Southeast Asian nations have become increasingly concerned over environmental issues in recent years as the region has become more polluted due to rapid urbanisation and deforestation. As a whole, the region has to deal with transboundary haze pollution, depletion of natural resources and urban environmental degradation.

Green Lungs in the ASEAN regionGreen spaces or "green lungs" in cities play a vital role to its surrounding milieu. They do not only provide oxygen to the densely-populated concrete jungles, but also serves as a dedicated space for recreational activities. Many cities in the Southeast Asian region have picturesque parks and hilly landscapes to counter-balance the urban sprawl.

The death toll from devastating floods and landslides in north and central Vietnam has jumped to 54, officials said Friday, in one of the deadliest weather disasters to hit the country in years.Rescuers were desperately searching for 39 people still missing after heavy rains pounded several provinces this week, with forecasters warning of another major storm heading toward the country.

Mount Agung has been threatening to erupt for the first time in more than 50 years. The volcano last erupted in 1963 which left nearly 1,600 people dead. Indonesian officials raised the alert status to the highest level on late Friday, September 22. Over 144,000 people have fled the volcano and its vicinity since it started rumbling, but officials urged evacuees who are from outside of the immediate danger zone to return home.

More than 144,000 people have fled from a rumbling volcano on popular tourist island Bali, but officials Saturday urged evacuees who live outside the immediate danger zone to return home.

The last time Bali's Mount Agung volcano erupted, a stream of molten lava flattened teenage Gusti Nyoman Dauh's home, while cascading ash, rocks and hot gas killed 1,600 of his neighbours.So more than fifty years later, when the Indonesian volcano began rumbling once again, the now-grandfather did not hesitate before gathering his family and fleeing to a crowded, makeshift shelter.Sleeping on donated mattresses and making do with whatever clothes and possessions they could salvage,

Indonesian authorities are on standby to divert flights destined for the holiday island of Bali as increasingly frequent tremors from a rumbling volcano stoke fears an eruption could be imminent.Mount Agung, about 75 kilometres (47 miles) from the tourist hub of Kuta, has been shaking since August, threatening to erupt for the first time in more than 50 years and forcing more than 80,000 people to flee their homes.Bali attracts millions of foreign visitors every year to its palm-fringed beach

Situated close to the equator, the Southeast Asian region is well known for its rich biodiversity and natural tourist attractions. Every year, thousands of holidaymakers from all around the world travel to this region searching for a vacation experience that could get them through another year at work. In recent years, tourist arrivals within the region have increased steadily.

Southeast Asia is known for its vast rainforests which constitute about almost 20 percent of forest cover with the richest biodiversity in the world. What the region is also known for is its alarming rate of deforestation. The region has the highest rate of deforestation of any major tropical region followed by Latin America and Africa.

All 10 of the ASEAN member states have officially started to ban the usage of single-use plastics in an effort to move towards addressing the pollution issues caused by plastics and marine debris as a united front.