A new Deloitte report projects that the Asia-Pacific climate transition could add US$50 trillion (Rp833.054 trillion) to the region’s economy by 2070, while unlocking up to US$90 trillion in investment opportunities by 2050 for new technologies and supporting industries.

The report, titled “Accelerating Net-Zero: Critical Opportunities in Asia Pacific’s Climate Policy”, highlights Asia-Pacific’s pivotal role in the global net-zero agenda. The region accounts for 60 percent of the world’s population, nearly 40 percent of global GDP, and around 60 percent of carbon emissions. Deloitte argues that, just as Asia-Pacific led rapid economic growth in past decades, it could now spearhead a low-carbon industrial revolution.

However, the report warns that such transformation will require deep industrial policy reforms, energy system overhauls, and rapid adoption of low-carbon technologies.

Researchers identified four major challenges in decarbonization:

1. High cost and limited availability of future fuels;

2. Supply constraints of critical minerals;

3. Resource bottlenecks in battery production;

4. Transition difficulties in heavy industries reliant on high-emission fuels.

K. Ganesan Kolandevelu, Sustainability & Emerging Assurance Leader at Deloitte Southeast Asia, said Southeast Asia’s net-zero pathway will depend on how effectively it manages the next wave of decarbonization.

“The region faces unique challenges, including rapid economic growth, rising energy demand, and differing starting points across countries,” he noted, on Monday, September 22, 2025.

He stressed the need for clear and coordinated policies to unlock large-scale investment, provide certainty for emerging technologies, and foster cross-border collaboration.

Kolandevelu also underlined the private sector’s role in redesigning operations and supply chains to seize opportunities in low-carbon industries.

“If governments and businesses align ambition with concrete action, Southeast Asia will not only navigate the transition but could also become a global hub for sustainable growth,” he said.