Aim

The project will seek the opportunity to implement data and ambition loops concept in Southeast Asia. Leveraging voluntary initiatives such as SBTi, companies will show leadership in the transition towards low carbon economy. By aligning the corporate climate targets with the Paris Agreement, companies will play their part in tackling the climate change and will push more ambitious national and regional climate action.

Why

Southeast Asia is a pivotal region in climate change mitigation and adaptation. It is a region that is highly vulnerable to climate change as large proportions of the population and economic activities are concentrated along coastlines. The mean temperature in Southeast Asia increased by 0.1 to 0.3 degree Celsius per decade, between 1951 and 2000 (ADB, 2009). More intense and frequent heat waves, droughts, floods, and tropical cyclones also occurred in the region (ADB, 2009).

The private sector is an important greenhouse gas emissions data provider that governments often turn to for information to support climate policies, inform other decision-making processes, and fulfil international requirements under the Paris Agreement (Dagnet et al, 2019). Based on the data and ambition loops concept, stronger information flows from private sector and government offer the evidence base needed for better government policy and incentive design, which in turn generate opportunities for private sector climate action and investments. When policies and initiatives leverage data and ambition loops together, countries may be in a position to present more ambitious national climate plans, known as nationally determined contributions (NDCs). Initiatives and policy instruments, such as carbon pricing and science-based targets, are growing around the world, including in Southeast Asia.

Who

The project is being coordinated by the Climate Program of WRI Indonesia and the International Climate Action program of World Resources Institute. We collaborate with local SBTi founding partners in Southeast Asia, such as CDP, World Wildlife Fund for Nature (WWF), and UN Global Compact Network.

How

To promote the uptake of SBTs to the Southeast Asian companies, this project focuses on these key activities:

  1. Study on the landscape analysis of the opportunity and challenges in science-based targets implementation
  2. Establishing regional and sectoral coalition for collaboration in SBTi engagement and outreach
  3. Capacity building of technical guidance of SBTs setting for ASEAN companies
  4. SBT process and methodologies deep dive for the targeted ASEAN companies

Research Partners

  1. Bumi Global Karbon, Indonesia
  2. Business for Sustainable Development, Philippines

Resources

  1. Webinar on “Data and Ambition Loops in the Southeast Asian Region: Opportunities and Challenges” (25 Agustus 2020) – Event highlights
  2. SBTi Asia Webinar Series
    • The Business Case for setting Science-based Targets (20 October 2020) – Recording
    • Technical Guidance for Setting and achieving Science-based Targets (27 October 2020) – Recording
    • Demystifying Science-based Targets: Discussion & Sharing Session (3 November 2020) – Recording
    • Science-based Targets for Financial Institutions – Recording

Experts

Dedy Mahardika Mima Mendoza Sakinah U. Haniy Yamide Dagnet Arief Wijaya Marlon Apanada