Photo 1. (left-right) Jean-Pierre Marcelli, Southeast Asia Regional Director of Agence Française de Développement (AFD) and Dr. Nuki Agya Utama, Executive Director of ASEAN Centre for Energy

Jakarta, 10 June 2024 – The ASEAN Centre for Energy (ACE) is pleased to announce a grant agreement with the Agence Française de Développement (AFD) marking the launch of PEEB ASEAN, a regional initiative of the Partnership for Energy Efficiency in Buildings, as part of the ASEAN-France Development Partnership. The grant agreement, signed on 10 June 2024 at ASEAN Headquarters in Jakarta, Indonesia and witnessed by H.E. Dato’ Astanah Abdul Aziz, Deputy Secretary-General (DSG) of ASEAN for Political-Security Community and H.E. Fabien Penone, Ambassador of France to Indonesia, Timor-Leste and ASEAN, marks a significant partnership between ACE and AFD, underlining a shared dedication to sustainable development and climate action within the ASEAN region.

PEEB ASEAN will support the transition of the building sector towards improved energy and environmental performance, resilience to the effects of climate change, enhanced energy efficiency, and reduced energy consumption in the ASEAN building sector in line with AFD’s energy transition strategy. These initiatives are expected to significantly contribute to ASEAN’s energy efficiency goal of a 32% reduction in energy intensity by 2025, as outlined in the ASEAN Plan of Action for Energy Cooperation (APAEC) Phase II: 2021-2025. This will particularly accelerate the region’s transition towards a more sustainable energy future and the global net-zero emission target.

Photo 2. (left-right) Jean-Pierre Marcelli, Southeast Asia Regional Director of Agence Française de Développement (AFD); H.E. Fabien Penone, Ambassador of France to Indonesia, Timor-Leste and ASEAN; H.E. Dato’ Astanah Abdul Aziz, Deputy Secretary-General (DSG) of ASEAN for Political-Security Community; and Dr. Nuki Agya Utama, Executive Director of ASEAN Centre for Energy

H.E. Fabien Penone, Ambassador of France to ASEAN, welcomed the signing of the grant agreement, underlining that “the launch of the PEEB ASEAN Initiative constitutes a major step in the implementation of the ASEAN-France Development partnership. It is a testimony of the fruitful and mutually beneficial cooperation between France and ASEAN, which are strongly committed to advancing a sustainable development agenda in line with the Paris Agreement while promoting inclusive growth and prosperity”.

Dr. Nuki Agya Utama, Executive Director of ASEAN Centre for Energy, expressed his enthusiasm about the partnership, stating, “We are immensely grateful for the support from AFD. This grant is not just a fund; it is a catalyst that will enable us to advance the promotion of high energy and environmental performance standards in the building sector by strengthening national and regional frameworks and policies through capacity building of ASEAN Member States and stakeholders. This includes support for the financing of energy-efficient building projects in ASEAN Member States. Through the Programme Energy Efficiency in Building in ASEAN (PEEB-ASEAN) programme, we aim to set a benchmark for energy efficiency that could serve as an aspirational model for similar initiatives globally.”

Jean-Pierre Marcelli, Southeast Asia Regional Director of Agence Française de Développement (AFD), also highlighted the initiative’s importance, saying, “Investing in building energy efficiency in ASEAN is not only an environmental necessity but also an economic opportunity. By reducing energy consumption and CO2 emissions, we are laying the foundation for sustainable and resilient growth in the region. The PEEB-ASEAN program exemplifies our commitment to supporting ASEAN countries in their transition to greener and more energy-efficient building practices.”

Anna Zinecker, Acting Head of PEEB Secretariat, “With today’s signature, we are excited to advance our mission of promoting sustainable building practices in the rapidly growing ASEAN region. Decarbonizing the building sector and enhancing resilience to climate impacts are crucial as urbanization accelerates and climate challenges intensify. PEEB’s successful combination of project finance and policy support will help partner countries to scale up and speed the transformation of the buildings sector. This initiative is a key step in PEEB and ASEAN’s commitment not only to the ASEAN energy and energy efficiency goals, but also to global climate targets. Besides reducing emissions, improving energy efficiency and building will also enhance the quality of life and living conditions for communities across the region.”

Within the 4-year project period, the grant agreement underscores a commitment to enhancing energy efficiency in ASEAN’s building sector and advancing sustainable development practices. This collaboration is a testament to the aligned objectives of ACE and AFD in promoting environmental resilience and sustainable growth. Through this initiative, significant strides are expected towards achieving the energy and environmental goals of the ASEAN region, exemplifying a model of international cooperation and strategic partnership.

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About ASEAN Centre for Energy (ACE)

Established on 1 January 1999, the ASEAN Centre for Energy (ACE) is an intergovernmental organisation within the Association of Southeast Asian Nations’ (ASEAN) structure that represents the 10 ASEAN Member States’ (AMS) interests in the energy sector. ACE supports the implementation of the ASEAN Plan of Action for Energy Cooperation (APAEC), a blueprint for ASEAN energy sector. The Centre is guided by a Governing Council composed of Senior Officials on Energy from each AMS and a representative from the ASEAN Secretariat as an ex-officio member.

The three key roles of ACE:

• As a catalyst to unify and strengthen ASEAN energy cooperation and integration by implementing relevant capacity building programmes and projects to assist the AMS develop their energy sector.
• As the ASEAN energy data centre and knowledge hub to provide a knowledge repository for the AMS.
• As an ASEAN energy think tank to assist the AMS by identifying and surfacing innovative solutions for ASEAN’s energy challenges on policies, legal & regulatory frameworks and technologies.

Keeping the region’s improvement, sustainable and harmless to the ecosystem is a fundamental concern of the ASEAN energy sector. Hosted by the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources of Indonesia, ACE’s office is located in Jakarta, Indonesia. For more information on ACE website: aseanenergy.org

For further information, please contact:

• Rinda Rufaidah, Communications Specialist of ASEAN Centre for Energy (ACE): [email protected]

About Française de Développement (AFD)

The Agence Française de Développement (AFD) Group funds, supports and accelerates the transition to a fairer and more sustainable world. Focusing on climate, biodiversity, peace, education, urban development, health and governance, our teams carry out more than 4,200 projects in France’s overseas departments and territories and another 150 countries. In this way, we contribute to the commitment of France and French people to support the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

For more information on AFD, please visit the website: https://www.afd.fr/en

About Partnership for Energy Efficiency in Buildings (PEEB)

The Partnership for Energy Efficiency in Buildings (PEEB) is transforming the buildings and construction sector through financing, policy support and capacity building with the vision to achieve a low-emissions and a climate-resilient built environment. PEEB was initiated in 2016, at COP22 by Germany and France and it is catalysed by the Global Alliance for Buildings and Construction (GlobalABC). PEEB taps into the expertise of its implementing agencies : Agence Française de Développement (AFD), Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ), and Agence de l’Environnement et de la Maîtrise de l’Energie (ADEME).

For more information, please visit the website or contact [email protected].