On 25 February 2025, the APO Secretariat hosted an insightful knowledge-sharing town hall session on “Synergy of Decarbonization and Energy Productivity toward a Sustainable Society,” featuring Dr. Muhammad Aziz, Associate Professor at the Institute of Industrial Science, the University of Tokyo.

Dr. Aziz, a leading expert in energy and process integration, emphasized the critical link between energy resilience and the Sustainable Development Goals. He highlighted the importance of energy security, equity, and environmental sustainability, particularly in the Asian context. He explained that achieving energy resilience requires not only a shift to renewable energy but also an integrated approach to optimizing materials and energy consumption while recycling waste and emissions, a concept he termed the “cradle-to-cradle” integrated process.

His presentation showcased innovative energy solutions, including hydrogen production, renewable energy integration, and industrial decarbonization, demonstrating their potential to transform economies and industries across Asia. Furthermore, Dr. Aziz highlighted the importance of region-wide scenario building and optimization to enhance energy productivity.

The session attracted APO Secretariat staff, particularly program officers involved in Green Productivity 2.0 projects, fostering a dynamic exchange on the future of energy sustainability. An engaging Q and A session followed, reflecting the growing interest in scalable, efficient, and clean energy solutions.

The APO Secretariat remains committed to knowledge-sharing and capacity-building initiatives and to equipping its staff with advanced expertise to support member economies in achieving sustainability and productivity goals.

Dr. Muhammad Aziz, Associate Professor at the Institute of Industrial Science, the University of Tokyo, delivering his presentation.