Trends to watch in Asia for 2025
Eco-Business
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Dear EB reader,
Happy new year – and welcome to our first newsletter of 2025.
The last few weeks of 2024 has provided ample time for reflection on a year marked by a prevailing mood of uncertainty. Yet despite the challenging geopolitical environment and supply chain shocks, most governments in Asia have continued to ramp up their low-carbon strategies and policies.
A flurry of high-profile deals is propping up optimism in Asia's renewable energy sector. Singapore's move to develop the first international standard that recognises renewable energy certifications – or RECs – associated with cross-border electricity trading outside of single markets like the EU and US deserves close tracking, even if industry observers say it could take years for a viable regional model to mature.
Vietnam's renewable players are determined to get things right, and are optimistic about the latest policy changes such as a revamp of the country's electricity law. Follow our coverage of trends to watch in our new 'Asia Outlook 2025' series.
We are also excited to invite you to our CSO 2025 Outlook masterclass on 21 January, and the film premiere of the updated version of our 'Wasted' documentary on 24 January at The Projector Cineleisure, which will kick off our series of impact-driven programmes across the region for this new year. We hope to see you there.
Top stories
Singapore's plan to develop a framework to recognise RECs from cross-border electricity trading outside single markets, if successful, could serve as a model for the region.
Will transition planning take centre stage? Might new rules finalised at the last COP29 summit help carbon markets find their footing? Here are the key developments to look out for this year.
Last year saw a flurry of high-profile decisions that have propped up optimism in the sector. But industry watchers say a clean energy renaissance for Vietnam may have to wait.
Startups in the increasingly crowded space find themselves having to “re-rationalise” their business models amid a funding winter, with more consolidation expected.
Climate litigation is hard to understand even for adults. Can the topic be made simple for kids, and why is it important to tell these stories?
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Board Member & Independent Global Real Estate Consultant | Smart Buildings Advisor | Net Zero Compliance Strategist | Non-Executive Director | GPM Global Ambassador | Award-Winning PropTech Leader
1dThis move to standardize renewable energy certifications (RECs) for cross-border trading could be a game-changer, for Asia and the EU the US markets. Imagine the possibilities—clean energy flowing more seamlessly across borders, driving innovation in storage and transmission, and adding real momentum to global decarbonization efforts. Singapore’s leadership in this space is exciting to watch—it might just set the blueprint for a new way of trading renewable energy across regions.