As global aviation faces mounting pressure to cut emissions, ASEAN has a chance to position itself at the forefront of a cleaner aviation future. Aviation remains one of the most challenging sectors to decarbonize, accounting for 2.5 percent of global energy-related carbon dioxide emissions in 2023, with that figure projected to grow rapidly. Unlike power generation and most other transport sectors, aviation remains heavily dependent on liquid fuels because of current battery limitations.

With air traffic in Southeast Asia continuing to surge and emission policies tightening globally, sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) offers the most scalable near-term tool to reduce emissions while improving regional energy security.

Backed by abundant regional resources, ASEAN is uniquely positioned to become an international SAF hub – delivering significant economic and climate benefits. However, capturing this market will depend on how quickly member states can turn regional potential into a credible, scalable and internationally recognized supply chain.

This article is published on The Jakarta Post. Read the full piece here. 

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Zahrah Zafira is a Research Analyst of the SRE Department at the ASEAN Centre for Energy, Nathania Azalia is a Junior Associate Research Analyst of ACCEPT II, and Haningrum Eka Putri Rahayu is Research Assistant of ACCEPT II. The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of the ASEAN Centre for Energy or its partners. 

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