Asean has differing net zero objectives
Published on: Fri, Jul 25, 2025 Text Size: According to Dr Zulfikar Yurnaidi, although Malaysia, Singapore, Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia and Vietnam have their Net Zero target by 2050, the Philippines has no specific Net Zero and Carbon Neutrality target. KUCHING: Asean Centre for Energy – Head of Energy Modelling and Policy Planning Department, Dr Zulfikar Yurnaidi said the 10 Asean countries have different Net Zero and Carbon Neutrality goals at the International Energy Week (IEW) 2025, held at the Borneo Convention Centre Kuching (BCCK) on July 15-17, 2025 dubbed 'Borneo's Biggest International Energy Expo & Summit'. Asean, as one of the region's most vulnerable to the impacts of climate change, is actively working to contribute to global commitments which are required to develop and implement Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs). As Malaysia is the Asean chair this year, can Prime Minister Dato' Seri Anwar Ibrahim convince all the ten countries to make uniform their Net Zero and Carbon Neutrality goals. According to Dr Zulfikar Yurnaidi, although Malaysia, Singapore, Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia and Vietnam have their Net Zero target by 2050, the Philippines has no specific Net Zero and Carbon Neutrality target. Meanwhile, Indonesia has its Net Zero target by 2060 or sooner, Thailand has set its Carbon neutrality by 2050 and Net Zero target by 2065. Lao PDR has set its Net Zero target by 2050 conditionally, and Myanmar has determined its Net Zero target only from forestry and other land use by 2040. The data indicates that 77 per cent of Green House Gas (GHG) emissions in Asean are primarily generated from the energy, industrial processes, and land use, including land-use change and forestry. With the energy sector being the target contributor to CO2 emissions. The energy and climate sectors are inextricably linked and mutually dependent and integrating this energy-climate nexus is vital for enhancing long-term energy security, affordability, accessibility, and sustainability. Asean's pursuit of Net Zero is a crucial effort that will shape the region's future. In the short term, progress is likely to come from energy efficiency improvements, the adoption of renewable technologies, increased use of biofuels, methane abatement, and transitioning from more polluting fossil fuels to natural gas. 'When anything changes the amount of carbon in one reservoir, the effect ripples through the others.' Looking ahead, Asean has significant opportunities in carbon capture, utilisation, and storage (CCUS), further expansion of renewable energy, and deeper integration of biofuels. These strategies will be essential to achieving the net-zero goals of Asean countries. * Follow us on our official WhatsApp channel and Telegram for breaking news alerts and key updates! * Do you have access to the Daily Express e-paper and online exclusive news? Check out subscription plans available.
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