Sustainability in ASEAN is advancing amid a blend of progress and obstacles. The region is increasingly embracing renewable energy sources like solar and wind, spurred by technological advancements and decreasing costs. ASEAN member states (AMS) are also collaborating on bold sustainability initiatives, such as the ASEAN Leaders' Declaration on developing a regional electric vehicle ecosystem. Thailand and Vietnam, for instance, are making significant strides in solar energy adoption, while Singapore is setting benchmarks in green building standards and pioneering urban sustainability practices. However, alongside these achievements, ASEAN faces critical challenges in ensuring sustainable growth and balancing economic development with environmental conservation, which necessitates comprehensive strategies and collaborative efforts across the region.
1. Environmental Degradation and Climate Change: Prioritising rapid economic growth frequently comes at the expense of environmental protection. For instance, a substantial portion of the world's palm oil production comes from Southeast Asia, making it a leading cause of deforestation in the region. This industry, vital for their economies, employs millions but leads to significant deforestation, which destroys habitats for endangered species and contributes to global greenhouse gas emissions by releasing stored carbon dioxide.
Additionally, AMS are highly vulnerable to climate change due to their geographical location and economic dependencies. Extreme weather events such as typhoons, floods, and droughts have become more frequent and intense, threatening agriculture, coastal areas, and urban centres. Agriculture, vital for countries like Vietnam and Myanmar, faces risks from changing weather patterns, affecting food security and increasing rural poverty. Coastal areas, especially in Indonesia and the Philippines, are threatened by sea-level rise, causing erosion and flooding. Jakarta, a megacity with 10 million residents, is sinking rapidly, highlighting the urgent need for climate adaptation.
2. Infrastructure Investment: Transitioning to renewable energy sources and developing a regional electric vehicle ecosystem present formidable challenges for ASEAN. The region must invest heavily in building and upgrading energy grids, charging stations, and manufacturing facilities, requiring significant financial resources and meticulous planning. ASEAN needs to invest approximately USD 120 billion annually from 2016 to 2030, totalling around USD 2.8 trillion, to meet its infrastructure needs in energy and transportation sectors [2]. This immense financial requirement is daunting, especially for lower-income countries within the region. Moreover, ensuring coordinated planning and implementation across diverse economies adds another layer of complexity.
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3. Urbanisation: By 2030, the region’s urban population is projected to reach nearly 405 million out of a total population of approximately 726 million, placing immense pressure on infrastructure and services [3]. This rapid growth particularly affects informal settlements and smaller cities, which often lack sufficient resources and infrastructure, thereby increasing their vulnerability to marginalisation and limiting access to crucial services like healthcare, sanitation, and education. Furthermore, rapid urbanisation exacerbates environmental challenges such as air and water pollution, waste management issues, and increased carbon emissions. These environmental impacts not only degrade urban living conditions but also contribute to broader regional and global environmental challenges, including climate change.
1. Technological Innovation: Advancements in technology, such as smart cities, Internet of Things (IoT), and Artificial Intelligence (AI), present opportunities towards sustainable practices in urban planning, transportation, and agriculture. The projected revenue in the smart cities market is anticipated to reach US$1.75 billion by 2024. Singapore's commitment to sustainability has driven widespread adoption of smart city technologies, establishing it as a primary hub for smart city innovation within ASEAN [4]. Utilising modern agritech systems can enable the region to transition to sustainable agriculture. For example, drones can monitor farm water levels, humidity, temperature, and fertiliser needs. IoT devices equipped with sensors to track real-time farm data, combined with data analytics, can assist farmers in optimising production and harvest planning [5]. Integrating technologies in agricultural science enhances farm production and management, as the adoption of plant biotechnology in countries like the Philippines, Vietnam, and Indonesia has shown substantial benefits, enhancing agricultural productivity and sustainability [6].
2. Regional Cooperation: Collaboration within ASEAN is instrumental in accelerating opportunities for cross-border investments and establishing government-to-government ground rules and protocols to advance sustainable development [7]. Initiatives like the ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community Blueprint 2025 [8] aim to integrate sustainability principles into regional policies, fostering harmonised approaches to environmental protection, resource management, and climate resilience across the ASEAN region.
Certain AMS share similar strengths that, if optimised for regional collaboration rather than competition, can lead to significant investment opportunities.
For instance, Indonesia and Thailand both excel in automotive manufacturing; thereby, in the supply chain, they can build an electric vehicle ecosystem, with Indonesia supplying electric batteries and Thailand serving as the automotive manufacturer [9]. Prioritising strengthened regional identity will present opportunities to tackle shared challenges more effectively while positioning ASEAN as a united, solidified front to global investors.
3. Renewable Energy: ASEAN is rich in renewable energy potential, including solar, wind, hydro, and geothermal resources. Harnessing these resources presents a transformative opportunity for the region to transition towards sustainable energy systems. Investing in renewable energy infrastructure not only contributes to mitigating climate change by reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions but also enhances energy security by diversifying energy sources. Moreover, the expansion of renewable energy sectors in ASEAN economies stimulates economic growth through the creation of green jobs and opportunities for local manufacturing and technological innovation.
Sustainability is a multifaceted endeavour that extends beyond national boundaries and temporal constraints. The consequences of inaction are increasingly evident, both in terms of immediate physical impacts and the long-term challenges of transitioning to sustainable practices. Yet amidst these challenges lie opportunities. Through mutual trust and collaborative efforts among ASEAN, pragmatic pathways can be forged towards a collective vision of a just and sustainable transition.
