{
  "id": 11118584,
  "title": "ASEAN should focus on building up regional power grid, climate finance and resilience: Grace Fu",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/01/asean-should-focus-on-building-up-regional-power-grid-climate-finance",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-10-01T05:15:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Straits Times",
    "slug": "straits-times",
    "url": "https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/environment/asean-should-focus-on-building-up-regional-power-grid-climate-finance-and-resilience-grace-fu"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Minister for Sustainability and the Environment Grace Fu urged ASEAN to concentrate on enhancing its regional power grid, increasing climate finance, and improving resilience against climate change impacts during an event on Oct 1. At the same time, the energy crisis and the rise in fuel prices are causing challenges for businesses, households, and the economy. Fu highlighted the importance of accelerating the transition to renewable energy, which may reduce dependence on imported fossil fuels and minimize exposure to fuel price volatility. She also emphasized the significance of developing the ASEAN Power Grid to enable the region to utilize its energy resources more effectively and lower reliance on a single energy source. Fu underlined the need for clear rules on cross-border electricity trade and practical standards for submarine power cables. Singapore aims to prioritize practical cooperation on these matters during its ASEAN chairmanship in 2027. Fu also outlined Singapore's efforts to develop financial instruments that can raise funds for climate-friendly projects in the region. The national blended finance initiative, Financing Asia’s Transition Partnership (FAST-P), has raised US$1.14 billion (S$1.5 billion) for various green energy projects, including battery storage, solar plants, and improved power grids. Singapore has also signed agreements with its Southeast Asian neighbours to collaborate on carbon markets, which can direct funds to green projects in developing countries. Fu stressed the importance of investing in climate resilience to safeguard economies, communities, and long-term development as climate risks escalate.",
  "summary": "Extreme weather events and economic recession among SE-Asia's concerns.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}