July-August. 2025 | @ green ASEANSUMMIT 2025 21

Heart of regional growth

Leaders reinforced sustainability as a regional priority by launching initiatives like the ASEAN Power Grid Financing Framework and Sustainable Investment Guidelines.

SUSTAINABILITY took centre stage as leaders from ASEAN ' s 10 member States convened in Kuala Lumpur on May 26 for the 46th ASEAN Summit, chaired by Malaysia under the banner " Inclusivity and Sustainability ".

The Summit marked a pivotal moment in the region ' s efforts to align economic growth with environmental responsibility and social equity.

Among the key outcomes were the Kuala Lumpur Declaration on the 10th Anniversary of the ASEAN Community and the ASEAN 2045: Our Shared Future roadmap.

Both documents place strong emphasis on sustainable development, narrowing the development gap, and fostering climate resilience across Southeast Asia.

GREEN INTEGRATION

Climate change and environmental degradation were recurring themes throughout the Summit. Leaders endorsed several sustainability-driven initiatives, including:

� ASEAN Power Grid Financing Framework: A step toward integrating renewable energy infrastructure and reducing carbon dependency across member states.

� Sustainable Investment Guidelines: Designed to attract climate-aligned capital and incentivise ESG practices in both the public and private sectors.

� ASEAN Centre for Climate Change: A proposed platform to coordinate regional climate responses, build scientific capacity, and share best practices.

In tandem, ASEAN reaffirmed its commitment to transboundary haze reduction, improved disaster response, and public health resilience, recognising the cross-cutting nature of climate impacts.

Upgrades to trade agreements and the Digital Economy Framework are being shaped by ESG principles to promote responsible innovation, circular economy models, and inclusive prosperity.

The upcoming inclusion of Timor-Leste underscores a broader commitment to sustainable integration and leaving no member State behind.

SUSTAINABILITY GOALS

ASEAN posted a robust 4.7 per cent growth rate in 2024, above the global average. While economic resilience remains a priority, leaders have underscored the importance of ensuring that this growth is both inclusive and sustainable.

Efforts to modernise regional trade were discussed through the upgrading of the ASEAN Trade in Goods Agreement( ATIGA) and progress on the Digital Economy Framework Agreement( DEFA)- both seen as critical to enabling green innovation, circular economy practices, and sustainable commerce.

A REGION UNITED

The Summit further elevated ASEAN ' s role as a collective voice on global sustainability. Leaders celebrated the upcoming inclusion of Timor-Leste as the 11th member and agreed to accelerate its economic integration, focusing on sustainable development pathways.

On the geopolitical front, ASEAN leaders reaffirmed their commitment to peace, diplomacy, and multilateralism, particularly in response to the crises in Myanmar and Gaza.

Humanitarian aid and respect for international law were reiterated as essential components of sustainable peace.

As ASEAN forges ahead, its leaders have reaffirmed a vision of regional cooperation rooted in environmental stewardship, equitable growth, and resilience.

With new frameworks, inclusive declarations, and concrete initiatives, the 46th ASEAN Summit charted a bold course toward a sustainable, secure, and prosperous future for all Southeast Asians.- @ green

SUSTAINABILITY ACROSS ASEAN

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@Green July/August 2025 | Page 21

July-August. 2025 | @ green ASEANSUMMIT 2025 21

Heart of regional growth

SUSTAINABILITY took centre stage as leaders from ASEAN ' s 10 member States convened in Kuala Lumpur on May 26 for the 46th ASEAN Summit, chaired by Malaysia under the banner " Inclusivity and Sustainability ".