Ecobiz.asia — United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UN ESCAP) has launched a new regional initiative aimed at accelerating clean energy transitions in Southeast Asia, as the region grapples with rising energy demand and heavy reliance on coal.
The Energy Transition for Green Growth and Prosperity (ETGGP) initiative was officially launched on Tuesday (Feb. 25, 2026). The three-year programme, starting in 2026, seeks to support country-led and socially inclusive energy transitions while sustaining economic growth and job creation.
ETGGP has secured initial funding commitments exceeding US$4 million from four philanthropic foundations: ClimateWorks Foundation, Sequoia Climate Foundation, Children’s Investment Fund Foundation, and Tara Climate Foundation.
UN ESCAP said the initiative will provide country-specific support aligned with national priorities, particularly in Southeast Asia, a region that accounts for around 60% of global greenhouse gas emissions and 80% of global coal supply. Regional energy demand is projected to continue rising sharply toward mid-century.
“Countries around the region are considering how to reduce emissions while safeguarding growth, jobs, economic resilience and social inclusion,” said Armida Salsiah Alisjahbana, Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations and Executive Secretary of UN ESCAP.
She noted that governments face multiple constraints in managing the transition, including legacy fossil fuel infrastructure, limited fiscal space, regulatory complexity, uneven institutional capacity, and persistent financing gaps.
According to ESCAP, ETGGP is structured around three main pillars: strengthening analytical and evidence-based planning at the intersection of energy and economic development; supporting regional power connectivity through green power corridors; and mobilising green finance to improve investment readiness and scale up capital flows.
Through its intergovernmental platform, ESCAP will work with ministries responsible for energy, finance, transport, environment and social development to align energy transition strategies with green industrialisation and employment creation. The initiative will also engage development partners, financial institutions and regional experts to develop policy solutions and investment pipelines.
ESCAP expects the programme to improve policy coordination, enhance investment readiness, and expand access to public and private financing for clean energy and enabling infrastructure, while lessons from participating countries will feed into broader regional energy cooperation across Asia and the Pacific. ***
