A just energy blueprint for Asean

As the global energy transition gains pace, there is a growing recognition that justice and inclusion must be at its core amid shifting trade dynamics and global trends.

- ALDILLA NOOR RAKHIEMAH LIVIA LIANNASARI

In Asean, this means putting people at the centre of energy policy, with a focus on Gender Equality, Disability and Social Inclusion (GEDSI). Efforts to integrate GEDSI are emerging, and the upcoming Asean Plan of Action for Energy Cooperation (APAEC) 2026-2030 offers a timely opportunity to advance GEDSI further.

For the first time, the region has explicitly embedded Just and Inclusive Energy Transition (JIET) principles as the five-year theme of regional energy cooperation.

With Asean on track to become the world’s fourth-largest economy by 2030, and energy playing a central role in enabling that growth, the question now is: how can Asean move beyond high-level commitments and ensure that GEDSI becomes a practical and guiding element of its energy transition?

At the 2025 World Economic Forum, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen noted the emergence of a more complex geopolitical landscape, marked by increased competition, evolving trade patterns and shifting economic alliances. These global shifts have not gone unnoticed in Southeast Asia.

The Asean Community Vision 2045 recognises these dynamics, and the 46th Asean Summit, held under Malaysia’s chairmanship — themed “Inclusivity and Sustainability” — reaffirmed the region’s commitment to navigating these changes through cooperative, forward-looking strategies.

A clear illustration of this is the 2025 reactivation of the US International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA), which introduced a blanket 10% tariff on all imports, alongside higher country-specific tariffs for selected nations.