The United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) has launched the Energy Transition for Green Growth and Prosperity (ETGGP), a regional initiative aimed at supporting South-East Asian countries in achieving clean energy transitions while promoting growth, job creation, and social inclusion. The initiative aligns with ESCAP’s mandate to assist member states in implementing the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, including SDG 7 on affordable and sustainable energy.
ETGGP is a three-year program starting in 2026, backed by initial funding pledges of over US$4 million from four philanthropic foundations: ClimateWorks Foundation, Sequoia Climate Foundation, Children’s Investment Fund Foundation, and Tara Climate Foundation. The initiative provides country-specific support aligned with national priorities, with an initial focus on South-East Asia.
The launch comes at a critical time, as Asia and the Pacific account for around 60% of global greenhouse gas emissions and 80% of global coal supply, while regional energy demand is expected to rise sharply by mid-century. ESCAP Executive Secretary Armida Salsiah Alisjahbana emphasized that governments face multiple constraints, including legacy infrastructure, limited fiscal space, evolving regulatory environments, institutional capacity gaps, and financing challenges. ETGGP aims to help countries navigate these challenges by combining policy analysis, institutional strengthening, regional cooperation, and green finance.
The initiative is structured around three complementary pillars. The first focuses on analytical work to strengthen evidence-based planning at the intersection of energy, economy, and industry. The second promotes regional power connectivity through green power corridors. The third mobilizes green finance to enhance enabling conditions, build investable project pipelines, and facilitate the flow of capital at scale.
ETGGP leverages ESCAP’s intergovernmental platform, analytical expertise, and country-focused support to work with ministries of energy, finance, transport, environment, and social development. The initiative also engages development partners, financial institutions, knowledge organizations, and regional experts to generate policy solutions and strengthen capacity for integrating energy transition with green industrialization and job creation.
Expected outcomes include stronger policy coordination, improved evidence for decision-making, increased investment readiness, and greater access to public and private finance for clean energy and enabling infrastructure. Lessons learned from participating countries will inform regional energy policy dialogue, helping governments accelerate energy transitions and enhance cooperation on clean energy, power grids, and sustainable financing across Asia and the Pacific.
