Articles
LNG Investments Expand Gas Fleets in Japan, China and South Korea
Despite the urgent need to transition away from fossil fuels, global investments in LNG shipping are soaring, locking in decades of emissions and risking stranded assets. Experts warn that building new LNG carriers is both climate-destructive and economically unsustainable, emphasising the importance of shifting investments toward renewables to meet climate targets and ensure financial stability.
The 46th ASEAN Summit Ends With Pledges For Climate Action and Plans For More Fossil Fuels
The 46th ASEAN Summit in Kuala Lumpur concluded with numerous positives for regional cooperation and strengthened connections with China and other developed Asian nations. However, it also revealed that, despite all the talk about protecting communities from the impacts of climate change, leaders are determined to continue relying on fossil fuels.
China’s CO2 Emissions Fall For the First Time
China's accelerated renewable energy deployment has allowed it to slash emissions and unlock the numerous benefits of the green energy transition, giving Southeast Asian nations a push to recognise and capitalise on the benefits of decarbonising their economies — from cost-cutting and energy security to ensuring a liveable future.
Vietnam’s Solar Energy Boom: Lighting Up the Future
Vietnam has undergone one of the largest solar booms in Asia. This boom results from favourable government policies, rapidly growing energy demand and ideal conditions for solar energy. The country's updated Power Development Plan 8 will continue this trajectory, with solar making up most of the country's energy supply by 2050.
When Emission Cuts Are Just Paperwork – The Cookstove Credits Backed by Korean Companies [Op-Ed]
Major Korean companies, including Samsung and SK Group, are backing carbon offset projects that significantly overstate their emission reductions—by an average factor of 18.3. This widespread over-crediting not only undermines global climate efforts but risks turning corporate ESG pledges into nothing more than greenwashing.
Southeast Asia Oil and Gas Extraction to Escalate, Decarbonisation Goals in Jeopardy
The Southeast Asia region faces a decade of final investment decisions for gas extraction projects, further complicating its decarbonisation goals. The silver lining, however, is that many of these projects have faced years of delay and need to be reassessed.
50 Years of G7: The Group’s Climate Leadership Hinges on Japan and Its Energy Policies
The processes taking place on the domestic stage in Japan, as well as its foreign energy policy, have a direct reflection on the image of the G7, which is supposed to lead the global energy transition and the efforts to minimise the impacts of climate change and protect the most vulnerable.
IEEJ Predicts Strong Natural Gas Demand; Experts Find it Unrealistic
The IEEJ’s forecasts significantly overestimate natural gas demand and underestimate renewable potential, driven by close ties to Japanese industry and fossil fuel interests. Its projections also rely on unrealistic assumptions about CCS and emissions reductions, contradicting scientific consensus on clean energy costs and feasibility.
Solar Energy In Thailand: Policy Aspiration to Economic Engine
Solar energy is slated to be Thailand's largest renewable energy source in the coming years. It will be critical in driving the country's energy transition and achieving its decarbonisation goals. While growth has been steady, rapid deployment is needed over the next decade to make longer-term targets attainable.
What’s Next for Southeast Asia’s China-backed Solar Boom?
Despite Southeast Asia’s significant solar potential, regional barriers such as regulatory hurdles, entrenched fossil fuel interests, and supply chain limitations are slowing progress. Experts emphasise the need for market diversification and deeper involvement across the solar value chain to unlock long-term growth and competitiveness in the face of rising regional rivals.
Australia’s Federal Election 2025 and What It Means for Climate Change Agenda
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese's victory on May 3 for a second three-year term paves the way for enhanced climate policies, yet challenges include excessive regulations, costly renewables and rural opposition to wind and solar projects.
US Tariffs on Southeast Asia: What They Mean for Global Trade
From islands inhabited only by penguins to decades-long trade partners, over 90 jurisdictions were slapped with tariffs once President Trump got back at the helm of the US. While the move risks causing massive short-term instabilities, it can prove a blessing in disguise for Southeast Asia and its solar panel manufacturing industry.
IEA’s Future of Energy Security Summit Ends With a Call For Cooperation, Less Fossil Fuels and More Renewables
The Energy Security Summit ended with a strong message - energy security is a question of national security, and climate change threatens both. Parties agreed that an effective response requires increased collaboration in reducing fossil fuel import reliance and scaling up renewables.
Is the U.S. Losing Its Cleantech Edge?
The Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) has significantly boosted clean energy manufacturing, job creation and emissions reductions in the US and Asia, fostering global leadership in cleantech innovation. However, threats from the current administration aiming to dismantle these incentives could slow progress, weaken international partnerships and hinder the region’s energy transition efforts. Continuing investments and regional collaborations are crucial to maintaining momentum in the face of potential setbacks.
