Digital Innovation to Advance a Net Zero Future

Available and emerging technologies are enabling efficiencies that drive decarbonization. Digital innovations are changing consumption patterns and lifestyle habits, while digitalization, across industry sectors, has transformed business models and ways of working.

This thematic session at the Asian Development Bank's (ADB) fourth Southeast Asia Development Symposium (SEADS) examined technologies that power transformation and offer the potential to achieve net-zero. Panelists explored game-changing innovations and provided insights from their respective spheres of influence.

Global Perspective

Digital payments giant Visa is helping consumers shift to a more conscious form of consumerism in support of the net-zero economy transition, said the company's Chief Sustainability Officer Douglas Sabo, in his talk at the Asian Development Bank's (ADB) fourth Southeast Asia Development Symposium (SEADS). He said Visa is tailoring its products and services to be more green to serve consumers around the world, who “want to do the right thing for the planet, for their families, and for themselves.”

Douglas Sabo

Douglas Sabo is chief sustainability officer at Visa Inc. In this role, Sabo leads development and oversight of Visa’s global environmental, social and governance (ESG) efforts, including Visa’s ESG strategy, framework, reporting and stakeholder engagement. Sabo also leads Visa’s initiatives in environmental sustainability, human rights, and other areas of responsible business.

Southeast Asia Perspective

ASEAN can strengthen collective action on net-zero by sharing knowledge and experiences on best practices and emerging mechanisms such as carbon pricing and renewable energy trading, said United Nations Environment Programme Asia and the Pacific Office Regional Director and Representative Dechen Tsering in her address at the Asian Development Bank's (ADB) fourth Southeast Asia Development Symposium (SEADS).

Technology Innovation for Sustainable Growth and Development in Asia–Pacific Talk and APAC Sustainability Seed Fund Announcement

Google Vice-President for Government Affairs and Public Policy for Asia–Pacific Michaela Browning gives a talk at the Asian Development Bank's (ADB) fourth Southeast Asia Development Symposium (SEADS) where she traced how the tech giant has adopted sustainability in its operations.

She also talked about how its philanthropic arm, Google.org, has supported nonprofits in addressing sustainability challenges across Asia and the Pacific.

Southeast Asian Countries to Scale Up Renewable Energy Manufacturing

A presentation by ADB and McKinsey. Commentary by Bloomberg Philanthropies and Sustainable Energy for All. McKinsey & Co. Asia Sustainability Practice Partner and Leader Vaibhav Dua said the region is looking at a $200-billion opportunity in the manufacture of solar photovoltaic panels, electric motorcycles, and batteries, as there is room to grow in both production capacity and demand not just in the region but the world was given the push for all countries to decarbonize.

ASEAN and Global Value Chains: Locking in Resilience and Sustainability

Southeast Asia needs to strengthen its position in global value chain to bolster resilience against new challenges including future pandemics, geopolitical instability, and climate change, according to a new report, ASEAN and Global Value Chains: Locking in Resilience and Sustainability, which was launched during the Asian Development Bank's (ADB) fourth Southeast Asia Development Symposium (SEADS).

Dina Gurning

Dina Gurning is a journalist with 7 years of experience covering a diverse range of topics. With a degree in journalism from a top university in Indonesia, Gurning’s passion for storytelling has taken her across places, reporting on everything from politics to entertainment. Now she expands her reporting expertise and delivers the latest economic and business news as a news anchor on CNBC Indonesia.

Financing Net Zero

With $210 billion per year needed for climate adaptation and mitigation investments in Southeast Asia, the region needs innovative schemes to finance net zero initiatives. This plenary panel will examine the challenges the region is facing to finance its net zero goals and propose ways to bridge the gap.