The 40^th ASEAN Ministers on Energy Meeting commenced on 15 September 2022 and hosted by Cambodia through video conferencing. The Joint Opening Ceremony was officiated by Samdech Akka Moha Sena Padei Techo Hun Sen, Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Cambodia, and Chair of the 40th and 41st ASEAN Summit. In his opening address, the Prime Minister emphasised the importance of aligning ASEAN’s focus on energy transition by promoting participation, strengthening cooperation, and increasing attention to attain accelerated energy transition towards a realistic common prosperity.

As formalized by the Joint Ministerial Statement (JMS), The ASEAN Ministers on Energy reaffirmed their shared commitment to deepen and intensify partnerships in supporting the implementation of the ASEAN Plan of Action for Energy Cooperation (APAEC) Phase II: 2021-2025 through various activities such as knowledge and information exchange, capacity building programmes, joint research and publications, technical assistance, investment and financing platforms, and demonstration projects for ensuring energy security, affordability, and accessibility as the foundation to accelerate energy transition and strengthening energy resilience.

In accordance with this, on the Regional Energy Policy and Planning (REPP), the Meeting appreciated the sound implementation work and the need to leverage on opportunities for multilateral collaboration through new partnerships throughout the seven (7) programme areas of APAEC Phase II: 2021-2025.

The ASEAN Centre for Energy (ACE) through the ASEAN Climate Change and Energy Project (ACCEPT) has supported the implementation of APAEC, Program Area No. 6, Regional Energy Policy, and Planning, since the commencement of the project in November 2018 until its completion in March 2022. The project has successfully improved APAEC by the adoption of the new Outcome Based Strategy (OBS) 6, “Promote Information Sharing on the Energy-Climate Nexus”. This was acknowledged by the 38^th ASEAN Ministers on Energy Meeting on 20 November 2020.

Previously at the 39^th ASEAN Ministers on Energy Meeting on 15 September 2021, The Ministers endorsed the continuation of the ASEAN Climate Change and Energy Project to its phase 2 (ACCEPT II).  The 48-months project aims to continue to support the implementation of APAEC, and the work of ACE on the energy and climate nexus in ASEAN member states and ASEAN’s capacity to transition to Low-Carbon Energy System and contribute to carbon neutrality or a net zero future.

Following the success of the project, the 40^th AMEM noted the completion of the ACCEPT Phase I: 2018-2022 and welcomed the ACCEPT Phase II: 2022-2026. The Meeting thanked the Government of Norway for the continuous support provided through this project under the Norwegian-ASEAN Regional Integration Programme (NARIP).

ACCEPT II will administer APAEC and OBS 6 by conducting policy dialogues (Action Plan 6.1), study visits to address the energy and climate nexus (Action Plan 6.2), seminar on ASEAN Low-Carbon Transition (Action Plan 6.3), and other means that provide interactive platforms between energy and climate policymakers, as well as academic scholars and industry experts.

The project will further assist ACE in improving the effectiveness of institutional governance when dealing with climate-related energy issues. This includes revisiting the management framework within ACE and its role in coordinating with other ASEAN centres and sectoral bodies. Under ACCEPT II, ACE will establish a unified unit on energy and climate within ACE’s structure.

The project will also promote gender equality through its activities and events. Therefore, this project will serve ASEAN in advancing knowledge, building capacity, and strengthening its regional structure, capacity, and collaboration on the energy-climate nexus.