The decision on who will host COP31 has been deferred until next June. But whether or not Australia ends up winning the bid, the world's third-largest fossil fuel exporter needs to develop a plan to phase out its coal and gas production.
Asean needs to develop a collective response to the geopolitics of renewable energy in order to address resource nationalism and the adverse impacts of growing US-China rivalry on Southeast Asia's energy transition.
To achieve net zero emissions in Southeast Asia, addressing the significant financing gap is crucial, requiring bold targets and more international support.