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This report examines the governance challenges facing the development of cross-border subsea power cables in ASEAN. While technical feasibility is established, the report identifies gaps in regional planning, cost allocation, and maritime coordination. Drawing on Europe's experience with the Ten-Year Network Development Plan and Cross-Border Cost Allocation, it recommends a phased approach: first operationalising the ASEAN Power Grid Generation and Transmission Planning (AGTP) function, then piloting benefit-based cost allocation, and finally strengthening cross-sectoral maritime spatial planning.

A briefing by Zero Carbon Analytics detailing Japan's role as a major trader of US liquified natural gas (LNG) to other countries, particularly in Asia, and the associated lifecycle greenhouse gas emissions.

This report by Ember argues that Asia's economic rise is intrinsically linked to the rise of electricity, shifting the global energy paradigm from resource extraction to technology manufacturing.

This fact sheet by Zero Carbon Analytics examines the global economic and energy impacts 100 days into the Iran war, specifically focusing on the closure of the Strait of Hormuz. It details spikes in oil and gas prices, disruptions to fertiliser and food supply chains, and a subsequent surge in clean energy policy and investment, particularly within Asia.

This report by Ember examines the dual challenge facing Asia-Pacific power grids: managing the variability introduced by rapid renewable energy expansion and adapting to increasing climate volatility. It argues for a shift from reactive asset-level hardening to systemic adaptation, proposing that artificial intelligence (AI) can serve as a strategic coordination layer to integrate fragmented data, link siloed analytical models, and support complex decision-making to ensure grid reliability in a warming climate.

The Global Resilience Partnership (GRP) has issued guidelines for its May 2026 Innovation Challenges, a call for proposals seeking transformative resilience solutions from entrepreneurs and organisations in the Global South. The initiative offers selected winners up to US$50,000 in funding and a comprehensive support package including mentoring, a leadership academy, and communications assistance to scale innovations that address climate and environmental risks.

This research paper by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) analyzes the misalignment of global public finance, noting that in 2024, public support for fossil fuels exceeded USD 1.2 trillion, nearly five times the USD 254 billion provided to clean energy. The report examines fossil fuel subsidies, G20 renewable energy support, state-owned enterprise (SOE) capital expenditure, and international public finance, arguing that governments must shift from blanket subsidies to targeted social protection and clean energy investment to reduce fiscal exposure and energy vulnerability.

The global electricity sector has transitioned from fossil-fuelled growth to clean growth, with clean power meeting all global demand growth in 2025. This shift is driven largely by the plateauing of fossil generation in China and the rapid scale-up of solar and wind power. Battery storage is now emerging as a critical technology to displace fossil fuels during non-daylight hours, particularly in high-solar regions.

This report by Ember analyzes global electricity demand and supply trends in 2025 and over the preceding two decades. It details the growth of low-carbon sources, specifically solar and wind, and the relative decline of fossil fuels, while noting the impact of weather and policy on national energy mixes.

This briefing from RMI and the New Energy Industrial Strategy (NEIS) Center analyzes the global energy crisis triggered by the US-Iran war. It argues that while governments are currently relying on short-term fixes like strategic reserves and subsidies, the crisis provides an opportunity to accelerate the transition to clean energy, electrification, and efficiency to reduce long-term vulnerability to volatile global fuel markets.

The research paper 'The New Twin Fossil Shock' analyzes how two major energy crises in the 2020s—the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine and the 2026 shutdown of the Strait of Hormuz—are accelerating the global transition to an 'electric age.' The authors argue that unlike the oil shocks of the 1970s, current alternatives such as solar, wind, and electric vehicles (EVs) are cost-competitive, scalable, and provide a permanent route out of fossil fuel dependency.

This report by Ember analyzes the vulnerability of Asian economies to energy supply and price shocks resulting from conflict in the Middle East, specifically focusing on the risks of fossil fuel lock-in. It argues that reliance on imported oil and LNG exposes the region to economic instability, inflation, and geopolitical fragmentation, and advocates for an accelerated transition to renewable energy and regional grid integration to ensure long-term energy security.

A briefing by Zero Carbon Analytics analyzing how Vietnam's investment in solar power mitigates the economic impact of soaring fossil fuel prices caused by a conflict in Iran, while warning that continued reliance on coal and LNG imports increases future vulnerability to price shocks.

This report by Ember examines how artificial intelligence (AI) can accelerate the integration of variable renewable energy (VRE) in ASEAN power systems. It identifies five commercially proven AI applications—forecasting, predictive maintenance, dispatch optimisation, real-time control, and dynamic line rating—that address the technical challenges of wind and solar variability to improve grid stability, reduce operational costs, and defer expensive transmission investments.

This report by Ember examines how artificial intelligence (AI) can facilitate the integration of variable renewable energy (VRE) in ASEAN power systems. It identifies five key AI applications—forecasting, predictive maintenance, dispatch optimisation, real-time control, and dynamic line rating—that can reduce operational costs and emissions. While the region shows strong AI readiness, adoption is currently fragmented and limited to pilot projects. The report estimates that widespread AI adoption could save up to $67 billion and reduce CO2 emissions by nearly 400 million tonnes by 2035.

This research paper by the International Institute for Sustainable Development examines the disconnect between trade policy and climate change adaptation, arguing that 'international technology transfer' remains an abstract concept rather than a practical reality. It proposes aligning trade negotiations with National Adaptation Plans (NAPs) and Technology Needs Assessments (TNAs) to ensure developing countries can access context-specific hardware, software, and orgware necessary for climate resilience.

This briefing by Zero Carbon Analytics examines whether increasing liquefied natural gas (LNG) imports can guarantee energy security for Southeast Asian nations. While ASEAN members are investing USD 20.4 billion in LNG infrastructure to meet rising demand and declining domestic supplies, the document argues that this dependence exposes the region to geopolitical supply shocks, price volatility, and competition with Europe. It suggests that investing in domestic renewable energy, upgrading grids, and accelerating the ASEAN Power Grid would provide a more resilient and secure energy future.

This policy brief by Ember examines the financing landscape for ASEAN's energy transition, highlighting a significant investment gap and the varying roles of bilateral partners like China, Japan, and the United States. It argues that the Philippines' 2026 ASEAN Chairmanship provides a strategic opportunity to coordinate regional industrial strategies—such as Indonesia's nickel downstreaming and Viet Nam's solar manufacturing—to move the region up the clean energy value chain.

The report 'The EV leapfrog' by Ember analyzes global electric vehicle (EV) trends in 2025, highlighting how emerging markets in Southeast Asia and Latin America are rapidly increasing EV adoption and overtaking advanced economies like the US and Japan in sales shares.

This executive summary, published in December 2025 by the Climate Bonds Initiative and Climate Policy Initiative, provides a framework of best-practice measures for incorporating methane abatement into sustainable finance taxonomies. It identifies specific technical and performance criteria across four high-potential sectors—energy, agriculture, solid waste, and wastewater—to help policymakers and investors direct capital toward cost-effective methane mitigation.