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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.

In the first half of 2025, global solar and wind generation grew sufficiently to exceed total electricity demand growth, resulting in renewables overtaking coal in the global electricity mix for the first time. While global power sector CO2 emissions fell marginally by 0.2%, results varied by region, with emissions decreasing in China and India but increasing in the US and EU.

The report 'Global Electricity Mid-Year Insights 2025' by Ember analyzes global electricity generation from January to June 2025. It finds that solar and wind growth exceeded global demand growth, leading to renewables overtaking coal's share in the global electricity mix for the first time on record and causing power sector CO2 emissions to plateau.

This report synthesizes 30 research projects from the SUMERNET 4 All program (2018–2024) to address water insecurities in the Mekong region. It finds that water insecurity is driven by a combination of climate change, unsustainable development, and governance failures that marginalize women, ethnic minorities, and rural populations. Key interventions identified include people-centred infrastructure (e.g., rainwater harvesting, solar pumping), adaptive agricultural practices, and the co-production of knowledge through multistakeholder engagement. The report highlights critical gaps in transboundary groundwater governance and the need for more inclusive, decentralized water management models.

This briefing by the World Resources Institute (WRI) presents a financial case for climate adaptation, arguing that such investments are highly profitable and synergistic with general development goals. Based on an analysis of 320 projects, WRI finds that adaptation investments can yield significant returns through a 'triple dividend' of avoided losses, induced economic development, and additional social and environmental benefits.

A statement by the World Resources Institute (WRI) urging the European Commission to reject a proposed second delay of the EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) enforcement to December 2026, arguing that such a postponement undermines global climate commitments and businesses that have already invested in compliance.

This report by the Climate Policy Initiative analyzes the scale and diversity of the forest-climate nexus across 91 tropical countries. It quantifies forest extent, carbon stocks, and deforestation rates to argue for differentiated, fit-for-purpose policy strategies rather than a one-size-fits-all approach. The analysis concludes that there is no inherent trade-off between forest conservation and economic development.

The China Energy Transition Review 2025 by Ember analyzes China's rapid shift toward clean energy and electrification, detailing how its domestic policies and manufacturing scale are driving down global costs and pushing global fossil fuel demand toward a structural decline.

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 policy brief evaluates hydrogen-based power generation in Southeast Asia, arguing that while renewable hydrogen is useful for seasonal storage and peaking, the current trend of co-firing in coal and gas plants in countries like Indonesia, Thailand, and Viet Nam is cost-inefficient and risks prolonging fossil fuel reliance. It recommends prioritizing renewable energy and grid infrastructure to lower costs and boost global competitiveness.

This research paper by Poppy S. Winanti analyzes the responses of ASEAN member states to unprecedented U.S. tariffs imposed starting in April 2025. The author details how countries like Indonesia, Malaysia, Vietnam, and Thailand have prioritized pragmatic negotiation and market diversification over retaliation due to their heavy export reliance on the U.S. market, while Singapore has adopted a cautious wait-and-see approach.

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 report by the International Institute for Sustainable Development examines the role of state-owned power companies (SPCs) in driving clean energy transitions within emerging markets and developing economies, featuring case studies from India, Indonesia, South Africa, and Viet Nam.

This report by the Green Guarantee Group (GGG) provides a roadmap to scale the use of green guarantees to mobilize private capital for climate action in emerging markets and developing economies (EMDEs). It identifies systemic barriers—including regulatory constraints under the Basel Framework, currency risks, and data gaps—and proposes four primary recommendations to optimize guarantees as a catalytic investment tool to help meet global climate finance targets.

This report evaluates the economic, social, and environmental benefits of planting a 70-hectare mangrove belt in Vietnam's DEEP C Industrial Zone to mitigate flood and erosion risks.

This research paper evaluates the potential for Nigeria to establish a Country Platform for Climate Action (CPCA) to address a significant climate financing gap. It analyzes the Just Energy Transition Partnerships (JETPs) in other nations as a model, suggesting that Nigeria should adopt a more inclusive approach that integrates resilience, industrial growth, and social equity alongside energy transition.

This expert note by the World Resources Institute examines country platforms as mechanisms to align public and private, national and international finance behind country-led climate, nature, and development plans. It identifies six key elements for effective platforms and details the specific roles and responsibilities of domestic institutions, international public institutions, and private finance providers in implementing these frameworks.

This research paper introduces the Adaptation Triple Dividend of Resilience (AdapTDR) database, evaluating 320 adaptation investments across 12 countries to demonstrate that climate adaptation yields high economic, social, and environmental returns beyond simple loss avoidance.

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.