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Smart grid investments in ASEAN could create up to 650,000 jobs and attract global industrial investment by providing reliable, low-carbon energy. To scale from current pilot projects to a regional system, the report suggests a dual-track approach: regional harmonisation of technical standards and national focus on financial cost recovery. The total investment need for the region is estimated at $4-10.7 billion.

The report outlines the investment requirements for smart grid deployment across the ASEAN region to support clean energy integration. It estimates that ASEAN needs between $4 billion and $10.7 billion in investments, depending on the chosen pathway, to improve reliability, reduce curtailment, and enable regional power trade.

This report by Ember examines the critical role of grid reliability and modernization in sustaining the economic growth of the ASEAN region. It argues that while the region has made progress in reducing outage durations, the rapid expansion of variable renewable energy (VRE) requires a transition from basic grid modernization to 'smart grids' incorporating digital intelligence and demand-side flexibility to avoid significant economic losses and energy curtailment.

This report by Ember argues that smart grids are essential for ASEAN to integrate increasing shares of renewable energy, maintain industrial competitiveness, and reduce economic losses from power outages. It estimates that investments between $4 billion and $10.7 billion are required to modernize the region's power systems, which could in turn create up to 649,000 jobs and unlock $2.3 billion in annual economic value by 2040.

This report by the Climate Policy Initiative and Convergence analyzes the enabling environment for domestic capital mobilization for climate finance in Indonesia, the Philippines, and Vietnam. It examines the barriers preventing local private investment and the potential for blended finance—using concessional capital to attract commercial investment—to bridge the financing gap for mitigation and adaptation projects.

This briefing by the Stockholm Environment Institute explores how development and climate financiers can scale up locally led adaptation (LLA) by leveraging complementarity between different funding models, building on community-led development (CLD) legacies, and integrating private sector capital.

This case study examines climate risks and the role of intangible cultural heritage in supporting the resilience of UNESCO-designated ricescapes in the Philippines and Indonesia, specifically focusing on the Ifugao and Balinese regions.

This research paper by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) argues that expanding liquefied natural gas (LNG) exports is a risky economic and environmental strategy for Canada. The authors contend that LNG fails to provide energy security for importers or economic resilience for exporters due to extreme price volatility, high infrastructure costs, and a global shift toward cheaper renewable energy. The document highlights that Canadian projects face significant competitiveness challenges against producers like the United States and Qatar, while importing regions in Europe and Asia are actively reducing their LNG demand.

This guide by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) provides a comprehensive overview of the negotiations for an international legally binding instrument (ILBI) to end plastic pollution. It details the scientific evidence of plastic's impact on human health and the environment, the history of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC) process, the contested elements of the proposed treaty, and the diverse interests of national governments and non-state stakeholders.

This report by Ember analyzes the technical and economic feasibility of achieving 24-hour solar electricity generation using solar panels paired with battery storage. It demonstrates that in sunny regions, near-continuous solar power is now cost-competitive, often cheaper than new coal or nuclear power, due to rapid declines in battery costs and the adoption of Lithium Iron Phosphate (LFP) technology.

This guide by the Climate Bonds Initiative provides a framework for investors to evaluate and engage with sovereign transition plans. It outlines key elements of credible planning, including science-based targets, detailed investment and policy roadmaps, and robust governance and transparency measures, aiming to help investors assess the long-term sustainability of sovereign asset exposures.

This guide provides a strategic playbook for concessional capital providers to mobilize investment in climate-smart agrifood systems. It identifies a significant financing gap—with global climate finance for the sector reaching only USD 95 billion in 2021/22—and proposes five 'investment plays' to address market failures. These strategies include system-level alignment with national goals, large-scale natural capital restoration, strengthening shared infrastructure, expanding technical assistance for innovation, and scaling local financial intermediaries. The document includes a four-step framework for investor action and detailed case studies of blended finance vehicles operating across Africa, Asia, and Latin America.

This report by Ember examines the energy demands and decarbonisation pathways for data centres in the ASEAN region, focusing on the intersection of AI-driven growth, tropical cooling requirements, and the availability of renewable energy.

This report examines the rapid expansion of data centres in Southeast Asia and the resulting pressure on power grids. It highlights that while the region is becoming a global hotspot for digital infrastructure, the reliance on fossil-fuel-dominated grids threatens climate targets, particularly in Malaysia, Indonesia, and the Philippines.

This report examines the impact of rapid data centre growth in ASEAN on power sector emissions, highlighting that while these facilities could account for 2% to 30% of national power demand by 2030, approximately 30% of this demand could be met by solar and wind power without battery storage. The authors argue for urgent policy interventions, energy efficiency improvements, and expanded renewable procurement options to prevent the digital boom from derailing regional energy transition goals.

This briefing analyzes public clean energy investments and climate policies from China, Japan, South Korea, and Australia within the ASEAN region, specifically focusing on Indonesia, Philippines, Thailand, Malaysia, and Vietnam. It details the dominance of China in overall public funding and specific technologies like wind and hydropower, Japan's leadership in geothermal and solar, and the strategic approaches of South Korea and Australia to integrate into the region's green economy.

This report by Ember discusses the ASEAN Power Grid (APG), a regional initiative to integrate electricity systems across Southeast Asia to maximize renewable energy potential and enhance energy security. It outlines the technical goals of the ASEAN Interconnection Master Plan Study (AIMS), the potential for unlocking additional solar and wind capacity through cross-border trade, and the institutional barriers that must be overcome to transition from bilateral trade to a cohesive regional market.

This report chapter by Ember examines the grid planning strategies of the ASEAN region, highlighting a significant gap between current national transmission expansion plans and the targets required to meet climate goals and rising electricity demand.

This report by Ember argues that modernizing and interconnecting electricity grids is the primary driver for unlocking solar and wind energy investment across ASEAN. It highlights a significant gap between current national transmission plans and the International Energy Agency's (IEA) requirements, while proposing a six-pillar framework for future-ready grid development to enhance regional energy security and economic growth.

This guide from the World Resources Institute explains the concept of 'loss and damage' in the context of climate change, detailing the distinction between economic and non-economic losses, the history of UN negotiations, and the operationalization of the Fund for Responding to Loss and Damage (FRLD).