Temasek’s chief executive Dilhan Pillay says lawyers will be integral in shaping governance standards and legal frameworks for ESG (environmental, social and governance).

This update provides an overview of the renewable energy landscape in the region and certain salient legal and regulatory issues affecting the development and deployment of RE in Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.

World's top court is set to give first-ever opinion on states' legal obligations on issue.

The International Energy Agency (IEA) is joining forces with Singapore to establish its first regional office outside Paris, named the Regional Cooperation Centre, with operations expected to commence in the second half of 2024. 

The Ministry of Environment and Forestry in Indonesia, in collaboration with the Indonesia Environment Fund (BPDLH), is developing a loan scheme to support social entrepreneurs involved in waste management, waste banks, and community-based waste initiatives.

On 8 December 2023, the Ministry of Trade and Industry issued a press release announcing that Singapore and Papua New Guinea signed an implementation agreement on carbon credits cooperation under Article 6 of the Paris Agreement. This marks the first implementation agreement for Singapore. The Agreement sets out a legally binding framework and processes for the generation and international transfer of carbon credits aligned with Article 6 of the Paris Agreement, between Singapore and Papua New Guinea.

This article aims to provide an overview on the licensing regime for electric vehicles (“EV”) charging operators (“EVCOs”) and certification requirements that EV chargers would have to meet under the Electric Vehicles Charging Act 2022, which aims to regulate devices intended for charging EVs, operators of charging stations and providers of charging services for EVs.

Vietnam is promoting the development of a carbon credit market to tap into its immense potential for carbon absorption from expanding forests. Carbon credits allow businesses to offset their emissions by purchasing permits representing tonnes of stored CO2.

The Catalytic Funding Program, officially launched by the Environmental Fund Management Agency (BPDLH) in partnership with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), garnered attention for its potential to augment companies' adherence to environmental, social, and governance (ESG) criteria, according to Suahasil Nazara, Deputy Minister of Finance.

Experts emphasise that adopting high sustainability standards within the agricultural sector exerts pressure and creates opportunities for gaining a competitive edge.

President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) highlighted the immense opportunity for Indonesia to prioritise investment in green energy and environmentally friendly blue energy, signalling a pivotal strategy to advance equitable national development.

The Digital Economy and Society Ministry of Thailand has embarked on a "Go Cloud First" initiative to appeal to foreign cloud and data centre providers for Thailand's Foreign Direct Investment (FDI).

Bursa Malaysia Securities Bhd has launched the Bursa Malaysia ESG Reporting Platform to serve as a repository for disclosures adhering to the prescribed format stipulated under Bursa Malaysia’s enhanced sustainability reporting requirements introduced on September 26, 2022.

The Nusantara Capital Authority (OIKN) and Pertamina New & Renewable Energy (Pertamina NRE) recently entered into a joint study agreement during the 28th Conference of the Parties (COP28) to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change in Dubai to support nature- and ecosystem-based solutions (NEBS).

As global initiatives aim for carbon neutrality, financial institutions, especially banks, face increasing pressure to reduce carbon emissions linked to their lending and underwriting activities.

The Archipelagic and Island States (AIS) Forum, which was established in 2018 as an international partnership for innovative solutions to challenges faced by island nations, is set to host its 1st High-Level Meeting in Bali, Indonesia, on 10 and 11 October 2023.

Malaysia's Investment, Trade, and Industry Minister, Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Abdul Aziz, has launched the national industry environmental, social, and governance (i-ESG) framework.

Indonesia has received a grant of Rp514 billion (approximately £27.2 million) from the United Kingdom to support the second phase of the Low Carbon Development Initiative (LCDI).

Dharsono Hartono, the Head of the Net Zero Hub of the Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Kadin), is optimistic that Indonesia can become a leader in the carbon market within ASEAN and make significant strides in reducing the impact of climate change.

According to Ngo Chung Khanh, Deputy Director General of the Multilateral Trade Policy Department at Vietnam's Ministry of Industry and Trade, the EU-Viet Nam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA) includes a dedicated chapter on sustainable development, covering environmental and labour-related issues.