EU-ASEAN ambassador highlights green diplomacy's role for peace

JAKARTA, 31 October (BelTA - ANTARA) - European Union (EU) Ambassador to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Sujiro Seam stressed the importance of green diplomacy for peace and prosperity.

"Green diplomacy also contributes to peace and prosperity," Seam stated in a special interview with ANTARA here on Sunday (Sept 27).

He affirmed that peace and prosperity remain core priorities in international relations.

However, in recent years, environmental challenges, such as climate change, pollution, environmental degradation, and biodiversity loss, have emerged as significant global concerns.

"Thus, we can realize that this climate crisis, the pollution crisis, the water crisis, environmental crisis are the sources of conflict. Hence, if we do not address those threats, we will end up in a situation where we might have violence," he cautioned.

Hence, green diplomacy, which promotes collective action against environmental challenges, serves as an important tool for achieving peace and prosperity.

Meanwhile, these environmental challenges need to be addressed not only by pursuing public policies but also through a fundamental shift in lifestyle choices toward sustainability.

Hence, green diplomacy should be promoted to raise public awareness of the need to change lifestyle behavior to a more sustainable way of life to address environmental issues.

"I mean we cannot continue to grow adopting the same pattern. Hence, there is a need for everyone to realize that resources on this planet are limited. Hence, we have to minimize the impact we have for our growth on the environment and on the resources," he remarked.

"Hence, this is the whole concept of sustainable development. Peace and prosperity have always been the objectives of diplomacy. However, in more recent years, there was an increase in awareness about these green challenges and therefore the importance of green diplomacy," he added.