What will the world be like for our children if we fail to limit global warming to below 2°C, preferably to 1.5°C?

In the best-case scenario where the globe warms only by 1.5°C, a 10-year-old child in 2020 will experience fourfold as many extreme climate events throughout the course of their life compared to a 55-year-old.

With ongoing global warming, today’s children in Southeast Asia will witness increased losses in health and well-being, agricultural production, and economies due to sea-level rise and extreme weather, as stated in the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) report released June 2022.

On a per-capita basis, World Bank data shows that greenhouse gas emissions are higher in developed countries like the United States, Australia, and China, but the whole globe warms as a result. Countries like those in Southeast Asia, which possess fewer resources, are set to disproportionately suffer bigger losses. Rising sea levels, heat waves, drought, and more frequent and severe rainstorms, pose a significant threat to both the agricultural economy and low-lying coastal areas of Southeast Asia.

Against this backdrop, East Ventures and Temasek Foundation present the Climate Impact Innovations Challenge (CIIC). The Climate Impact Innovations Challenge is a platform that connects investors and entrepreneurs with innovative solutions to address some of the greatest problems facing cities in the tropics in the 21st century. 

Southeast Asia faces a dual challenge. Not only do we have to adapt to climate change with regard to food production, maritime activities, and other areas, but we must also alter our development strategies in renewable energy and mobility that are increasingly contributing to global warming. Therefore, the four tracks of the Climate Impact Innovations Challenge are:

• Renewable Energy
• Mobility (Electric vehicle & Supply chain)
• Food & Agriculture
• Ocean (Blue economy)

Read the full insights at East Ventures.