Abstract

Environmentalism has been a notable and potent political force in Southeast Asia since the 1980s. It has brought attention to various environmental problems, such as the destruction of forests and fisheries, as well as the hazards of industrial pollution and rapid urban growth. It has opposed government policies and business interests, and it has highlighted the risks faced by vulnerable populations. It has helped build, and has partly resulted from, active civil societies in various Southeast Asian countries. Alliances between international environmental organizations and local activists have also allowed Southeast Asian challenges to influence global debates about environmental policy.