ASEAN is now facing increasingly complex and acute disaster risks influenced by climate change. Recent events are a reminder that hazards are now more extreme, unpredictable and interconnected. The Permanent Secretary for Security and Welfare at the Ministry of Home Affairs in his speech at the opening of the ASEAN Cross-Sectoral Workshop on Enhancing Weather and Climate Information for Disaster Management stressed that in such an environment, the ability to translate weather and climate information into timely and actionable decisions is no longer an option, but a necessity.

Awang Salminan bin Haji Burut said it is a major key to saving lives, protecting livelihoods and building resilience across communities. Therefore, Brunei Darussalam recognises the importance of close coordination among disaster management, meteorological services and climate-related institutions. The workshop brought together representatives from ASEAN Member States, relevant ASEAN sectoral bodies and regional partners. This was followed by the 6th AHA Centre Information Management Network. Among those present were the High Commissioner of Canada; and the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of France to Brunei Darussalam. Held at a hotel in Gadong, the workshop was jointly hosted by the National Disaster Management Centre, NDMC of the Ministry of Home Affairs; and the AHA Centre.