By Lasheeni Ghobi
PUTRAJAYA, 29 August 2025: In a significant move to elevate regional collaboration, Malaysia, as the current ASEAN chair, is set to introduce the ASEAN Framework and Action Plan for a Just and Inclusive Transition to Green Jobs (2025–2030). The initiative, announced by Human Resources Minister Steven Sim at the ASEAN Green Jobs Forum (AGJF), aims to galvanize collective efforts among member states to invest in, create, and provide training for the green economy.
A key component of this framework is the establishment of the ASEAN Green Jobs Regional Centre of Excellence (AGJCOE). The AGJCOE will serve as a central hub for policy advice, research, and benchmarking. It will also coordinate forums and encourage partnerships among various stakeholders, including the private sector, academia, and civil society. The center’s functions will include developing regional guidelines for green job classifications to assist with policy alignment and workforce planning.
Sim highlighted that while some parts of the world face challenges in collaboration, ASEAN must leverage its “centrality, long-standing friendship, and flexible approach” to secure a greener future. He noted that ASEAN’s cooperation model, which is based on inclusivity and consensus, has already proven successful in addressing complex regional issues like the ASEAN Power Grid and cross-border digital payments.
On the domestic front, Malaysia’s own initiatives serve as a model for the region. The minister pointed to the National Energy Transition Roadmap (NETR), which targets net-zero emissions by 2050. The first phase of the NETR has already attracted RM25 billion in investments and is projected to create up to 300,000 green jobs by 2050, many of which are expected to offer salaries above the national minimum wage.
The Framework and Action Plan are designed to build upon such national strategies, ensuring that the transition to green economies is not only just and inclusive but also benefits all segments of society. Sim underscored ASEAN’s unique advantage in driving sustainable development, citing its year-round sun and wind, rich biodiversity, and a society deeply connected to the earth.
The two-day AGJF, which is supported by the Australian government through the Aus4ASEAN Futures, Access Partnership, and the ASEAN Secretariat, is focused on addressing the growing demand for green skills and promoting a just and sustainable future for the region.
