A Call for Global Accountability
The Our Ocean Conference, an annual platform focused on marine protection and climate action, is seen as a critical opportunity to hold governments accountable for their domestic policies.
“We need to stop pretending that fossil gas is a bridge fuel,” Arances said. “It is a roadblock to climate justice, a threat to food security, and a danger to the very oceans we claim to protect.”
As Southeast Asian nations participate in the global discourse on ocean governance and climate resilience, civil society is making one thing clear: energy development must not come at the cost of life below water.
By Dare Akogun
