When torrential rains triggered floods and landslides across three provinces in Sumatra late last year, entire villages were swept away, more than 1,200 people were killed and forests upstream collapsed under the weight of decades of unchecked exploitation. Now, Indonesia’s government is moving to hold companies accountable. The Indonesian government has filed multiple lawsuits seeking more than US$200 million in damages against six firms after deadly floods wreaked havoc across Sumatra.

Global investment in the transition to clean energy reached a record US$2.3 trillion in 2025, underscoring the sector’s resilience despite trade disruptions, US administration antipathy, higher interest rates and rising geopolitical risk. But in Asia, the headline figure masks a growing imbalance. Capital is flowing, but it is not flowing equally.