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Environment Adviser Syeda Rizwana Hasan recently stressed the need for public awareness for sustainable development saying that citizens must adopt lifestyle changes and reduce overconsumption. ‘We must learn from our past mistakes and chart the course for our future,’ she said while addressing the ‘Bangladesh Sustainability Conclave 2025’ at the Dhaka North City C o r p o r a t i o n Auditorium in the capital.

She also emphasized the need for increased investment in food security, safe food, clean air, and safe water.

She said that it is urgent to formulate and implement time-befitting policies in these areas. ‘Bangladesh must transform into a beautiful, fertile, safe, and green country.

For that, we must move towards sustainability,’ said the adviser.

The government will provide funds from the public exchequer for setting up solar panels on the rooftops of all state-owned buildings, aiming to generate 2,000 -3,000 MW of electricity.

However, the state-owned entities, which generate their own income, will have to fund the installation of solar systems on their building rooftops using their own earnings, according to the National Rooftop Solar Implementation Guidelines.

According to the Renewable Energy Policy 2025, the government has set a target of meeting 20 per cent of the total electricity demand from renewable sources by 2030 and 30 per cent by 2040. Presently, only 5.6 per cent (1,563 MW) of the country’s total electricity is generated from renewable sources.

On the other hand, about 56 per cent of the country’s electricity is generated by using natural gas, the reserves of which are rapidly decreasing.

In this situation, the Power Division has formulated a “National Rooftop Solar Program” to ensure energy security and prioritize renewable energy, according to the guidelines.

The program received approval from the Advisory Council in June, targeting the generation of 2,000 MW to 3,000 MW of electricity across the country by utilizing the rooftops of governmentowned offices, hospitals, and educational institutions.

Under the initiative, all the government entities would install solar panels on the roofs of their respective buildings with funds to be provided by the government, officials said.

Ammonia and methanol are being promoted as low-carbon fuels and hydrogen carriers to support the global energy transition.

They are currently being evaluated as alternatives for clean shipping, power generation, and longdistance hydrogen transport.

However, despite strong interest, their large-scale adoption remains slow due to uncertainty in the demand outlook in a pricesensitive market, says GlobalData, a leading data and analytics company.

GlobalData’s Strategic Intelligence report, ‘Ammonia and Methanol in Energy Transition,’ reveals that countries such as Japan, South Korea, China, and members of the European Union are backing low-carbon projects, while companies including Yara, Maersk, CF, and Mitsubishi are exploring large-scale investments to boost their production. Low-carbon ammonia capacity is estimated to grow to nearly 250 million tonnes per annum (mtpa) by 2030, with more than 460 upcoming plants globally. Low-carbon methanol is projected to follow a similar path, with plant numbers approaching 150 by 2030. Yet many projects are in early stages of development, with some hydrogen-linked initiatives already seeing delays or cancellations.

The country’s falling gas production continues to plague the industries, seriously threatening exports and e m p l o y m e n t generation.

The interim government has hiked LNG imports to address the crisis, but the move is far from being enough.

The industry leaders are calling on the government to take urgent steps to mitigate the crisis, or else.

Even four years ago, the country’s daily gas production ranged between 2,300 and 2,400 million cubic feet. Now, it has fallen to only 1,700 million cubic feet per day on average, impacting vehicle refueling services, power stations, residents and industries.

According to Petrobangla, the daily demand is over 4,200 million cubic feet, but only 2,830 million cubic feet was produced recently.

The crisis is leaving industries with underutilized goods production capacity, which is increasing production cost and trimming export potentials.

Investors are also discouraged by the crisis, leading to reduced business growth and falling employment prospects.

Recently, BGMEA President Mahmud Hasan Khan met Mohammad Saiful Islam, secretary at the Energy and Mineral Resources Division, at the Secretariat.

There he placed five recommendations to alleviate the gas crisis.

Maitree Super Thermal Power Plant (2×660 MW) at Rampal, Bagerhat, a thermal Power plant of BIFPCL, set a new benchmark by generating 771.70 million units of electricity at a PLF of 78.58% in August 2025.

This is the highest monthly output since its commissioning, contributing 7.62% of Bangladesh’s total generation of 10,100 million units.

For the last three consecutive months, the plant has been consistently generating over 600 million units, totaling 2,036.4 million units. Despite reliance on imported fuel, its scale, efficiency, and consistent performance enable Bangladesh to access stable and comparatively affordable electricity, supporting industries, boosting investor confidence, and reducing the risk of supply disruptions.

The interim government is currently in talks with Saudi oil giant Aramco to ink a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to ensure cooperation in the energy sector.

State-run Petrobangla has already prepared a draft of the MoU, which is currently being vetted by the Ministry of Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs. “We are eyeing to ink the MoU with Aramco to ensure cooperation in the energy sector, especially for importing liquefied natural gas (LNG), refined petroleum products, etc,” said a senior Petrobangla official.

China said recently it had rejected a protest lodged by Japan over the development of gas fields in disputed waters of the East China Sea.

Tokyo’s foreign ministry said it had confirmed that Beijing was setting up drilling rigs in the area — where the two countries’ exclusive economic zones (EEZ) claims overlap.

It said it had “issued a strong protest” to the Chinese embassy. China’s foreign ministry said it did “not accept Japan’s groundless accusations and has rejected Japan’s socalled protest”.

A 2008 agreement saw Japan and China agree to jointly develop undersea gas reserves in the disputed area, with a ban on independent drilling by either country.

But negotiations over how to implement the deal were suspended in 2010.

Tokyo said 21 suspected drilling rigs had been positioned on Beijing’s side of the de facto maritime border, adding it was “extremely regrettable that China is advancing unilateral development”.

Standard Chartered Bangladesh, in collaboration with the international social-purpose organization Friendship, has launched an environmental initiative to provide clean energy, water, and climate resilience to the remote Notunchar Island in Kurigram. Notunchar, a sedimentary island located at the Northeastern point of Chilmari Upazila, remains disconnected from the national grid and basic infrastructure, including electricity, gas, and clean water, according to a press release issued by Standard Chartered Bangladesh recently.

Through this initiative, the island will be connected to a 70-kilowatt solar micro-grid, supported by a water treatment facility and a large-scale afforestation drive.

The solar plant, with an estimated energy output of 263 kilowatt-hours per day, will provide reliable power to 175 households, and multiple shops, schools, and religious institutions covering 875 beneficiaries.

Also, a water treatment plant – capable of supplying 60 liters of clean water per hour – will serve both the community’s drinking water needs and the solar grid’s maintenance requirements.

The future of the global energy landscape will be shaped by Asia and the Pacific.

Over the past two decades, our region has been the principal driver of global energy demand and emissions.

Energy has powered prosperity, lifted millions out of poverty, and transformed societies.

This progress, however, has come at a cost: widening inequalities, entrenched fossil fuel dependencies, and increasing climate vulnerability – which make achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and climate objectives challenging.

The Gaps We Must Close What will it truly take for the region to realize the energy transition and achieve SDG 7 – clean, affordable, reliable, and modern energy for all – by 2030?

The new Regional Trends Report on Energy for Sustainable Development shows that universal access to electricity is within reach. Yet other dimensions of sustainable energy require urgent acceleration. Clean cooking remains the most pressing challenge. Nearly one billion people in Asia and the Pacific still rely on traditional fuels, exposing households – especially women and children – to dangerous levels of indoor air pollution.

Renewable energy is growing, although the pace still falls short of what is needed to meet rising demand and lower emissions at the scale required. Per capita, Asia and the Pacific’s installed renewable energy capacity remains lower than in other parts of the world.

At the same time, energy efficiency continues to be underutilized, leaving untapped potential to reduce consumption, lower energy costs, and reduce carbon emissions.

These challenges are compounded by emerging pressures.

Securing access to and sustainably developing critical raw materials is essential for advancing energy transitions, while expanded regional power grid connectivity is crucial to improving energy security and keeping electricity affordable.

Rapidly growing sectors, such as data centers, also need to shift toward low-carbon pathways.

Meeting these priorities will demand strategic planning, coordinated action, and a strong commitment to fairness and equity.

Emerging Momentum The Asia-Pacific region has shown encouraging signs in recent years, with many emerging initiatives to draw inspiration from.

Subregional initiatives, including the ASEAN Power Grid and the Nepal-IndiaBangladesh trilateral power trade, are fostering cross-border electricity exchanges, improving reliability, and enabling greater renewable integration. China and India are at the forefront of renewables, while Pacific countries such as Fiji, Solomon Islands, and Vanuatu have set targets for 100 per cent renewable electricity by 2030.

Indonesia and the Philippines are expanding geothermal capacity.

Grid-scale battery storage in Australia is helping manage renewable fluctuations and strengthen system resilience.

Industries, urban centers, and the transport sector are also driving change. Countries are rapidly expanding the adoption of electric vehicles through investment and infrastructure. Japan and Singapore are improving building energy efficiency with strict standards and incentive programs, and the Republic of Korea is deploying smart grid technologies to optimize usage.

These examples illustrate that innovation, investment, and cooperation are creating the conditions for scalable energy progress across the region.

A Just Transition for All The energy transition is not only a technological shift, but also a social transformation.

For many, such as workers in fossil fuel industries, those in energy-poor households, and youths entering the job market, the transition will be a lived reality.

Reskilling, education, and social protection must accompany this shift, while creating decent jobs in the renewable and energy efficiency sectors. Women are disproportionately affected by energy poverty and remain underrepresented in the energy workforce and decisionmaking roles.

Unlocking women’s full participation in the sector is needed to accelerate innovation and inclusive growth.

A just energy transition must be gender-responsive, with policies and investments designed to close gaps in access, employment, and leadership.

Turning Ambition into Action Three ingredients stand out: Ambition in policy and planning. Countries need bold, integrated policies that align national energy plans with climate commitments, including net-zero targets.

This means setting higher renewable energy ambitions, phasing down coal dependency, embedding energy efficiency into every sector, and ensuring policies are just and inclusive.

Scaled-up investment. Delivering SDG 7 requires mobilizing trillions in sustainable energy investment.

Governments alone cannot bear this burden. De-risking mechanisms, innovative financing, and publicprivate partnerships will be critical to unlock capital flows.

Regional cooperation.

Regional grid integration and cross-border power trade, and shared approaches to the development of critical energy transition minerals and technology standards can create efficiencies and resilience.

The region has shown that transformative change is possible. Just twenty years ago, hundreds of millions lacked access to electricity.

Today, universal access is within reach, proving that the seemingly insurmountable gaps in clean cooking, renewable deployment, and efficiency can be overcome with decisive political will and bold action.

As AsiaPacific countries gather in September at the ESCAP Committee on Energy, the message is clear: we must act with urgency, ambition, and solidarity, or risk being locked in high-carbon pathways.

The decisions made in the coming years will define the region’s energy future well beyond 2030.

Dato’ Ir.

Ts.

Razib D a w o o d , Executive Director of ACE (left) and Armida Salsiah Alisjahbana, U n d e r – S e c r e t a r y General of the United Nations and Executive Secretary of ESCAP (right) during the MoU signing.

The ASEAN Centre for Energy (ACE) and the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) have officially forged a strategic partnership to advance ASEAN’s energy cooperation through a MemorandumofUnderstanding (MoU) signed at the UN Conference Centre in Bangkok, Thailand, on 1 September 2025.

The signing ceremony took place in conjunction with Asia-Pacific Energy Week, hosted by ESCAP, which aims to strengthen regional cooperation through accelerated just energy transitions.

The MoU was signed by Dato’ Ir.

Ts.

Razib Dawood, Executive Director of ACE, and Armida Salsiah Alisjahbana, UnderSecretary-General of UN and Executive Secretary of ESCAP, representing their respective organizations.