SCG Promotes Inclusive Green Transition Across ASEAN
SCG is encouraging ASEAN countries to accelerate an inclusive green transition by treating geopolitical challenges, energy volatility and climate change risks as opportunities to strengthen the region’s economic resilience and competitiveness.
The call emerged at the ESG Symposium 2026, themed “ASEAN in Action: Powering Inclusive Green Transition”, hosted by SCG on 1 September 2026 in Bangkok, Thailand. The forum brought together policymakers, business players, international organisations and academics to discuss three main agendas: energy transition, just transition and climate adaptation.
The three agendas were considered aligned with Indonesia’s development priorities, particularly in strengthening energy resilience, economic competitiveness, inclusive growth and resilience to climate change. Several Indonesian government representatives took part in the discussions.
SCG President and CEO Thammasak Sethaudom said a green transition should not position economic growth and sustainability as two opposing choices.
“ASEAN should not be forced to choose between economic growth or a greener future. This transition must be able to strengthen energy resilience and competitiveness, while ensuring that businesses, MSMEs and communities can grow together,” Thammasak said in an SCG statement on Tuesday (15/9/2026).
According to him, energy transition, just transition and climate adaptation need to proceed in parallel. Collaboration among stakeholders also needs to be directed from mere discussion towards concrete action.
Under the energy transition agenda, participants discussed accelerating the shift towards clean energy that is safe, flexible and competitive. This effort was deemed important to strengthen energy resilience while supporting ASEAN’s economic growth.
Meanwhile, the just transition agenda highlighted the importance of ensuring that MSMEs, workers and communities gain access to knowledge, technology, skills, capital and markets so they can adapt and thrive amid economic change.
The climate adaptation agenda emphasised strengthening readiness for the impacts of climate change, particularly regarding water resilience. This step is needed to reduce risks and potential losses, as well as to maintain business continuity and local economies.
Indonesia’s perspective was presented among others by Dino Patti Djalal, Founder and Chairman of the Foreign Policy Community of Indonesia (FPCI), during the energy transition session. For the climate adaptation agenda, Indonesia was represented by Puspita Suryaningtyas from the Ministry of National Development Planning/Bappenas along with several representatives from the Ministry of Forestry.
SCG also presented a number of initiatives in Indonesia as examples of implementing a green transition suited to local contexts. One of these is the use of Refuse-Derived Fuel (RDF) as an alternative fuel in cement production. In a single year, the programme has utilised 62,790 tonnes of municipal waste processed into RDF.
SCG also runs the Gerakan Desa Berdikari (GESARI) movement, which since 2019 has supported more than 78 local MSMEs through capacity building and market access. In addition, the Clean Water for All programme leverages technology and community participation to strengthen water resilience at the local level.