The 42nd ASEAN Ministers on Energy Meeting (AMEM) concluded with the milestone inclusion of a stronger commitment to just and inclusive renewable energy (RE) cooperation in the region and the development of a RE long-term roadmap at the 24th ASEAN Energy Business Forum (AEBF-24) held at the Lao National Convention Centre (LCC) in Vientiane, Lao PDR on 25-27 September 2024.

At AEBF-24, Oxfam joined the call of civil society organizations (CSOs) in urging ASEAN leaders for more ambitious targets on RE and to implement a fast transition to these sources. From this arose the proposed theme of the ASEAN Plan of Action for Energy Cooperation Phase III (APAEC III) 2026-2030: ‘Advancing Regional Cooperation in Ensuring Energy Security and Accelerating Decarbonisation for a Just and Inclusive Energy Transition’.

With ASEAN energy stakeholders present, Oxfam reinforced the need to ensure this transition, and the renewed undertaking of the region stay true to the climate commitments in the Paris agreement at its core. Recognizing that false solutions will be detrimental to reaching climate justice, the region’s efforts must focus on transitioning out from fossil fuel-based energy systems.

An inaugural multi-stakeholder dialogue was held in 26 September by the ASEAN Centre for Energy (ACE) which focused on the policies and frameworks necessary for an equitable and inclusive transition, including women and youth participation in the energy transition. Oxfam Pilipinas, through its Just Energy Transition (JET) Program Lead Kenneth Bernard Hizon, shared its vision of a fast, fair, and feminist energy transition citing their initiative of social dialogues with partner governments, communities, and CSOs, and their community-led energy transition programs in rural and isolated villages in the Philippines.

“A holistic approach of establishing policies and frameworks on JET is an imperative which includes mechanisms that allow stakeholders, especially affected communities and sectors of women and gender minorities, youth, workers, farmers, fisherfolks, and Indigenous Peoples, to be part of the energy transition processes—from its design, implementation, monitoring, and evaluation.” said Hizon.

During the session, Oxfam referred to the outcome of its 2nd Regional CSO Convening on JET organized by the Asia Network for People’s Energy (ANPE), Oxfam through its Fair Finance Asia and Influencing a Just Energy Transition (I-JET) program, and partner CSOs.

An excerpt from the 2nd Regional Convening on JET Communique reads:

“We, CSOs from across the ASEAN offer our support to the ASEAN and its member states in enabling a just energy transition in the region through the generation of evidence-based research, the facilitation of multi-stakeholder dialogues, and enabling the meaningful participation of communities and marginalized sectors in formulating energy policies.

And for us to effectively contribute, ASEAN member states should ensure CSOs’ access to transparent and inclusive consultation mechanisms and provide safe spaces that will enable CSOs and communities to substantially and effectively participate in various levels of policy development and implementation.”

This inaugural panel at AEBF-24 marks a milestone for ACE since this undertaking to include JET in their key policy papers and reports like the ASEAN Plan on Energy and Cooperation (APAEC) Phase III) and the 8th ASEAN Energy Outlook.

The ASEAN Energy Business Forum is an annual forum held as part of the ASEAN Ministers on Energy Meeting where key stakeholders tackle energy issues and opportunities. The theme of AEBF-24, Enhancing Connectivity and Resilience, recognizes the pressing challenges ASEAN countries face in attaining a lasting move towards sustainable energy systems. Achieving collective success in these endeavours banks on embracing just and inclusive transition principles in the process that ensures no community is left behind in the region’s shift to a resilient energy future.