Asia Sustainability Dialogue 2023

Fossil fuels still power the globe. They account for 87% of Asia Pacific’s energy needs, 70% of the EU’s, and 47% of Switzerland’s.

A much faster transition to renewable energy is needed if the world still wants to have a shot at not warming more than 1.5 degrees by 2050. This requires a fundamental shift in energy systems, away from fossil fuels. It needs governments, societies, and businesses to all be on board and commit to a greater ambition.

That awareness seems to have set in. There is a visible shift from ambition to action. But it all still falls far short from what is required: efforts need to be scaled up.

As the world’s biggest growth region, what happens in Asia Pacific will determine whether the world succeeds in the energy transition and meet the Paris climate goals.

Asia’s success requires contributions from Europe as well. Governments will need to spend billions on building policies and regulations to reach net zero, so that multinational banks, re/insurers and other companies can sustainably invest trillions in the global energy transition.

At the inaugural Asia Sustainability Dialogue, we've explored what the bottlenecks are to scale up the energy transition and what is needed to remove them.

• How can countries attract money to pay for renewable energy projects?
• How can financial companies work with governments and institutions like the Asian Development Bank to fund a way out of fossil fuels?
• What does the energy transition mean for a local consumer?
• What are examples of successful projects and investments that can be copied?

The Asia Sustainability Dialogue is an annual event organized by Asia Society Switzerland and Swiss Re. It provides a platform for in-depth discussions on sustainable practices, environmental resilience, and green economic growth. Featuring a blend of thought leaders, policymakers, business innovators, and environmental activists from both continents, the dialogue strives to inspire responsible action and sustainable development and promote cooperation in these areas between Europe and Asia.

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