As one of a very small group of Australian headquartered climate organisations with a Southeast Asia focus and presence, Climateworks welcomes the Australian Government’s strategic thinking on the importance of Southeast Asia.

Drawing on our six years of engagement in the region, Climateworks recognises the opportunities for collaboration between Australia and Southeast Asia to accelerate economic cooperation towards the low-carbon transition, while contributing to limiting global warming to 1.5°C.

The economic prospects of a comprehensive low-carbon transition in Southeast Asia are vast. Varying estimates place the region’s green economy potential at up to US$1 trillion by 2030 and US$28 trillion by 2070, and formulating stronger policies around the region’s abundant natural capital can yield substantial social and economic benefits.

For example, analysis co-developed by Climateworks finds high comparative advantages across low-carbon value chains that can be seized by Indonesia, the Philippines and Vietnam.

Shaping the economic relationship between Australia and Southeast Asia into low-carbon economic cooperation is important for Australia to ensure a long-term, sustainable and prosperous partnership with the region.

Climateworks’ submission to the Southeast Asia Economic Strategy to 2040 Secretariat, Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, details a number of recommendations to accelerate economic and trade cooperation with Southeast Asia towards low-carbon transition including areas where Australian expertise is relevant and the role Australia can play in deepening the green economy partnership as the earliest and a major ASEAN dialogue partner.