THERE has never been a more important moment to embrace a low-carbon future in Southeast Asia. Covid-19 has served as a startling reminder of the potentially catastrophic consequences of existential threats like a global pandemic, and in doing so has impressed upon all of us the potential perils of a warming planet. For a just and sustainable recovery that averts the devastation threatened by climate change, swift and far-sighted policy interventions are needed now.

Every nation on earth can navigate these disorienting times to a future of stability, prosperity, and resilience by embracing a low-carbon future. National stimulus packages designed to revive post-Covid economies should be built around the energy transition and aligned with the sustainable development agenda and the Paris Climate Agreement.

For the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean), the direction of travel required is increasingly clear. Energy transformation measures should be mainstreamed into the region's collective political decision making. This moment calls for bold, concrete, and wise policy and investment steps that will serve as the foundation of a swift recovery, and form the cornerstone of sustainable, long-term growth.