AI for Sustainable Development in ASEAN

Acknowledgements •Keith Detros,ProgrammeLead, Tech forGood Institute•Kristina Fong, Lead Economic Researcher(ASEAN Studies Centre), ISEAS-Yusof IshakInstitute•Mr. Gil Rangel Da Cruz, Senior Professional,Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, Fishery andForestry (MALFF) Timor-Leste•Ms. Pyrou Chung, Director at the OpenDevelopment Initiative, East-WestManagement Institute•Ms. Taing Chanreaksmey, Chief Officer,General Department of Science, Technology &Innovation, Ministry of Industry, Science,Technology & Innovation Cambodia•Urvashi Aneja, Director, Digital Futures Lab This project was commissioned by the UK’sForeign, Commonwealth and Development Office(FCDO), with support from Arup as the deliverypartner.For any queries related to this study,thecontact pointsfrom FCDOareRizky Januar(Rizky.Januar@fcdo.gov.uk) andJeremie Credo (Jeremie.Credo@fcdo.gov.uk).From the Arup side, contact Kristian Steele(Kristian.Steele@arup.com). This report would not have been possible withoutthe valuable contributions of key individuals andorganisationsin the preparation of this report.Thankyou to the stakeholders engaged during theproject, which include, but are not limited to: •Air First Marshal Asst. Prof. Dr. Ir. ArwinDatumayaWahyudi Sumari, S.T., M.T., IPU,ASEAN Eng., ACPE, APEC Eng., Special Staffto the Chief of Staff of the Air Force/AdjunctProfessor, Indonesian Air Force/StatePolytechnic of Malang Arup is a global collective of designers,consultants and experts dedicated to sustainabledevelopment, and to using imagination,technology and rigour to shape a better world.Authors of thisreport includeKristian Steele, ArinaKoul, Jill Leung, Ying Hong and Chester Ling. •Dona Mathew, Senior Research Associate,Digital Futures Lab •Dr. Catarina Camarinhas, CountryProgrammeManager ai, UN-Habitat Thestudy was supported by South andSoutheast Asia Research and Innovation Hub(SSEARIH), Foreign, Commonwealth &Development Office (FCDO), Government ofUK. However, the views expressed herein donot necessarily reflect the official policies ofGovernment of UK. •Dr Vanny Narita, Senior Officer, Science andTechnology Division, ASEAN Secretariat •Dr Zurina Moktar, Assistant Director/Head,Science and Technology Division, ASEANSecretariat •Hazremi Hamid, Senior Officer, DigitalEconomy, ASEAN Secretariat •H.E Dr.HulSeingheng, Under Secretary ofState, Ministry of Industry, Science,Technology & Innovation Cambodia Executive Summary Building an inclusive, AI-ready workforce isessential to accelerate progress in key climatesectors.In agriculture, for instance, farmers mustbe equipped with foundational AI skills toeffectively access and apply emergingtechnologies. Special attention should be given tosupporting female farmers, who often face higherbarriers to digital inclusion. Beyond this, it iscritical to nurture cross-domain knowledge at theintersection of AI and climate change. Upskillingtertiary students and professionals with this hybridexpertise will enhance the relevance and impact ofAI solutions for climate change efforts. This report exploresthetransformative potential ofAIinaddressing climate challenges acrossSoutheast Asia,emphasisingthe need for targetedinterventions to harness AI effectively whilemitigating emerging risks. The analysis coversnine countries in the region, focusing on pressingclimate-related risks and key actions to consideracross seven pillars: Data, Computing, Talent &Skills, Responsible Governance, Innovation,Scaling, and GEDSI (Gender Equality, Diversity,and Social Inclusion). Some key insights include: Addressing climate data gaps is critical forcombating climate risks.The lack of access toand quality of climate data can be mitigatedthrough establishing robust data governance andstrengthening local data collection. IntegratingTraditional Ecological Knowledge into AI systemsis a novel approach that could be explored,tapping into indigenous understanding of the localenvironment to create inclusive and impactful AI-driven climate strategies. The gender gap in AI-driven climate techfunding in Southeast Asia needs to beaddressed to foster innovation and scaling.Women-led startups often face structural barriers,such as reduced access to investor networks andlimited visibility in tech ecosystems. As a result,promising AI-for-climate solutions led by womenmay be overlooked or underfunded. Tackling thisrequires targeted action, including more inclusivefunding processes and support systems thatrecognisethe value of diverse leadership inclimate and AI innovation. AI’s expanding environmental footprintdemands urgent attention.The region’s fast-growing data centre market strains energy andwater resources. Strengthening governance forsustainable data centres and improving energyefficiency through advanced algorithms are crucialto mitigating these impacts–further solidifyingSoutheast Asia’s position as an emerging greendata centre hub. Overall, this report presents numerous keyfindings which collectively aim to inform the