As the world moves into 2025, the urgency of transitioning to clean energy has never been greater. Despite progress in renewable energy deployment, global efforts remain insufficient to meet the 1.5°C climate target. To bridge this gap, renewable energy capacity must triple to 11.2 TW by 2030, energy efficiency improvements must double, and climate finance must scale up investments in developing regions.

The Lancang-Mekong (LM) region/Greater Mekong Subregion (GMS) plays a crucial role in this transition, with countries setting ambitious carbon neutrality targets. Supported by regional frameworks like the Lancang-Mekong Cooperation (LMC), the GMS Energy Transition Taskforce (ETTF), and the ASEAN Power Grid (APG), efforts are underway to expand renewable energy and enhance energy efficiency. However, challenges remain, including policy misalignment, infrastructure gaps, financial constraints, and capacity limitations. Strengthening regional cooperation, policy alignment, cross-border energy trade, and investment mobilization will be key to accelerating the clean energy transition in the region.