Yesterday, the leading directory ranking lawyers around the world, Legal 500, published its inaugural Asia Pacific Green Ambassadors guide. In Singapore, I was delighted to be recognised for the work we do in the energy and decarbonisation space, but I was proud to see that of the thirteen recognised ambassadors in Singapore, four others are alumni of Norton Rose Fulbright - a testament to the work we do as a firm and apt recognition for my ex-colleagues. We only have one planet, so we are literally all in it together, and so I congratulate all of the recognised ambassadors, but in particular Nick Dingemans, Zoë Bromage, Stephen Clugston and Gregory Xu, who have all at some time, worked with me here at NRF.

The pathway to net-zero and the low carbon economy requires significant investment, alongside continuous invention and innovation, and in that, some will thrive and others perhaps not survive. It presents risk and opportunity, it warrants change and new ways of doing things, and at the centre of it all is the law. The flow of capital, the development and protection of intellectual property, the M&A (and bankruptcy/ restructuring), investment and risk analysis, and the shaping of transactions and contracts all require lawyers who can drive and instigate meaningful change, and that is what excites me after twenty five years in Asia. 

As we say internally, counsel are catalysts for change, and that is my siren song to graduates entering the profession today - the change demanded over the next twenty five years across clean energy, green molecules, low carbon technology and a just transition that delivers on the Sustainable Development Goals is the sandpit that new lawyers can play in to make a real difference.

So what are the opportunities in 2026 for Asia?

• According to the IEA, annual energy investment in SE Asia averaged $72bn in 2021-2023, but this doubles to almost $130bn per annum by 2030.
• Major private capital pools such as KKR, Actis and Brookfield are making significant investments in the region.
• Regional power trading and integration will take off this year with significant progress on green electron imports to Singapore from Indonesia and Vietnam on the cards.
• South Korean investors are spending over $9bn on integrated nickel/ battery manufacturing capacity in Indonesia.
• Direct power purchase agreements are slated for Vietnam and Thailand in 2026.
• Significant interest in Philippines renewables with the launch of the first offshore wind auction under the successful Green Energy Auction Programme.
• CCS hubs actively under consideration in Malaysia and Thailand along with green hydrogen technology.

In short, there are extensive opportunities for the Green Ambassadors to lead the way for lawyers to support the transition in Asia.  To hijack one of the sayings of the great stoic, Marcus Aurelius:

Waste no more time arguing what a good lawyer should be.  Be one.