Green Technology: The Golden Key to Southeast Asia's Sustainable Future

Green Technology is a general term for technologies, processes and products designed to minimize negative impacts on the environment. In other words, these are solutions that apply science and technology to protect the environment, use natural resources effectively and minimize pollution.

Faced with the growing threat of climate change, ASEAN countries are facing a huge challenge in reducing carbon emissions and transitioning to green energy. Growing energy demand, coupled with a heavy dependence on fossil fuels, is making the region one of the world’s largest emitters of greenhouse gases.

According to the International Energy Agency (IEA) 2022 report, the demand for fossil fuels is increasing, causing the supply to be insufficient. Therefore, green energy is the solution to provide clean energy at affordable prices, reduce emissions and ensure continuous supply for everyone.

Ms. Andrea Meza Murillo - Deputy Executive Secretary of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) said that climate change is harming our planet through droughts, floods, heat waves and other extreme weather events. Therefore, the transition from fossil fuels to renewable energy sources in ASEAN countries is essential for life here.

Reducing carbon emissions in ASEAN countries is important because emissions enter the atmosphere and contribute to global warming, disrupting plant and animal ecosystems. This affects food security, causing hunger and malnutrition, leading to more serious health problems. In addition, greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions pollute the air, causing people to suffer from respiratory diseases.

What benefits do green technology solutions bring to ASEAN countries?

ASEAN countries, with rich resources such as nickel, are becoming the world's leading manufacturing hub for clean energy solutions. Green technology, especially electric vehicles, not only helps reduce environmental pollution but also promotes economic growth. Thanks to active support policies from governments and consumer interest, the electric vehicle market in ASEAN countries is booming, expected to reach 1,871 million USD by 2028, growing 5.51% annually.

Green technology is not only a solution to environmental problems but also a driving force for economic growth in ASEAN countries. Thanks to breakthrough innovations, businesses in the region have created many high-quality jobs, attracted technology talent and opened up new markets. A typical example is vertical farming, a smart solution that optimizes land use, protects the environment and ensures food security.

Environmental pollution is becoming increasingly serious, requiring urgent solutions. Green technology has brought about breakthroughs in waste management, such as waste-to-energy (WTE) and the utilization of organic waste to create biomass. This not only reduces the amount of waste dumped into the environment but also provides a clean energy source, protects public health and minimizes the impact of climate change.

What are the barriers to the widespread adoption of green technologies in ASEAN countries?

The transition to green technology in ASEAN countries faces many difficulties. Currently, coal remains the main energy source, accounting for 40% of total electricity production. Liquefied natural gas (LNG) is seen as a potential alternative, but the Russia-Ukraine conflict has disrupted supplies and pushed up prices, limiting the fuel’s widespread application.

Despite the huge potential for growth, policies to encourage investment in clean energy are still not strong enough. According to a study by the US consulting firm Bain & Co, ASEAN countries are “going astray” in investing in green technology. The main reasons are that investors are still hesitant about short-term profits, difficulties in divestment and lack of tools to accurately evaluate investment efficiency.

In addition, infrastructure gaps and high investment costs are hindering the adoption of green technology, especially in rural areas. At the same time, population growth and rapid urbanization have exacerbated the problem of environmental pollution and waste. To address these challenges, policies to support start-ups, invest in infrastructure, and raise public awareness of the importance of environmental protection are needed.

Towards greening ASEAN

According to a report by Columbia University (USA), to achieve the goal of reducing carbon emissions, every aspect of the economy must change. That means new ideas are needed in land management practices, energy production, and the provision of goods and services.

ASEAN countries can focus on promoting energy efficiency in large buildings, using sustainable materials for construction and applying decarbonization measures.

According to the Sustainable Energy for All (SEforAll) initiative, ASEAN countries are highly vulnerable to the impacts of climate change. It is estimated that by 2050, these countries could lose up to 30% of their gross domestic product (GDP) due to climate change.

Therefore, to prevent the impacts of global warming, ASEAN countries need to promote the use of green energy to reduce emissions by 10% by 2030. To achieve the target of reducing emissions, ASEAN countries need to convert energy to clean energy sources such as solar, wind and hydropower; encourage low-carbon transportation by developing public transport, electric vehicles and clean fuel vehicles; and minimize the total amount of greenhouse gases emitted into the environment due to direct and indirect human activities.

In summary, green technology plays an important role in addressing environmental and climate change challenges in ASEAN countries. The effective application of green technology solutions will bring many benefits to the region, including environmental protection, sustainable economic development, improved public health and climate change adaptation.