ASEAN leaders have reaffirmed a unified commitment to accelerating the region’s transition toward carbon neutrality, outlining a comprehensive roadmap to secure sustainable economic growth by 2030.
In a chair’s statement released Saturday, the regional bloc highlighted the ASEAN Regional Investment Action Plan 2025–2030, a strategic framework designed to draw foreign capital into green initiatives.
The plan focuses on high-impact sectors including carbon capture, biofuels, solar equipment, and sustainable construction materials.
“We noted that this will help position ASEAN as a single investment destination for sustainable investment, while accelerating the region’s green transition and inclusive economic growth,” the statement read.
To bolster energy security, the bloc is fast-tracking the ASEAN Plan of Action for Energy Cooperation 2026–2030. This initiative introduces ambitious new benchmarks for the decade, including a 40% reduction in energy intensity and ensuring renewable energy makes up 45% of the region’s installed power capacity.
“We welcomed the new aspirational 2030 targets… underscoring ASEAN’s collective resolve to build a more sustainable, competitive regional energy system,” the chair noted.
Beyond energy, the leaders emphasized the “transformative potential” of the ASEAN Strategy for Carbon Neutrality Work Plan. This strategy aims to decarbonize regional value chains, making the bloc a primary destination for green investments.
The summit also turned its focus to the “Blue Economy,” with leaders working to finalize a 2026–2030 implementation plan to sustainably harness marine and freshwater resources.
“We acknowledged the regional commitment to harness the potential of our marine, ocean, seas, and freshwater resources through ongoing efforts to finalize the Roadmap of the ASEAN Blue Economy Implementation Plan 2026–2030,” the statement concluded.