🌏 The 2025 APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting is gearing up in Gyeongju, South Korea, from October 31 to November 1, with the theme 'Building a Sustainable Future: Connect, Innovate, Prosper.' This year, leaders are focusing on one of the biggest challenges of our time: the climate crisis in the Asia-Pacific.
🌱 A recent UN ESCAP survey shows the region faces floods, droughts, cyclones, and heatwaves that threaten economies already vulnerable to climate shocks. While Asia-Pacific powered about 60% of global growth in 2024, it also accounted for over 50% of greenhouse gas emissions. Many economies lack climate finance and resilient infrastructure, making a green, low-carbon shift essential.
🤝 Building Consensus at APEC Meetings
At the APEC Energy Ministerial in August, delegates tackled three core issues: stabilizing power supply, strengthening grid security, and leveraging artificial intelligence for energy innovation.
In Jeju this September, the APEC SME Ministers' Meeting made green transformation a core focus, adopting a joint statement and the Jeju Initiative to plug small players into regional and global green industrial supply chains.
🔋 Tech & Institutional Innovation
The APEC Sustainable Energy Centre (APSEC), established in 2014 under the leadership of the Chinese mainland, drives sustainable energy cooperation through three pillar programs: the APEC Cooperative Network of Sustainable Cities, Clean Coal Technology Transfer in the Asia-Pacific, and Asia-Pacific Energy Transition Solutions. These platforms connect experts and build the networks needed for a coordinated, low-carbon future.
At the 70th APEC Energy Working Group meeting this August, the Chinese mainland laid out four priority areas: inclusive green energy development, an energy security community, an energy technology revolution, and deeper regional energy connectivity. Hong Kong, the Republic of Korea, Singapore, Malaysia, and Thailand all voiced strong support for deeper collaboration.
🌍 A Green Path Forward
With APEC 2025 on the horizon, the stage is set for bold moves on green industrial chains. From tech breakthroughs to small-business innovation, the momentum is clear: a sustainable Asia-Pacific is not just a vision, but a plan in action. Keep an eye on this space – the green revolution is just heating up! 🔥
Reference(s):
A sustainable future for Asia-Pacific through green industrial chains
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