ASEAN Must Act Collectively To Confront Climate Change, Advance Clean Energy

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 21 (Bernama) -- ASEAN member states must act collectively to confront climate change and advance clean energy transition, said chairman of CARI ASEAN Research and Advocacy president, ASEAN Business Club Tan Sri Dr Munir Majid. 

He said sustainable progress depends on shared responsibility and strong regional cooperation.

“The 47th Summit will not solve our (ASEAN) sustainability problems. We will have to solve them, and we have to cooperate to solve them together.

“Sustainable Development Goal 17 (partnerships for the goals) says joint partnership to resolve problems. People have to be partners in solving problems, home to home, business to business, country to country, community to community,” he said during Bernama TV’s The Nation programme titled Malaysia at the Heart of ASEAN’s Sustainable Future.

He said Malaysia continues to lead regional sustainability efforts through concrete policies and catalytic energy projects, as Malaysia’s experience and leadership had placed it at the forefront of ASEAN’s sustainability movement.

Munir said Malaysia had incorporated the United Nations’ 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) within its national development agenda beginning with the 11th Malaysia Plan, continuing into the current 12th Plan and will remain central in the upcoming 13th Malaysia Plan.

He said achieving all 17 goals is not easy but Malaysia’s progress and commitment are clear through regular national reporting to international bodies.

Munir said ASEAN energy ministers have endorsed the ASEAN Plan of Action for Energy Cooperation (APAEC) 2026–2030 last week, demonstrated the region’s collective commitment to advancing clean energy development, though implementation capacity differs among member states.

He also said sustainable energy transition remained one of the most critical factors for ASEAN’s long-term development, as Malaysia had already embarked on major projects under its energy transition framework introduced in 2022.

“We have the Renewable Energy Transition Roadmap. We have an energy transition policy… we have projects, catalytic effect projects, some of the energy transition plans.

“For example, we have one of the largest solar farms in ASEAN. We have also hybrid farms, hydro with solar together, like we have in Klang Gate Dam. In Sarawak, there are massive hydropower and green energy projects,” he said. 

He also said efforts were also underway to establish an ASEAN Power Grid, linking energy resources across borders.

-- BERNAMA