Heinrich Böll Foundation | Southeast Asia

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Administrative Officer Job Opening 2026 — Image credits

Creative Vision or Concrete Action? Reflections on Social Justice in Southeast Asia

This E-paper examines the longstanding tension between ASEAN’s creative vision and its limited concrete action in promoting social and environmental justice across Southeast Asia. While social justice has been foundational in the national constitutions of Southeast Asian countries since independence, inequalities persist.

Yulius Purwadi Hermawan, Nazwa, Syanne Averina Teja

ASEAN Brings Timor-Leste In, Manages the Trump Show – and Gets Closer to the Global South

Article

ASEAN pulled off a deft diplomatic performance at its final summit for 2025, combining seemingly conflicting initiatives – such as hosting Trump and getting to know Brazil's Lula and South Africa's Ramaphosa – under its wide, welcoming tent. Timor-Leste is finally a full ASEAN member.

Johanna Son

Voice Unmuted: Music as Liberation for Women and Queer Artists in Southeast Asia

Article

Music and art have long been a refuge for those most marginalised, and in Southeast Asia they now fuel a new wave of women and queer artists shaping their own resistance.

Shane Bhatla

7.-women-teaching-women-in-coffee-ripe-only-picking.jpg

Brewing Resilience: Women, Coffee, and Climate Adaptation Strategies in the Philippines

Article

In every cup of coffee—instant or brewed—lies the unseen struggle of a woman farmer in Bukidnon, Northern Mindanao, South Philippines. Each bean reflects her hard work amid limited support and growing climate pressures. Women farmers cultivate coffee, corn, and cassava to sustain their families, yet many remain poor despite global demand. Today, climate change endangers not only their crops but their futures.

Laurine Alexis Yonson

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Brewing Change in Thailand: Transformation and Innovation in Sustainable Coffee Farming

Article

In every cup of Thai coffee, history unfolds. Each bean telling a story of resilience. Introduced through the Royal Project, coffee became a lifeline for highland communities. Despite climate pressures and environmental challenges, the industry continues to grow. Through collaboration and the strength of farmers, hardship has been transformed into hope.

Kamolwat Toboonchuay

Contradicting Complexities: Heavy Metals Pollution from Mines in Myanmar in Kok, Sai, Ruak, Mekong River

Article

In the global bid for clean energy, Myanmar, which is embroiled in one of the world’s longest political crises is caught in the middle as the world’s most powerful nations – the United States, India and China race to access its rare earth elements (REE) and critical mineral (CTM) deposits.

Suebsakun Kidnukorn

AICHR Malaysia Human Rights Mechanism 2025

Q & A with H.E. Edmund Bon Tai Soon on Post-adoption of the ASEAN Declaration on Environmental Rights

Article

“We should use this declaration as it is, a commitment by 11 member states of ASEAN including Timor-Leste after its official admission in October 2025. This declaration is our regional standard. As a next step, we have to do a gap analysis to make sure what we say on paper will become a reality.”

Daniel Abunales, Tipakson Manpati

Articles by Countries and Topics A-Z

E-Papers on the Principles of Global Greens

ASEAN and The Mekong

Treasures and Tragedies: Discourses and Narratives on Critical Minerals in Southeast Asia

Under Pressure: Timor-Leste's Development Path

Political Development in the Philippines

Vietnam in Motion

Climate and Energy in Southeast Asia

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Podcasts

Podcasts Around Southeast Asia and Beyond

Publications

Global Circular Economy

Study

A circular economy can help mitigate the negative effects of our resource consumption and reduce the massive dependence on raw materials from other countries. The study sets out what needs to be considered in order to achieve a just transition towards a circular economy.

Luisa Denter

The Climate Story: Connecting The Dots

At the ‘Climate Story: Connecting the Dots web discussion, a mix of participants - journalists from Southeast Asia, climate advocates, communications and development professionals - exchanged insights about the overarching climate story that, in truth, supersedes all stories today. How to tell this story better, and the need for a Southeast Asian perspective in reporting the impacts and human toll of the climate crisis were the key threads that ran though this conversation.

Reporting ASEAN

Annual Report 2023

Annual Report

As a political foundation, we are independent of the party and parliamentary group, but at the same time we are an integral part of the green movement. The headwind that blows in our face is getting tougher every day.

Public Guide to the Clean Air Green Paper

E-Paper

This Public Guide to the Clean Air Green Paper has been developed to summarize the key messages from the Clean Air Green Paper, digesting the content so it is more concise and accessible to the public; thereby giving the public a comprehensive view of the sources of air pollution in Thailand and how the problems can be solved in an integrated and sustainable manner.

Thailand Clean Air Network

Addressing Loss and Damage from Climate Change in the Philippines: Lived Experiences of Indigenous Farmers in Atok, Benguet

Policy brief

This policy brief addresses the complex issue of Loss and Damage (L&D), with a specific focus on indigenous farmers in Atok, a municipality in Benguet Province, Philippines. The climate crisis has disrupted traditional farming practices and knowledge systems, leading to significant economic and non-economic losses.

Jameela Joy Reyes, Ma. Laurice Jamero, PhD , Doreen Allasiw, PhD, Francis Uldric San Juan, Bernardine de Belen , Dannica Khate Antonio, Jomar Calingling, Kyla Sote

A 2030 Roadmap for Climate Adaptation in the Coffee Bean Belt of Southeast Asia

E-Paper

This paper sets the stage for Southeast Asian coffee stakeholders, advocating a shared roadmap for 2030. With climate challenges served on every cup, this roadmap could be the blend that safeguards economies, cultivators, and the future of the coffee industry.

Warathida Chaiyapa

JETP Vietnam Energy Transition with Political Costs

E-Paper

The purpose of Just Energy Transition Partnership (JETPs) is to decarbonize energy systems in emerging countries. In Vietnam, the partnership is ambitious but underfunded, unjust, and riddled with high political costs.

Dr. Jörg Wischermann