Ministers from various Asian countries have come together to address the issue of carbon dioxide emissions in the power, transportation, and industry sectors. The Asia Zero Emission Community (AZEC) held a ministerial meeting in Jakarta on Wednesday to discuss decarbonization efforts in Asia.
During the meeting, a joint statement was adopted, emphasizing the need for cooperation in financing, human resources, and technology to effectively reduce CO2 emissions. The member countries recognized that reducing dependence on fossil fuels is crucial for both emission reduction and economic growth.
In terms of the power sector, the joint statement highlighted the promotion of hydrogen and ammonia as alternative fuels that do not emit CO2 when burned. Additionally, sustainable aviation fuels were identified as a key area for development within the transportation sector to establish a sustainable fuel supply chain.
The joint statement also outlined plans for collaboration among member countries to attract private investment and facilitate technology deployment. As part of these efforts, an important milestone was achieved with the establishment of the Asia Zero Emission Center in Jakarta—a research institute dedicated to advancing decarbonization initiatives.
Economy, Trade and Industry Minister Ken Saito expressed Japan’s commitment to supporting regional decarbonization markets during a press conference following the meeting. AZEC was initially proposed by Prime Minister Fumio Kishida in 2022 and has since gained participation from Japan, Australia, and nine members of ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations), excluding Myanmar.
With Asia accounting for more than half of global CO2 emissions, China has been making significant strides in electric vehicles and solar power generation. However, Japan aims to lead AZEC as it seeks to compete with China’s growing presence in these fields.
The collaborative efforts demonstrated at this ministerial meeting signify an important step towards achieving carbon neutrality across various sectors throughout Asia. By working together on financing mechanisms, human resource development programs, technological advancements,and investment attraction strategies,the member countries are paving their way towards a greener future.