Massive planned US duties on solar panels made in Southeast Asia could be a chance for the region to ramp up its own long-stalled energy transition, experts say. Earlier this month, Washington announced plans for hefty duties on solar panels made in Cambodia, Vietnam, Thailand and Malaysia. The levies follow an investigation, launched before US President Donald Trump took office, into "unfair practices” in the countries, particularly by Chinese-headquartered firms. If approved next month, they will pile upon tariffs already imposed by the Trump administration, including blanket 10-per cent levies for most countries, and 145 per cent on Chinese-made goods.  

Malaysia is seeking to strengthen strategic cooperation with Japan, particularly in the areas of energy transition and sustainability, said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim. Anwar said his meeting with former Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida today marked a significant step in enhancing bilateral cooperation to address global challenges, especially in advancing clean energy and environmental sustainability. He added that as the Asean 2025 chair, Malaysia is committed to leading regional efforts toward a low-carbon future.

Wherever you are in the world, successful action on climate change requires support from the public. In China’s case, this support has been strong since 2020, when Xi Jinping announced the “dual carbon” targets, to peak national carbon emissions before 2030 and reach carbon neutrality before 2060.

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said discussions at the Asean Finance Ministers’ meeting focused on regional issues that the bloc can directly address, rather than global conflicts. He explained that the finance leaders from Asean countries such as Indonesia, Thailand, and Singapore agreed that regional progress must be built on a clear vision and strong leadership to ensure that Southeast Asia remains a peaceful zone.

Europe faced its most widespread flooding last year since 2013, with 30% of the continent's river network hit by significant floods, scientists said on Tuesday, as fossil fuel-driven climate change continued to prompt torrential rain and other extreme weather.

A new report shows that 70% of cities in Southeast Asia have installed solar streetlights. The Association of Southeast Asian Nations Energy Report 2024 notes that this saves money and supports clean energy, as TechBullion reported. It can also prevent crime, make roads safer, and boost nighttime economic activity.

Malaysia is fully invested in driving green energy transition not only within its borders but across Southeast Asia, and will continue to advocate for sustainable policies, technologies and practices that benefit the entire region.

Google's AI push promises innovation, but its soaring emissions and water use raise serious questions about the tech giant's green commitments. AI is fast becoming one of the most transformative forces of the 21st century, promising new efficiencies, breakthroughs in healthcare and smarter digital experiences.  However, as this technology evolves, so too do its environmental costs. At the centre of this tension sits Google’s report titled The AI Opportunity for Europe’s Climate Goals - a Policy Roadmap.

There are hopes that new energy efficiency regulations in Malaysia will finally lead to meaningful and measurable decreases in electricity usage and hold consumers accountable. The nation implemented its Energy Efficiency and Conservation Act (EECA) on 1 January 2025 to reduce energy usage among large energy consumers, including those in the commercial and industrial sectors. This will require large office buildings, for example, to meet specific building energy intensity standards and be subject to energy audits if they fail to meet requirements.

Malaysia’s US$3.8 billion renewable energy sector is bracing for a major setback as US President Donald Trump moves to impose steep tariffs, scale back climate financing and abandon global climate commitments – a “triple whammy” that analysts say could stall Southeast Asia’s clean energy transition. Malaysia was the world’s third-largest producer of solar photovoltaic (PV) components – the inexpensive, essential parts used in solar panels – in 2022, and was also a major supplier of polysilicon, another critical material in solar manufacturing.

The Gulf Arab monarchies, long synonymous with oil wealth, are deepening energy interdependence with China and Southeast Asian nations, signing a slew of landmark agreements in recent months for tens of billions of dollars’ worth of renewable-energy projects as the world pivots away from climate-warming fuels. While primarily driven by economic motives, the rapid expansion of renewable-energy partnerships between China and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries is poised to reshape global energy politics.

Southeast Asia's only nuclear power plant is located in the province of Bataan in the Philippines, around 40 miles (64 kilometers) from the capital, Manila. Built in the 1970s, the Bataan facility was mothballed before it ever opened amid the political instability of the end of the Ferdinand Marcos dictatorship — and in the wake of the 1986 disaster at Ukraine's Chernobyl nuclear power plant, which killed at least 30 people and spewed radioactive fallout over much of the Northern Hemisphere.