Page 127 - The Ethics of ASEAN

Ethics of Sustainability and Biodiversity in ASEAN

Yulius Bulo represents the ethical perspective of business by noting that ASEAN’s State-
Owned Companies exist to preserve the nation’s resources and interests. They are therefore
driven by a long-term ethic not to compromise future generations. He also points out that
ASEAN is in danger from the practice of “greenwashing” to communicate a positive ethical
image that is not really true. He advocates for calling out greenwashing and supporting
companies that are driven by an authentic sustainability ethic.
As we have seen, ASEAN has a special ethical responsibility to preserve its life systems
on land and in the sea because of its extraordinary biodiversity. The tension between
prioritising short-term economic gains over long-term loss of ecosystems is becoming
more immediate due to the impact which is being felt not only in rural areas or by indigenous
populations but by everyone today. The ethical challenges for ASEAN are to accelerate
ethical action across borders and to ensure real implementation of ethics by governments,
companies and individuals.
In this dialogue we can also see that ethical awareness and willingness to take action is
stronger for the younger generation. ASEAN higher education will need to support this new
ethic in the classroom and also accelerate the education of experts and professionals in the
areas of sustainability and biodiversity.

117