ESG Symposium 2026 is advancing from a forum for dialogue to regional-level action, marking a pivotal shift in ASEAN's sustainability efforts. Under the theme "ASEAN in Action: Powering Inclusive Green Transition," the Symposium builds on last year's proposals to advance three key agendas: Energy Transition, Just Transition and Climate Adaptation. It also links these agendas with Public–Private–People Partnership (4P) collaboration, in order to move approaches from the policy level to implementation in the business sector and local communities, and to bring lessons from Thailand into consideration for adaptation in other ASEAN contexts.
Organized as a regional collaboration platform by SCG together with the World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD) and partners from all sectors, the Symposium connects leaders and experts from government, business, finance, international organizations and academia to exchange knowledge and practices. It also brings them together to shape responses to ASEAN's key challenges, namely energy security, adaptation to climate change, and the creation of a green economy and green jobs that distribute opportunities and strengthen the region's resilience.
Mr. Joe Phelan, Executive Director - Asia Pacific, WBCSD, said: "The sustainability transition is linked to competitiveness, security and investment, which presents both a significant challenge and an important opportunity for ASEAN. The key lies in connecting policy, investment, technology and people through collaboration among government, business, the financial sector and communities, in order to drive ASEAN toward sustainable growth over the long term."
In Thailand, the business sector will play an important role in turning global direction into collective action, particularly by helping SMEs and entrepreneurs in the supply chain adapt and grow alongside the green economy. Dr. Phacharaphot Nuntramas, Krungthai Chief Economist & JSCCIB Economist, noted: "Thailand must use the Green Transition as an opportunity to enhance its competitiveness and attract future investment. The key is end-to-end implementation, creating an inclusive transition in which large businesses help upgrade SMEs in their supply chains so that they can adapt and grow together. In addition, the Joint Standing Committee on Commerce, Industry and Banking (JSCCIB) is ready to carry the proposals from this forum forward through the Reinvent Thailand platform, together with the business sector and other stakeholders."
The Symposium's three key agendas reflect both progress made and new challenges. On Energy Transition, last year's proposals aimed to unlock access to renewable electricity through Third Party Access (TPA), Direct PPA and the reduction of regulatory constraints. This year, the discussion moves toward raising the "readiness of the energy system," including enhancing the capacity and flexibility of the power grid, grid-forming technology, and adjusting the Power Development Plan (PDP) to align with future energy demand. It also looks further ahead to new technologies and energy sources such as Small Modular Reactors (SMR) and biofuels, as well as ASEAN-level cooperation through the ASEAN Power Grid. Dr. Areeporn Asawinpongphan, Research Fellow in Energy Policy at the Thailand Development Research Institute (TDRI), proposed establishing an energy system that balances security, competitive costs and decarbonization targets, recommending accelerated development of resilient infrastructure, increased solar and bioenergy, grid upgrades, and market liberalization.
On Just Transition, last year's support for SMEs through knowledge and tools such as NZAP and Go Together is expanded this year with approaches including Funding Connect and SME Green Transition Plus for industrial SMEs, to help entrepreneurs gain greater access to knowledge, technology, funding and business opportunities. Mr. Veerachai Monsintorn, Vice Chairman of the Federation of Thai Industries (FTI) and Chairman of Small and Medium Industry Institute, proposed that support be tailored to entrepreneurs' capacity to adapt, starting with a selected pilot group to create a comprehensive prototype before scaling up.
On Climate Adaptation, building on last year's Water Resilience discussion, the focus extends to an AI Simulation Platform for assessing flood risk and infrastructure vulnerability, with plans to make the platform publicly accessible and to look toward ASEAN-level Risk Mapping and Simulation. Asst. Prof. Dr. Pongsak Suttinon, Head of the Department of Water Resources Engineering at Chulalongkorn University, proposed shifting from post-disaster response to advance preparedness, developing a One Water Data Center to integrate water data, forecasting and early warning systems with local communities, alongside investment in dual-use infrastructure and extending water management toward a Water Economy.
Mr. Thammasak Sethaudom, President and CEO of SCG, said: "From the proposals and actions of the past year, we now see clear progress across all three agendas. The key challenge today is to take what we have learned and done over many years and scale it up more broadly. We have seen that Public–Private–People Partnership, or 4P, can deliver real results: the public sector creates conditions conducive to action, the private sector brings technology and capital to experiment, and the people's sector participates in defining the needs of each area, which is the Area-Based Approach. Drawing on lessons from Saraburi Province, we should take this 4P model and scale it to other areas, starting by studying the needs and problems of each area while identifying suitable partners, so that lessons can be turned into real action and cooperation can be extended with other countries."
The Symposium's outcomes are being disseminated through platforms like Media OutReach Newswire, underscoring the importance of transparent communication in driving regional sustainability. As ASEAN faces mounting climate risks, the shift from dialogue to implementation could accelerate the green transition, enhance competitiveness, and foster inclusive growth, provided that 4P collaboration is scaled effectively. The lessons from Thailand may serve as a blueprint for other ASEAN nations, but success hinges on sustained commitment and adaptive strategies.
