The Key Role of BRICS in Accelerating ASEAN’s Green Transition
Despite its abundant natural resources, Southeast Asia faces serious challenges arising from climate change, prompting ASEAN countries—particularly Indonesia and Vietnam—to accelerate their transition toward green energy.
Indonesia, home to approximately 40 percent of the world’s geothermal reserves, more than 200 gigawatts of solar capacity, and over 75 gigawatts of hydropower potential, possesses enormous renewable energy resources. However, inadequate infrastructure, high exploration costs, complex regulations, and financial constraints have limited the share of green energy to just 13 percent of the national energy mix, while coal still accounts for 65 percent of total energy consumption.
Vietnam, another key ASEAN member with a total installed renewable energy capacity of 20.2 gigawatts, faces challenges similar to those of Indonesia and must pursue clean energy pathways while sustaining economic growth.
Under these circumstances, BRICS countries can play a decisive role in facilitating the region’s green transition. Chinese companies can expand investment and deploy green technologies across sectors ranging from solar and geothermal energy to public transportation and electric vehicle infrastructure, while Brazil’s experience in biomass can contribute to sustainable agriculture and natural resource management.
In addition, the New Development Bank (NDB) can provide green financing to mitigate risks associated with geothermal projects in Indonesia, support wind power development in Vietnam, and assist in building smart energy grids across other ASEAN member states.
Experts emphasize that Southeast Asia’s green transition is only achievable through regional cooperation and active BRICS engagement. Localized, flexible, and synergistic solutions can reduce costs and risks, facilitate technology transfer, build local capacity, and simultaneously ensure economic growth and sustainable employment.
BRICS support in this field offers ASEAN a unique opportunity to harness its vast renewable energy potential and build a greener, more sustainable future for the region.