Photo 1. (Left to right) Beathe Øgård, Charge d’Affaires, Royal Norwegian Embassy in Jakarta; Dato’ Ir. Ts. Razib Dawood, Executive Director of ACE, Prof. Eniya Listiani Dewi, Director General of New, Renewable Energy and Conservation, Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources of Indonesia; Anobha Gurung, Deputy Programme Director of Energy, Global Methane Hub; James Garvie, Fossil Fuel Advisor, United Nations Climate & Clean Air Coalition (CCAC)
Jakarta, 17 July 2026 – The ASEAN Centre for Energy (ACE), in collaboration with the Global Methane Hub (GMH), the Climate & Clean Air Coalition, and the ASEAN Climate Change and Energy Project (ACCEPT), has convened the ASEAN Methane Week from 13 to 16 July 2026 in Jakarta, Indonesia. Held under the theme “Advancing Energy-Climate and Net Zero Pathways,” the event brought together approximately 300 participants across four days, comprising representatives from energy, non-energy ministries, and agencies (including environment and climate, finance and investment, national development planning, etc.), financial and development banks, think tanks, energy companies, regional governmental organisations, and international organisations, all coming together in a shared effort to accelerate methane emissions reduction and advance net-zero across the region. The event is supported by the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and co-hosted by the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources of Indonesia (ESDM).
While fossil fuels still accounts for 84% of the region's total energy supply and will remain an important part of ASEAN’s energy mix, ASEAN is among the world’s most climate-vulnerable regions. Therefore, for ASEAN, it is not a choice between energy security and climate action, as the region must deliver both.
Methane, a short-lived yet potent climate pollutant with a Global Warming Potential 82.5 times greater than carbon dioxide over a 20-year period, represents one of the most actionable levers for near-term climate mitigation and one that demands coordinated regional action. Methane mitigation offers one of the fastest, cheapest, and simplest ways to slow global warming.
This momentum is now supported by ASEAN’s new regional energy blueprint, the ASEAN Plan of Action for Energy Cooperation (APAEC) 2026-2030, which was endorsed by ASEAN energy ministers last year. The blueprint includes dedicated Action Plans to reduce methane emissions from oil, gas, and coal activities. This builds on the regional consensus reflected in the Joint Media Statements of the 42nd and 43rd ASEAN Ministers on Energy Meeting (AMEM), which welcomed methane emissions abatement initiatives in the energy sector and recognised methane emission management as part of regional gas sustainability efforts.
Collectively, these developments mark a pivotal shift in that energy security and climate mitigation are no longer separate policy domains but must be pursued simultaneously to meet ASEAN’s commitments under the Paris Agreement, SDG 7, SDG 13, and the Global Methane Pledge.
In response to these challenges, the ASEAN Methane Week served as a platform where key stakeholders can exchange insights and best practices, with each panel session building towards concrete commitments on methane emissions reduction and decarbonisation.
The week commenced on 13 July with the ASEAN Energy & Climate Conference: Methane Management and Net Zero Pathways, the only session open to the public across the four-day event. Discussions explored where the greatest opportunities lie, pointing out that much of the region's oil and gas sector could cut its methane emissions at little to no extra cost, making methane action practical for the climate sector. Panellists are in the consensus that while ASEAN countries are making progress on methane emissions, gaps still remain, and a stronger call to develop methane-specific target and policies, deploying abatement technologies, and smarter financing schemes must be done- all of which was explored in the Conference.
On 14 July, the ASEAN Energy Sector High-Level Dialogue on Methane Mitigation and Net-Zero convened senior government officials, industry representatives, and international organisations, to exchange perspectives on the challenges and opportunities of methane reduction. The discussion underscored that ASEAN needs to move quickly from methane commitments to practical implementation to remain on track with the Global Methane Pledge 2030 target, in which seven (7) ASEAN countries are signatories to. It was also agreed that new regional initiatives need not to be established, rather the existing initiatives must be intensified.
The ASEAN Cross-Ministerial Interactive Workshop on Energy-Climate Nexus was held in the afternoon following the dialogue. It gathered representatives from ministries responsible for energy, environment / climate, finance / investment, national development, and industry for an interactive session and focus group discussion. The Interactive Workshop enabled different ministries to regroup, remap, and discuss their cross-cutting issues to foster greater cross-ministerial collaboration on net-zero in the energy sector
On 15 July, the ASEAN Energy Sector Methane Stakeholders' Coordination Meeting was convened. This is the first regional coordination meeting that gathered all think tanks, international organisations, intergovernmental organisations, philanthropy organisations, and development banks to talk about their current and planned initiatives on methane emissions management in the energy sector. The Meeting reaffirmed and renewed the collective global commitment to reduce methane emissions.
The week concluded on 16 July with the Preparatory Dialogue of the newly established ASEAN Coal Methane Program (A-CH4MP). The A-CH4MP platform aims to turn coal methane awareness into action by equipping ASEAN policymakers, regulators, and industry stakeholders with the knowledge, data, and technical tools, and institutional capacity needed, with ACE serving as Secretariat. The dialogue discussed the importance to address coal mine methane in ASEAN, and shapes the A-CHAMP implementation pathways.
“Our country [Indonesia] has diverse energy resources, and a roadmap towards Net Zero Emissions has been carefully developed with strong optimism. What we need to do in the Asia region is to strengthen cooperation, regional dialogue, and close collaboration, as these are essential to achieving our shared goals,” said Prof. Eniya Listiani Dewi, Director General of New, Renewable Energy and Energy Conservation, Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources Indonesia in her keynote speech.
“Methane is no longer seen as simply an environmental issue. It is an energy issue. An economic issue. A security issue. And ultimately, a regional cooperation issue. Methane mitigation offers one of the most practical and cost-effective opportunities to do exactly that, and this ASEAN Methane Week serves as a timely opportunity to turn discussions into practical action towards a net-zero future,” said Dato’ Ir. Ts. Razib Dawood, Executive Director of ACE.
“The Global Methane Hub commends participants of ASEAN Methane Week for gathering to discuss how practices like ending wasteful flaring, venting, and leaks from fossil fuel infrastructure can reduce dependencies on imported fossil fuels. For ASEAN countries exporting fossil fuels, taking action to establish and implement meaningful methane regulations will ensure smoother market access and global competitiveness while also helping to deliver on Nationally Determined Contributions and the region's plan of action for energy cooperation,” said Sarah Ann Smith, Energy Director of the Global Methane Hub (GMH).
“We welcome this ASEAN Methane Week that brings home the urgency and opportunity to address methane, and makes methane action part of ASEAN’s energy transition. The Climate and Clean Air Coalition supports regional leadership and country ambition by connecting partners, knowledge, and finance to help turn super pollutant reduction into economic opportunity,” said Martina Otto, Head of Secretariat Climate & Clean Air Coalition (CCAC).
“We are pleased to see methane reduction included as a specific priority in ASEAN's new regional energy framework. For Norway, methane reduction is one of the most effective actions available to slow global warming in the near term. That is why Norway supports the Global Methane Pledge, serves on the Board of the Climate and Clean Air Coalition, and actively promotes international cooperation on methane reduction across the energy sector,” said Beathe Øgård, Charge d’Affaires, Royal Norwegian Embassy in Jakarta.
Building on the momentum generated throughout the week, ASEAN and its partners will continue advancing collaborative efforts to accelerate methane mitigation across the energy sector. The discussions, partnerships, and recommendations emerging from ASEAN Methane Week are expected to chart and ignite the implementation of APAEC 2026-2030, strengthen regional coordination on methane-related initiatives, and support the development of practical solutions that contribute to ASEAN’s energy security, climate goals, and net-zero aspirations.
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