The numerous elections in Asian countries this year have revealed the complexity of integrating climate action with broader socioeconomic goals. While climate change has been elevated as a key issue in many recent elections across Asia, signaling growing recognition of its importance to the voting public, many campaign platforms still lack detailed roadmaps and actionable plans. To make substantive progress on addressing climate change, Asian countries must develop government policies that cultivate broad-based public support. Integrating climate initiatives with policies that offer immediate, palpable benefits can not only reflect the public's interests but also bode well on the global community's agenda for climate risk resilience. Against this backdrop, this piece analyzes how climate issues have shown up in recent elections in Asia with an eye toward how electoral outcomes will influence future climate progress for Asia and the world.

Climate Change Issues in Asian Elections

Bangladesh

The 2024 elections in Bangladesh were not only a referendum on the country's economic challenges but also a litmus test for the ruling Awami League (AL) under the leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. The pandemonium that preceded the elections, however, undermined a critical opportunity to amplify the AL government's climate-smart policies and reforms.

Under Prime Minister Hasina and the AL, Bangladesh has demonstrated a growing commitment to addressing climate change, reflective of its geographic vulnerability to natural disasters. Major initiatives include rapid development of climate-resilient infrastructure, mechanisms for disaster preparedness, and the launch of the ambitious Mujib Climate Prosperity Plan, which focuses on enhancing disaster preparedness and building resilient agricultural systems.

Looking ahead, although Bangladesh has made strides in building climate resilience, its mitigation policies, specifically its energy transition policies, require further strengthening. The country's energy mix is still heavily reliant on fossil fuels. As of 2022, renewable energy constituted only a modest portion of Bangladesh's total power generation, falling short of earlier targets set for renewable energy contributions. This shortfall not only hinders progress toward the earlier targets but also illustrates the broader challenge of aligning socioeconomic goals with environmental imperatives within the country's political and economic framework. Rapid industrial growth, driven by the demand to boost economic output and employment, has been reliant on fossil fuels as its primary energy source. However, the recent surge in global fossil fuel prices, exacerbated by geopolitical events such as the Russia-Ukraine war, has highlighted the vulnerabilities of such dependency, underscoring the urgent need for Bangladesh to transition toward more stable and sustainable energy sources such as renewables.

Hasina's election to another term offers more continuity in governmental policies, but the government needs to accelerate the transition to renewable energy, which is critical not just for reducing dependency on fossil fuels but also for bolstering the nation's resilience against energy system shocks. By increasing the deployment of renewable energy, Bangladesh can enhance its energy security, making it less vulnerable to global energy shocks and more robust in the face of climate-related risks.

Bhutan

The 2024 elections in Bhutan marked a political shift with the People's Democratic Party (PDP) securing the majority vote and committing to priorities on economic growth and Bhutan's philosophy of Gross National Happiness. Economic revitalization was a central theme of the elections, driven by challenges including high youth emigration rates and the need for more job opportunities within the country. These economic considerations, while pivotal for voters, nonetheless overshadowed other issues including environmental policies​.

Despite Bhutan's global recognition as a carbon-negative country, climate change was not a major campaign issue this year. However, the PDP's electoral success and Tshering Tobgay's return as prime minister for a second term suggest a continuity in Bhutan's approach to sustainable development. This includes a potential focus on hydropower development and industrial sectors, including steel and cement, to create jobs. Such development initiatives need to be aligned with Bhutan's longstanding commitment to environmental conservation and its initiatives in sustainable tourism, forest conservation, and renewable energy.

Moving forward, Bhutan's leaders will need to connect environmental policies and clean energy transition to long-term economic growth and prosperity. Navigating the challenges of economic modernization without compromising its environmental values becomes essential. Specifically, Bhutan will need to follow closely its Environmental Assessment Guidelines and start implementing the Low Emission Development Strategy for Industries for all new industrial projects, ensuring that each step, from planning to production, adheres to the highest standards of environmental integrity. This approach will help safeguard Bhutan's carbon-negative status while supporting sustainable economic modernization.

Taiwan

Taiwan's geopolitical tensions and its economic stability amid global uncertainties shaped much of the recent election discourse. The January 2024 elections, while centered on national security and economic resilience, indirectly touched upon environmental issues, given the intersection of these areas with energy security and economic sustainability​.

Post-election, Taiwan's approach to climate and energy policy remains aligned with the Democratic Progressive Party's (DPP's) existing agenda. The new administration under Lai Ching-te is expected to maintain a focus on transitioning toward renewable energy, aiming for net zero emissions by 2050. At the same time, Lai faces the intricate dynamics of a divided government as his party does not hold a majority in the legislature. This fragmentation presents a substantial challenge to his administration's energy goals, such as revisiting the nuclear power phaseout plan given power shortages in recent years and energy security risks of high dependence on liquified natural gas imports. These energy issues may encounter resistance from the opposition and could result in legislative gridlock.

Despite these hurdles, Taiwan does possess a robust national climate law, setting a legislative framework for emissions reductions and reaching net zero by 2050, while Taiwan's energy mix still relies heavily on coal and natural gas. Achieving the 2025 goals for gas-fired power generation and renewable energy poses a significant challenge for the island, especially under persistent supply chain constraints and geopolitical pressures​. Taiwan's reliance on imported coal, gas, and nuclear energy underscores its vulnerability, while a shift to renewables offers a strategic reduction in such dependencies, despite the complexities of supply chain dominance and land constraints for onshore projects. Given Taiwan's geography, the country has significant potential in offshore wind energy. To maximize this potential, Taiwan could further foster international collaborations for technology transfer and pursue development finance options to boost investment in the sector.

Pakistan

The 2024 elections in Pakistan were held amid significant political turmoil resulting in the formation of a coalition government for the second time, led by the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) and the Pakistan Muslim League–Nawaz (PML-N). Both the PPP and the PML-N presented substantial environmental agendas in their manifestos. The PPP promised a Green New Deal focusing on climate change investments, public-private partnerships, and solar park projects, which suggests an intent to integrate climate resilience across various sectors​ of the Pakistani economy. At the same time, the PML-N most notably committed to expanding solar capacity to 10% of the energy mix and connecting renewable energy zones to grids.

The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), led by former Prime Minister Imran Khan, secured a substantial number of seats, though not a majority and is now in the opposition. The PTI, reflecting on its past achievements including the Ten Billion Tree Tsunami and the launch of climate bonds, emphasized its continued commitment to prioritizing environmentally sustainable economic growth and transforming the agricultural sector to achieve climate resilience. It has also outlined plans for renewable energy transition, though they are short on the specifics.

Pakistan's coalition government, going forward, faces the challenge of unifying diverse political views on climate policy into actionable solutions​. Moreover, what the electoral promises lack in particular is the development and implementation of effective climate-resilience policies that address issues such as rising sea levels, floods, and water scarcity. With Pakistan spearheading the "loss and damage" agenda, the country has positioned itself as a leader in climate negotiations, particularly on issues crucial to developing nations. Looking ahead to COP29 and beyond, it will be essential to observe how the new government upholds this leadership, particularly in advancing its own National Adaptation Plans and helping operationalize the Loss and Damage Fund, both of which are integral to addressing the impacts of climate-induced disasters in the region especially amid the growing economic fragility

Indonesia

Indonesia's 2024 presidential election reflected the country's ongoing debate over climate and energy policy. Preelection discussions were significantly influenced by Indonesia's role as a major coal exporter and its burgeoning nickel industry — the latter is central to the global electric vehicle supply chain. The conversation around these industries delved into how economic interests intersect with environmental responsibilities, and there was a palpable tension between Indonesia's economic dependency on these industries and the global and domestic calls for stronger environmental stewardship, notably in deforestation and emissions reduction​.

Following the elections, the trajectory for Indonesia's climate policy under President-elect Prabowo Subianto, who comes from a military background, is expected to follow a path of continuity with the previous administration, but it comes with the complexity of implementing these policies amid competing economic interests. Prabowo promised early retirement of coal plants and supported the continuation of existing climate policies initiated by President Joko Widodo ("Jokowi"). The Just Energy Transition Partnership initiated under the Jokowi administration seeks to mobilize significant international and private financing to push its targets to decarbonize the power sector. Such an initiative illustrates a model to jumpstart economic development through climate commitments. However, the actual implementation has been met with various issues, such as policy plan delays and funding gaps. At the same time, the continued reliance on coal, underpinned by domestic fuel and electricity subsidies, poses a significant obstacle to Indonesia's energy transition. The president-elect's policy proposals, although seemingly ambitious, were scrutinized for their lack of specificity in addressing these critical gaps, reflecting a broader dilemma in Indonesia's approach to climate action.​

The new administration is tasked with navigating these complexities by establishing a transparent framework for transitioning the nickel-processing industry and enhancing energy efficiency in existing facilities, a move that would align Indonesia's industrial strategy with its climate commitments. This strategic approach should be supported by robust legislation and incentives that encourage investment in renewable technologies and the development of a skilled workforce to drive sustainable industrial practices, ensuring that Indonesia's economic ambitions do not detract from its environmental obligations.

South Korea

South Korea's parliamentary elections marked a return in the nation's climate policy direction, with the opposition Democratic Party (DP) gaining a majority alongside its allies that placed climate change among their top three agenda items and focused on a shift to renewable energy. It has laid the groundwork for the DP's more ambitious climate policies, including a plan to phase out coal by 2040 and boost renewable energy production to 40% by 2035.

Although the DP's legislative win is expected to open a window of opportunity for transformative climate action, it does not guarantee an immediate or easy path forward. South Korea's latest Basic Electricity Plan (BEP) aims to boost renewable electricity to around 20% by 2030; yet, as of 2022, solar and wind accounted for only around 5.4% of power generation, while coal still holds a 34% share. Moreover, under President Yoon Suk Yeol's People Power Party (PPP), there has been a notable pivot toward nuclear power, with the updated BEP increasing the share of nuclear power to 32.8% by 2030, up from 25% in the 2020 plan. While nuclear energy presents an alternative pathway to decarbonization, it is typically more costly than renewable sources and necessitates stringent safety measures.

Going forward, the PPP's ability to develop nuclear power will receive some resistance from the opposition party, but the path toward renewable energy development in South Korea seems to hinge on overcoming the challenges of slow progress and relatively low ambition, as compared to other OECD countries. The DP could use its legislative majority to push for incremental changes that could amplify the country's renewable energy ambitions. It could also focus on enhancing grid infrastructure to support a higher penetration of renewables, streamlining regulations to accelerate the deployment of solar and wind projects, and exploring innovative financing models to incentivize private investment in clean energy.

The Next Steps for Asia

As these Asian nations embark on their post-election paths, the key is to effectively translate electoral promises into concrete actions that not only address their unique national priorities but also contribute to collective regional and global efforts in combating climate change. The elections have underscored a broad acknowledgment of climate issues across Asia, with varying degrees of commitment reflected in national policies. The way forward for Asia will require a nuanced approach to the interplay among political stability, economic development, environmental sustainability, and technological innovation. Successfully addressing these elements is crucial not only for fulfilling environmental commitments but also for supporting the region's economic ambitions and the growing needs of its population, thereby enhancing the quality of life and economic security. In bridging the gap between policy promises and their implementation, the region will also have an opportunity to emerge as a stronger player in the global narrative of climate action and sustainable development.