Challenges and Opportunities in Decarbonizing the Chemical Industry in Asia
Panelists:
Moderator: Yujung Shin, Head of Petrochemical Campaigns at SFOC (Solutions for Our Climate)
Speakers:
Li Fang Ph.D., Country Director, WRI (World Resource Institute) China
Kevin Tu, Managing Director, Agora Energy China
Gwang ha Chung, Executive Director, Future Strategy Division, KCIA (Korea Chemical Industry Association)
Vaibhav Chaturvedi Ph.D., Senior Fellow, CEEW (Council on Energy, Environment and Water)
Background
The chemical sector is the world’s largest industrial energy consumer and the third-largest subsector for direct CO₂ emissions, accounting for around 5 % of global totals.
In Asia, rapid industrial growth, urbanization, and rising demand for products such as plastics and fertilizers have driven a major expansion of chemical capacity. Without decisive course-correction, the combination of growing production and the industry’s carbon-intensive profile could cause sectoral emissions to rise sharply, undermining Paris Agreement goals.
The decarbonization challenge is shaped by high energy use, reliance on high-temperature processes, and carbon-rich feedstocks, while many mitigation options are not yet commercial at scale or remain prohibitively costly.
In Asia, these hurdles are compounded by heterogeneity: countries differ in energy mix, policy ambition, and regulatory capacity. Many continue to depend on carbon-intensive power and fuels, and access to clean electricity and green hydrogen varies widely.
Yet opportunities are emerging. Technological pathways such as electrification, green hydrogen, recycled feedstocks are advancing, while several Asian governments have begun supporting industrial decarbonization strategies and climate-linked policies. Major companies are also publishing transition roadmaps.
To bend the curve fast enough, however, credible policy frameworks and targeted investments are needed.
This event will examine both the obstacles the Asian chemical industry faces and the opportunities that can be leveraged—aiming to generate actionable insights to guide the region’s industrial transition.
(Blue Zone)Event Goals
Assess the emissions trends by chemical industry in Asia.
Explore decarbonization strategies, advancements in in policy frameworks, and best practices in Asian contexts.
Identify the challenges and explore the opportunities for a net-zero pathway in chemical sector.