ASEAN-BAC Green and Sustainable Economy Working Group (GSE WG) Meeting (2022/01), 4 April

Convener: ASEAN-BAC Malaysia

ASEAN-BAC Malaysia held the first ASEAN-BAC Green and Sustainable Economy Working Group (GSE WG) Meeting on 4 April 2022, chaired by GSE WG Chair Ms Jukhee Hong. The meeting was attended by the members and staffers of ASEAN-BAC Malaysia, ASEAN-BAC and the Joint Business Councils (JBCs).

ASEAN-BAC Malaysia Chairman Tan Sri Dato’ Dr Munir Majid highlighted the gap in resources available to help guide ASEAN industry players to achieve their green economy objectives and suggested that the working group:

1. Provide practical suggestions for such objectives

2. Conduct energy transition pilot projects that can serve as models for other industry players and assist them in such implementations

Fellow Council Member Tan Sri Yong Poh Kon proposed that the working group work on reshaping the narratives on large plantations and help them move from being viewed as deforestation agents to being viewed as carbon sinks. He also suggested positioning ASEAN as a carbon absorption region, especially given the large swaths of forest reserves and plantations in ASEAN countries, and establishing an ASEAN-wide mechanism for carbon absorption.

Council Member Mr Raja Singham, for his part, stressed that education plays an important role in getting the general public and companies to transition to cleaner energy. He also suggested that the GSE WG develop guidelines for companies to be recognised as green companies at the ASEAN level.