The ministry’s deputy secretary-general (energy) Mareena Mahpudz said the region had already made notable progress, particularly in the power sector where countries were working towards their net-zero targets.
She said several Asean countries, such as Malaysia and Singapore, aimed to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050, while others such as Indonesia and Thailand had set targets for 2060 and 2065, respectively.
“Even now, Malaysia has already achieved its target for this year. We were supposed to reach 31% by the end of the year, but it’s already close to 32%,” Mareena told FMT, referring to the share of renewable energy in Malaysia’s installed power capacity.
At the regional level, the Asean Plan of Action for Energy Cooperation (APAEC) sets out a long-term goal of achieving net-zero emissions by 2050, with a strong focus on expanding renewable energy and reducing reliance on fossil fuels.
Asean has committed to achieving a 23% share of renewables in its total primary energy mix by this year.
While current figures sit at around 14.4%, Mareena said efforts were being scaled up across the region to close the gap — through greater investment in renewable energy, improved energy efficiency, and the adoption of clean technologies.
This regional push was reinforced during the 43rd Asean Senior Officials’ Meeting on Energy, held from June 16-18, which laid the groundwork for the second phase of the APAEC roadmap.
Mareena also highlighted the launch of the Asean Power Grid (APG) Financing Facility under Malaysia’s chairmanship, a platform aimed at mobilising funding for cross-border energy projects and accelerating the region’s clean energy transition.
“It’s a collaboration between financial institutions, the economic sector, and the energy sector. It can help attract more investors to the region and support local industries.”
She added that the facility had already attracted support from Bank Negara Malaysia, the Asian Development Bank, and the World Bank.
“We have also received interest from the European Commission, Japan Bank for International Cooperation, Islamic Development Bank and several Chinese banks too.”
Mareena said Asean was also working to strengthen the region’s clean energy infrastructure — including solar panel manufacturing and battery storage — to meet rising demand and build a more self-sustaining green economy.
“It’s challenging, but I believe moving forward it will be very successful, and we can achieve the targets we’ve set for the region,” she said.