Southeast Asia's Clean Energy Transition / Vietnam

Sold-out long-term liquified natural gas contracts and project delays may force a rethink for the Philippines, Vietnam and Thailand to rely on previously-forecasted LNG growth, according to a report by global think tank IEEFA.

While the world made some progress in 2022 to address climate change and protect nature, much remains to be done to overcome entrenched interests.

From Asia becoming a key fossil fuel provider to high-tech agriculture, these are the trends that could reshape society and business as the world navigates global uncertainty borne out of the Russian-led conflict in Ukraine.

Floods, heatwaves and landslides now dominate as their top three concerns, as direct impacts from weather extremities are increasingly felt. The climate outlook survey also reflects hesitancy among Southeast Asians to phase out coal immediately.

Southeast Asian countries should carefully weigh the economic and environmental impacts of unilateral climate policies like the European Union’s Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM).

Bangkok-based PR agency Vero says there's no excuse for working for fossil fuel brands — even those pivoting to clean energy. "We're in a crisis. There is no time for a journey," says Vero CEO Brian Griffin.

Asia is braced for the rapid deployment of renewables, but if poorly planned, the energy transition could put areas of high biodiversity at risk. Bird conservationists have launched a new tool that could help developers avoid killing birds that are unable to see power lines and wind turbines.

Exclusive The paper giant is aiming to rein in its massive carbon footprint in line with the Indonesian government's own net-zero target. Environmentalists fret that the company's aim to triple production and its continued operation on carbon-rich peatlands contradict its decarbonisation goals.

Environmental sustainability is top of the bloc’s latest agenda and investors are keen to finance Asean’s climate goals. There is, however, a severe lack of ‘bankable projects’, say observers.

Consumers in Southeast Asia's largest economies are increasingly likely to switch to green products over fears that climate change will impact the lives of young people, according to a study by United Overseas Bank.

Realising it’s now or never, the global gas industry is making a determined push to develop infrastructure across Asia as climate targets tighten and renewables become more competitive.

EB Studio Brian Byrne, senior vice president of Siemens Energy in Asia-Pacific speaks to Eco-Business about the importance of improving energy efficiency, the challenges of satisfying racing demand for power in Asia and the promise of green hydrogen.