Manila, 8 October 2026: The Asia Zero Emission Community (AZEC) Advocacy Group, comprising the ASEAN Business Advisory Council (ASEAN-BAC), Keidanren (Japan Business Federation), and ERIA, submitted its 2026 Joint Recommendation to the 4th AZEC Ministerial Meeting in Manila, the Philippines.

The recommendation presents a unified business-sector perspective from AZEC partner countries, calling for stronger energy resilience and resource security alongside decarbonisation and economic growth. In response to the region’s evolving challenges – including rising energy demand, geopolitical uncertainties, and increasingly frequent disasters and extreme weather events – it highlights the need to strengthen energy and resource supply chains as part of a broader growth strategy.

The Joint Recommendation identifies three priority areas for action:

• Energy Resilience: Diversifying energy sources, strengthening the foundations for energy diversification, and promoting energy efficiency.
• Resource Security: Securing critical mineral supply chains and strengthening resource-circulation networks.
• Market Enablers: Promoting transition finance and green investment, strengthening cross-border carbon markets, and developing specialised talent.

The proposed actions support AZEC’s ‘triple breakthrough’ of decarbonisation, economic growth, and energy security. Through enhanced regional co-operation, they also aim to create business opportunities in green technologies, resilient energy systems, and sustainable supply chains across the region.

Read the 2026 Joint Recommendation: AZEC Advocacy Group Joint Recommendation 2026