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AI is booming across Southeast Asia. But where will all the electricity come from, and can the region meet growing demand without locking itself into fossil fuels? In this episode, Junice Yeo, Managing Partner at Eco-Business, explores the hidden energy costs of AI and the challenges facing Asia's clean energy transition. She discusses the risks of greenwashing, the future of cross-border power grids in ASEAN, and the growing role of Chinese clean technology in the region. She also looks at how investment, better ESG rules and fairer energy pricing can help drive the shift to cleaner power. What will it take for Southeast Asia to power its AI boom sustainably? Listen for fresh insights and practical lessons for investors, climate finance professionals, business leaders and policy makers.

REFERENCES: Eco-Business

ABOUT JUNICE: Junice Yeo is Managing Partner at Eco-Business, where she leads research, advisory and training engagements with corporate and government clients across Asia Pacific on ESG disclosure, climate risk, carbon markets and sustainable finance. She also oversees Eco-Business’s engagements in Hong Kong and Mainland China. With over 20 years of experience across China and Southeast Asia, Junice has worked extensively with financial institutions, corporates and policymakers on emerging market developments in areas including the carbon markets and nature risks. She frequently delivers executive and board-level briefings on sustainable finance, decarbonisation and the evolving role of Asia in the global climate transition. Prior to joining Eco-Business, she established the Southeast Asia practice of UK-based ESG consultancy Corporate Citizenship, advising listed companies and multinationals on ESG strategy and reporting. Earlier in her career, she held trade and investment roles with the Embassy of Switzerland and the Singapore Tourism Board, and led brand and communications at Danone in Shanghai and the Sino-Singapore Tianjin Eco-City project — one of China’s earliest large-scale urban sustainability developments. Junice holds the CFA Institute Certificate in ESG Investing and the IFRS Foundation’s FSA Credential. She also serves as an external advisory member to the Airbus Executive Committee.

RECOMENDATIONS:

• Intelligence Squared: award-winning podcast and debate platform that brings together leading experts, policymakers and public thinkers to explore the most important issues shaping the world today. Listen on Intelligence Squared.
• China's Quest for 'Infinite' Energy: A Bloomberg Originals documentary exploring China's renewable energy expansion and the challenges of meeting rising electricity demand. Watch on YouTube.
• Prisoners of Geography: A book by Tim Marshall examining how geography shapes global politics and the strategic choices of nations. Simon & Schuster, official publisher page.

HOST, PRODUCTION, ARTWORK: Joseph Jacobelli  |  MUSIC: Ep76 onward excerpts from Vivaldi’s La Follia, played by Luca Jacobelli.