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Southeast Asia is confronted with a reality gap between its net zero ambitions and true progress in its energy and green transition. The region grapples with structural constraints, including the dual challenge of balancing economic growth and energy transition, a mismatch in supply and demand due to geographical dispersion of renewable resources, limited incentives for carbon reduction, and inadequate access to financing. These unique challenges require a multi-faceted systems-level change to accelerate the green transition. Furthermore, a significant investment gap to fund the transition continues to exist—an estimated $1.5 trillion is required until 2030, with only $45 billion in investments made across dedicated green investments as of 2023.
Written in collaboration with
Written in collaboration with
We believe that Southeast Asia has a window of opportunity that it needs to seize today to leverage the green transition for competitive and economic growth beyond decarbonization. This report will highlight the immediate investable decarbonization ideas and accelerators that can help speed up progress. Comprehensive deep dives are featured alongside the top 13 investable ideas across four sectorial themes: Nature and Agriculture, Power, Transport, and Buildings. Finally, we discuss the five key accelerators that can help build ecosystems in the near term and bring investment to scale.
All stakeholders need to take collective action to be on track for emission targets and unlock $300 billion in new revenue pools by 2030. The report highlights five priority actions:
- Focus attention on investable decarbonization ideas
- Scale up policies and investments to incentivize corporate action
- Promote innovation in finance to catalyze investment
- Advance country and regional plans for the transition path
- Take action today while working on structural constraints
About GenZero
GenZero is an investment platform company focused on accelerating decarbonisation globally. Founded by Temasek, we seek to deliver positive climate impact alongside long-term sustainable financial returns by investing in opportunities with the potential to be nurtured into impactful and scalable solutions. Driven by a common purpose to decarbonise for future generations, we recognise the need for a holistic and integrated approach to achieve a net zero world. At GenZero, we adopt a flexible investment approach across three focus areas to drive climate impact: (i) nature-based solutions that help protect and restore our natural ecosystems while benefiting local communities and biodiversity; (ii) technology-based solutions that deliver deep decarbonisation impact; and (iii) carbon ecosystem enablers which refer to companies and solutions that support the development of an effective, efficient, and credible carbon ecosystem. For more information on GenZero, visit www.genzero.co.
About Standard Chartered
Standard Chartered is a leading international banking group, with a presence in 53 of the world’s most dynamic markets and the only international bank present in all 10 ASEAN markets. Our purpose is to drive commerce and prosperity through our unique diversity, and our heritage and values are expressed in our brand promise, here for good. We are committed to accelerating the transition to net zero and supporting sustainable economic and social development through our business, operations and communities. The Bank has the financial expertise, governance frameworks, technology and geographical reach to unlock and direct sustainable finance to where it is needed most.
About Temasek
Temasek is a global investment company headquartered in Singapore, with a net portfolio value of S$434 billion (US$324B, €299B, £250B, RMB2.35T) as of 31 March 2025. Its purpose, “So Every Generation Prospers,” guides it to make a difference for today’s and future generations. Temasek seeks to build a resilient and forward-looking portfolio that will deliver sustainable returns over the long term.
First published in April 2024