We need a holistic approach for Asia's energy transition that meets three objectives: reduce emissions significantly; meet growing energy demands; and limit any adverse impact on jobs and communities. Neither the continued burning of coal nor the immediate cessation of coal plants meets all three objectives. What we need is a coherent strategy for the managed phaseout of coal that achieves environmental sustainability, energy security, and a just transition for communities whose livelihoods depend on coal. Finance alone is not enough but it can play a critical role in getting us from coal to clean. A combination of public and private capital, coupled with appropriate policy reforms, can provide the right economic model to encourage owners to voluntarily wind down their coal fired power plants ahead of their technical end of life. We will also need innovative financing structures to blend public and private capital. But there are significant challenges to financing the early retirement of coal. Financial institutions will need to justify how such financing is consistent with their net-zero commitments, especially when their financed emissions rise over the short term. They will need to address potential greenwashing concerns that new coal capacity is being created to replace the coal plants being phased out early. There is a lack of scalable risk sharing mechanisms to support coal plant owners in their transition to cleaner energy.
This is why the GFANZ APAC Network is launching today for public consultation a report providing detailed guidance on financing the managed phaseout of coal fired power plants in the region. The guidance aims to ensure that managed phaseout transactions are climate credible, economically viable, and socially inclusive. It proposes a three-step process. First, ensuring that there are credible plans for coal phaseout at the government, company, and project level. This is critical to address two key risks in managed phaseout projects: one, 'emissions leakage' where the closure of a coal fired power plant is offset by increased operation of other coal plants or new coal plants built. 2/3  BIS - Central bankers' speeches  second risk, moral hazard, where a phaseout transaction perversely encourages more coal power generation in order to later benefit from a potential coal phaseout plan. Second, optimising meaningful outcomes across climate impact, financial viability and socio-economic considerations. There are several measures financial institutions can take to achieve this. one, prioritise projects that align with a science-based pathway that is consistent with timelines set by internationally recognised bodies; two, ensure measures are in place to support access to secure, reliable, and affordable clean energy; three, assess the programmes that are in place to mitigate adverse socioeconomic impacts, such as social cost assessments, stakeholder engagement, land repurposing plans, and worker and community transition plans; and four, conduct a holistic financial viability assessment of the project including the cost of socio-economic support measures.