Water works: Groundbreaking study reveals hydropower’s power to cool southeast Asia’s carbon curve

When it comes to clean energy, solar and wind often dominate the headlines. But in the lush, river-rich landscapes of Southeast Asia, another renewable powerhouse is quietly making waves—hydropower. A major new study published on August 4, 2025, in Carbon Research proves that hydropower isn’t just a side player in the region’s energy mix—it’s a leading force in cutting carbon emissions, with the potential to reshape the future of sustainable development.

Led by Dr. Rinaldi Idroes from the School of Mathematics and Applied Sciences at Universitas Syiah Kuala in Banda Aceh, Indonesia, this original open-access research dives deep into two decades of energy and economic data across Southeast Asian nations. Using advanced statistical models—including the Autoregressive Distributed Lag (ARDL) approach, Vector Error Correction Model (VECM), and Dumitrescu-Hurlin causality tests—the study offers the most comprehensive analysis yet of how energy choices shape the region’s climate trajectory. And the verdict? Hydropower is a climate game-changer. The study found that as hydropower consumption increases, CO₂ emissions drop significantly. Even more compelling, capital formation—a sign of investment in infrastructure and green development—also correlates with lower emissions. In contrast, reliance on fossil fuels, rapid economic growth without green safeguards, agricultural expansion, and rising labor intensity all drive emissions upward.

“Southeast Asia is growing fast, but that growth doesn’t have to come at the planet’s expense,” says Dr. Idroes. “Our data shows a clear path: invest in hydropower, build smarter infrastructure, and you get both economic progress and environmental protection.” One of the study’s most striking findings is the bidirectional causality between hydropower use and CO₂ reduction. Not only does more hydropower lead to lower emissions, but as societies prioritize climate action, they also tend to expand their clean energy capacity—a virtuous cycle in motion. The impulse response analysis further confirms this: a sudden increase in hydropower consumption leads to a sustained decline in carbon emissions over time. This isn’t just a short-term blip—it’s a long-term trend with real policy implications.

Why This Matters for Southeast Asia

From the Mekong Basin to the islands of Indonesia, Southeast Asia is rich in rivers, rainfall, and hydropower potential. Yet many countries still rely heavily on coal and natural gas to fuel their booming economies. Dr. Idroes’ research provides a data-backed argument for shifting course. It shows that hydropower—especially when integrated with other renewables and energy efficiency measures—can help decouple economic growth from carbon emissions. “Hydropower is not just an energy source,” explains Dr. Idroes. “It’s a climate mitigation tool, a driver of green investment, and a foundation for energy security in a region vulnerable to climate impacts.”

A Triumph for Indonesian Science and Regional Leadership

This study highlights the growing strength of Universitas Syiah Kuala as a center for applied environmental research in Indonesia. Located in Banda Aceh, the university is emerging as a key player in sustainability science, particularly in data modeling and policy-relevant climate research.

Dr. Idroes’ work demonstrates how local expertise can generate insights with regional impact and global relevance. By focusing on Southeast Asia—a region often underrepresented in global climate studies—he fills a critical knowledge gap and empowers policymakers with homegrown solutions.

The Road Ahead: From Data to Decisions

The study concludes with a clear call to action:

• Scale up investment in hydropower and other renewables
• Phase out fossil fuel subsidies and redirect funds to green infrastructure
• Improve energy efficiency in manufacturing and agriculture
• Promote green technologies that support low-carbon development

With climate change already affecting monsoon patterns, sea levels, and agricultural yields across the region, the need for action has never been greater. Dr. Idroes’ research doesn’t just diagnose the problem—it offers a roadmap. And the destination? A cleaner, more resilient, and sustainably powered Southeast Asia. So next time you hear the rush of a mountain river, listen closely. It might just be the sound of the region’s low-carbon future—flowing forward.

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• Title: Investigating hydropower energy consumption's effect on Southeast Asia's path to achieving environmental sustainability and carbon neutrality
• Keywords: Climate change; Global warming; Environmental degradation; Hydropower energy consumption; CO2 emissions; Fossil fuels; Economic growth
• Citation: Idroes, G.M., Hafizah, I., Hartono, D. et al. Investigating hydropower energy consumption's effect on Southeast Asia's path to achieving environmental sustainability and carbon neutrality. Carbon Res. 4, 57 (2025). https://doi.org/10.1007/s44246-025-00218-4 

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About Carbon Research

The journal Carbon Research is an international multidisciplinary platform for communicating advances in fundamental and applied research on natural and engineered carbonaceous materials that are associated with ecological and environmental functions, energy generation, and global change. It is a fully Open Access (OA) journal and the Article Publishing Charges (APC) are waived until Dec 31, 2025. It is dedicated to serving as an innovative, efficient and professional platform for researchers in the field of carbon functions around the world to deliver findings from this rapidly expanding field of science. The journal is currently indexed by Scopus and Ei Compendex, and as of June 2025, the dynamic CiteScore value is 15.4.

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