Bangkok, Thailand (9 June 2025) – Manushya Foundation proudly releases its new flagship report titled "From Colonial Exploitation to Climate Vulnerability: A Legacy of Injustice for Marginalized Communities – Non-Economic Loss and Damage in Asia and the Pacific", highlighting the profound non-economic impacts of climate change rooted in colonial legacies and structural inequalities. 

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“Colonization played a devastating role in building the foundations of the planetary crisis we are facing today. Climate justice is about acknowledging the legacy of centuries of colonialism and extractivism and holding accountable those historically responsible for it. Climate justice is also about fair and just reparation for the Global Majority”, said Neïla Mangin Maïza, Corporate Accountability & Climate Justice Advisor at Manushya Foundation. 

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The report emphasizes how marginalized communities in Asia and the Pacific disproportionately suffer the consequences of climate change. It examines case studies from Indonesia’s Bajo tribe, Vanuatu’s linguistic heritage, Bangladesh’s cultural traditions, biodiversity loss in the Greater Mekong Subregion, and the devastating loss of life in the Philippines, to illustrate the overlooked non-economic dimensions of climate damage.

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The report also underscores that non-economic losses—such as cultural heritage, identity, mental health, and social cohesion—although difficult to quantify, cause profound and lasting harm. These losses, often ignored by current climate policies focused primarily on economic compensation, urgently require greater attention and concrete action within international climate frameworks.

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"The climate crisis we face today is deeply intertwined with historical injustices. Colonial exploitation, structural racism, and systemic gender inequalities have left marginalized communities severely disadvantaged and uniquely vulnerable to climate impacts. These communities are not starting from the same point as wealthier nations or dominant groups. Their vulnerability is shaped by generations of exploitation and exclusion. If we do not acknowledge this reality, any climate solution will only deepen the inequality it claims to solve.", said Delasari Krisda Putri, Author of the Report, and former Corporate Accountability & Climate Justice Fellow at Manushya Foundation. 

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Expanding on the developmental dimensions of climate justice, Surya Deva, UN Special Rapporteur on the Right to Development, emphasized the urgent need for a transformative shift in how global institutions respond to climate impacts: “The climate crisis is not only an environmental issue—it is a profound development challenge rooted in colonial legacies and structural inequalities. This report sheds light on how non-economic loss and damage devastates the lives, cultures, and identities of marginalized communities in Asia and the Pacific. For climate action to be truly just and effective, it must center the voices of those most affected and ensure their right to development in dignity, equity, and self-determination”.

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Drawing from the lived experiences of Indigenous women on the frontlines of environmental destruction, Cressida Kuala—Founder and CEO of the Porgera Red Wara Women’s Association in Papua New Guinea—emphasized the urgent need to recognize the human rights dimensions of climate injustice. “For too long, Indigenous women like us have borne the brunt of environmental destruction caused by extractive industries. The loss of our lands, languages, and ways of life is not just a tragedy—it is a violation of our rights and dignity. This report gives voice to what we’ve been saying for years: climate justice must begin with truth, accountability, and respect for the knowledge and leadership of frontline communities.”

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“This report powerfully exposes how colonial legacies continue to shape the climate crisis and deepen inequalities for Indigenous Peoples and other historically oppressed communities. Centering non-economic loss and damage is not just about recognition—it’s about reimagining climate policy through the lived realities and resistance of those most affected. Climate justice must be intersectional, decolonial, and rooted in the leadership of Indigenous women and frontline communities”, said Patricia Miranda Wattimena, Coordinator of the Environment and ESCR Working Group, ESCR-Net. Her call serves as a reminder that any path toward equitable climate action must dismantle the systemic forces that created today’s disparities—and that such transformation must be led by the communities who have long resisted them.

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The report calls for an equitable, context-sensitive approach to addressing non-economic loss and damage. It proposes comprehensive international policy frameworks, integration of non-economic losses into national climate adaptation plans, strengthened local community capacity, and concrete commitments at COP30 to ensure that marginalized groups are not left behind.

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Manushya Foundation urges both international and national stakeholders to place justice and equity at the core of climate action, ensuring that the voices and rights of marginalized communities are central to global responses. As climate injustices deepen and global leadership continues to fall short, the need to shift power toward those on the frontlines has never been more critical. True climate solutions must be rooted in the lived experiences of affected communities—only then can we achieve inclusive, accountable, and transformative climate policy.

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In conjunction with the report, Manushya Foundation hosted a dynamic launch webinar featuring a panel discussion with these experts and community leaders who unpacked the report’s findings and explored how to decolonize climate policy. The conversation spotlighted non-economic loss and damage, amplifying the voices of those most affected and advancing a just transition rooted in inclusive and equitable climate action.

The report is available for download on the Manushya Foundation’s website. Stakeholders and the public are encouraged to read and share the report to spark change and advance equitable, community-led climate action in Asia and the Pacific.

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• Access the Report here. 

• Access the Recording of the Report Launch here. 

 

MEDIA CONTACTS: 

• Neïla Mangin Maïza, Corporate Accountability Advisor, Manushya Foundation: neila@manushyafoundation.org 

• Emilie Palamy Pradichit, Founder & Executive Director, Manushya Foundation: emilie@manushyafoundation.org

 

About Manushya Foundation

Manushya Foundation, deriving its name from the Sanskrit word for 'human being', is an intersectional feminist organisation deeply committed to reinforcing human rights, equality, and justice. With a focus on challenging the structures of power that perpetuate inequality, the foundation mobilises communities across the Global Majority to build collective strength and digital resistance. Manushya stands in solidarity with local communities, women human rights defenders, and all marginalised groups, prioritising the voices of those often silenced: women, LGBTIQA+ individuals, youth, democracy defenders, indigenous peoples, people with disabilities, and religious minorities, including the Rohingya and Malayu Muslims.