Asean faces key challenge: Go green or choke on air pollution, says US energy specialist
SINGAPORE – Increasingly foul air from rapidly growing cities and industry could force South-east Asian nations to speed up the switch to cleaner sources of energy and to meet UN climate goals, says a leading energy specialist. Dr Ernest Moniz, energy secretary under former US President Barack Obama, said Asean is poised for rapid economic […]
ASEAN must switch to electric vehicles faster
While electric vehicles (EVs) continue to capture the attention of consumers in ASEAN, policies and subsidies in line with those found in countries leading the switch to EVs will make electric vehicles a more attractive proposition for the region. EVs, including hybrid electric cars, can drastically reduce carbon emissions released into the environment. Compared to conventional […]
Fighting climate change with bamboo
The world has 11 years left, as reported by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) to beef up its efforts to reduce global temperatures before it crosses the threshold leading to climate catastrophe. While ASEAN countries have expressed their joint commitment through national pledges to take action and fight climate change, they are also focusing […]
Singapore banks move to end Southeast Asia’s coal addiction
SINGAPORE — A push to end Southeast Asia’s addiction to fossil fuels is gathering pace after the region’s two biggest banks said they would stop funding coal-fired power plants. Singapore’s DBS Group Holdings said last month that it would cease financing new coal power projects from 2021 following the completion of existing projects in Indonesia and Vietnam, and […]
AC Energy eyes 2,000-MW RE projects in Asean region
AC Energy Inc. and The Blue Circle Pte. Ltd. (TBC) are committed to jointly build renewable-energy projects with around 2,000 megawatts of capacity across Southeast Asia, including 700 MW of RE projects in Vietnam. Both recently signed a shareholders’ agreement to jointly construct, own and operate the Mui Ne Wind Farm located at the Binh […]
ASEAN wants to go electric
The first image that usually springs to mind when someone mentions any Southeast Asian capital is congested roads filled with honking cars and motorcycles. Congested roads have become synonymous with Southeast Asia, and that is not going to change anytime soon. According to the latest data, vehicle sales in Southeast Asia is set to outpace […]
OCBC is Southeast Asia’s first bank to rule out funding new coal power plants
Singapore’s OCBC Bank is the first banking giant in Southeast Asia to rule out financing new coal-fired power plants. In an interview with Bloomberg on Wednesday, the bank’s chief executive Samuel Tsien said the company would no longer fund new coal-fired power plants in any country. “We hope that by doing this, we are encouraging […]
India-Asean officials meet, discuss connectivity
A two-day meeting of 21st Asean-India Senior Officials concluded here on Friday after they discussed ways to impart impetus to connectivity and deepen cooperation on financial matters. The meeting was co-chaired by Vijay Thakur Singh, Senior Officials’ Meeting Leader (SOM) and Secretary (East) in the External Affairs Ministry and Busaya Mathelin, SOM Leader and Permanent […]
