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The report assesses the current state of critical mineral supply chains across ASEAN Member States, highlighting the region's role as a major producer of nickel, tin, and rare earths. It examines the impact of the energy transition and digital revolution, analyzing value chain stages from exploration to recycling. The study emphasizes the potential for regional integration, particularly in electric vehicle (EV) and battery manufacturing, while cautioning on the need for robust environmental, social, and governance (ESG) standards to attract investment and ensure sustainable development.

The report highlights how gender and intersectional dimensions are rarely integrated into air pollution policy in the ASEAN region due to a lack of disaggregated data. It argues that gender influences exposure patterns—with women often facing higher household pollution and men facing higher occupational exposure—and calls for a 'data revolution' to identify vulnerable groups and design targeted mitigation measures.

The document analyzes the vulnerability of the ASEAN region to climate change and evaluates the current mitigation and adaptation strategies of its member states. It argues that while ASEAN countries have ambitious Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), there is a significant disconnect between climate goals and trade policy. The author recommends reducing tariffs and non-tariff barriers on environmental goods, reforming fossil fuel subsidies, and utilizing WTO flexibilities for technology transfer to bridge this gap.

The Japanese green bond market continued to grow in 2021, led by financial corporates. Buildings and energy are the primary sectors for use of proceeds. The report also highlights the emergence of sustainability-linked and transition bonds, alongside a comprehensive suite of government guidelines and central bank initiatives to promote climate-related financial disclosures and transition finance.

The report evaluates transition planning among ASEAN companies in sectors like cement, steel, and chemicals against the Climate Bonds Initiative's 'Five Hallmarks' of a credibly transitioning company. It finds that while net-zero commitments are increasing, most plans are fragmented and lack the robust, costed, and science-based pathways necessary for a 1.5°C alignment. The document provides specific analysis of companies such as Siam Cement Group and PTT, and offers guidance on improving the credibility of sustainability-linked bonds (SLBs) by ensuring they include material emission scopes and absolute targets.

The report examines the growth of green bonds in emerging markets, identifying critical success factors such as sound regulatory frameworks, investor demand, public sector participation, and macroeconomic stability. It details barriers including underdeveloped capital markets, a lack of bankable projects, and the risk of greenwashing. The document provides a five-step issuance process and analyzes the roles of development banks and national governments in catalyzing markets. Case studies on India and Kenya illustrate different stages of market readiness, from a corporate-led leader (India) to a nascent market (Kenya), offering tailored policy advice to enhance sustainable finance flows.

The document argues that Indonesia can technically achieve a net zero power sector by 2040, which would accelerate the broader national net zero target to 2050. This transition requires phasing out unabated coal, significantly increasing annual electricity investment to USD 40 billion this decade and USD 80 billion in the next, and addressing grid flexibility and inter-regional connectivity. While the transition would result in a net gain of 265,000 jobs, it would cause 230,000 losses in coal mining, necessitating just energy transition policies. The author notes that Presidential Regulation No. 112/2022 is a positive step toward attracting renewable investment and retiring coal plants.

The report finds that while electricity demand in the 'ASEAN 5' (Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Thailand, and Viet Nam) grew by 22% from 2015 to 2021, clean energy only met 39% of this increase. Solar and wind generation remains low at 4% of the region's electricity supply, lagging behind China and India. Current national plans project solar and wind will reach 11% of the total supply by 2030, which the authors argue is insufficient to meet the 1.5-degree pathway or keep pace with rising demand, potentially leading to further reliance on coal.

The report analyzes 21 international taxonomies to provide a framework for a potential Canadian transition taxonomy, emphasizing the need for science-based thresholds to avoid greenwashing in a resource-dependent economy.

The ASEAN sustainable debt market experienced rapid growth in 2021, with GSS debt issuance reaching USD 24 billion and sustainability-linked instruments reaching USD 27.5 billion. Singapore remains the regional leader, while the green theme continues to be the most popular. The report highlights the emergence of the ASEAN Taxonomy for Sustainable Finance and the growth of local currency issuances, particularly in Singapore and Thailand.

The document discusses the relationship between corporate responsibility, human rights, and climate change, specifically focusing on how the Philippines' National Inquiry on Climate Change provides a model for understanding these synergies within the ASEAN context.

The report analyzes the vulnerability of ASEAN economies to climate transition risks, highlighting a significant reliance on fossil fuels for electricity generation. It finds that carbon-intensive sectors represent approximately 25% of corporate bond issuance in the region, with a substantial portion of loans and bonds facing refinancing risks by 2030. The authors argue that current industrial classification systems are inadequate for identifying these risks and recommend that ASEAN central banks develop comprehensive 'green' and 'brown' taxonomies to enhance climate risk disclosures and manage potential asset stranding.

The report examines the security implications of climate change in the South and East China Seas, focusing on the interplay between regional political cohesion and food prices. It presents four scenarios—ranging from high cooperation and low prices to high fragmentation and food insecurity—to illustrate potential risks, including social unrest, the failure of governance, and increased Chinese maritime aggression. The analysis emphasizes that climate change acts as a threat multiplier, exacerbating existing geopolitical tensions and socio-economic inequalities in Southeast and East Asia.

The report examines the rise of green taxonomies as classification systems to identify sustainable economic activities and reduce greenwashing. It identifies three primary development approaches: whitelist-based, technical screening criteria (TSC) based, and principle-based. A central focus is the alignment between the EU and China taxonomies via the International Platform on Sustainable Finance (IPSF) and the Common Ground Taxonomy (CGT), which aims to facilitate cross-border green capital flows. The document details how these taxonomies are implemented by regulators for mandatory disclosure and by financial intermediaries for product development and risk management.

The GCF Secretariat report for the first trimester of 2021 highlights a record funding approval of USD 1.2 billion at a single Board meeting (B.28) and a portfolio implementation rate of 73%. Key priorities include the 'DAE Action Plan' to increase funding for Direct Access Entities, the development of a Private Sector Strategy to catalyze adaptation finance, and the implementation of the 'GCF People Plan' to enhance institutional capacity. The report also details a long-term vision for collaboration with the Global Environment Facility (GEF) and efforts to secure privileges and immunities through a potential relationship with the United Nations.

The document argues that the innovative policy responses used to combat the COVID-19 pandemic can be repurposed to mitigate systemic climate-related risks. It details how prudential regulations, such as stress testing and capital buffers, and monetary instruments, including collateral frameworks and corporate financing facilities, can be 'greened' to support a sustainable recovery in the ASEAN region. The brief emphasizes the need for clear roadmaps and mandatory climate disclosures to manage both physical and transition risks.

The document describes integrated agriculture-aquaculture (IAA) systems as a circular approach to food production that recycles nutrients between crops, livestock, and fish ponds to increase productivity and reduce external inputs. It highlights IAA's potential to adapt to climate change by diversifying livelihoods and managing saltwater intrusion in coastal areas, while potentially mitigating emissions by reducing the need for synthetic fertilisers and animal feed. The text advocates for the ASEAN Technical Working Group on Agriculture and Rural Development to lead knowledge-sharing and policy integration to promote IAA adoption, emphasizing the need for capacity-building and a focus on equity for the most vulnerable farmers.

The ASEAN sustainable finance market reached a record high of USD 12.8bn in GSS bond and loan issuance in 2020. Singapore leads the region in volume, particularly through green loans for real estate, while Indonesia and Thailand show strong growth driven by sovereign issuances. The market is increasingly diversifying into sustainability-linked instruments and social bonds, although the latter remained less active in 2020. The report highlights the critical role of government support, the development of regional and national taxonomies, and the influence of Development Finance Institutions (DFIs) in scaling green infrastructure.

The document provides a stocktaking of the e-commerce JSI negotiations among 86 WTO members, highlighting how the COVID-19 pandemic accelerated digital adoption while exacerbating the digital divide. It details the establishment of ten small negotiating groups to narrow differences on issues like consumer protection and spam, while noting persistent divergence on data flows and privacy. The brief also examines the separate WTO Work Programme on E-Commerce, specifically the contentious moratorium on customs duties on electronic transmissions, and the limited progress in addressing the needs of MSMEs, LDCs, and gender equality.

The report provides a status update on the WTO's Joint Statement Initiative (JSI) on e-commerce, noting that while the COVID-19 pandemic accelerated global digital adoption, it also highlighted significant digital divides and complicated diplomatic negotiations. As of February 2021, 86 WTO members are participating in the JSI. Progress has been made in ten specialized small groups on issues such as consumer protection and electronic signatures, but deep divergences remain regarding data flows, privacy, and cybersecurity. The document also notes limited progress on provisions specifically addressing gender, least-developed countries (LDCs), and micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs).