The ASEAN Business Advisory Council (ASEAN-BAC) Green & Sustainable Working Group announced on Tuesday, May 11, 2023, that Lauren Blasco, Principal and Head of ESG at AC Ventures, has been appointed to its Carbon Center of Excellence (CCoE).

ASEAN, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, is a political and economic union comprising ten member states in Southeast Asia, covering a total area of 4,522,518 km² and an estimated population of about 668 million, accounting for approximately 8.5% of the global population.

Established in April 2003, ASEAN-BAC's role is to provide private sector feedback and guidance to enhance ASEAN's efforts toward economic integration. Its primary focus is on facilitating business and policy cooperation among nations.

The ASEAN CCoE aims to foster an understanding of carbon markets for business leaders, market participants, and regulators. Building upon the B20 Indonesia legacy initiatives, it will launch the ASEAN Alliance on Scaling Carbon Markets (AASCM), advocating for the expansion of voluntary carbon markets and compliance markets in the region.

In 2023, Indonesia holds the Chairmanship of ASEAN, and the CCoE will implement and build upon various initiatives, including the Carbon Knowledge Hub, offering curated resources to navigate carbon markets for key actors; the Practice Sharing Center, facilitating knowledge exchanges and capacity building sessions for businesses; and the ACSCM, serving as a focal point for international partnerships to upscale carbon markets.

Lauren has committed to a five-year tenure as an official advisor to public and private stakeholders across the bloc, providing guidance on building, launching, and growing voluntary carbon markets.

Expressing her enthusiasm, Lauren stated, "I am honored to join the ASEAN-BAC Carbon Center of Excellence. It presents a unique opportunity to shape and guide the future of voluntary and compliance carbon markets in Indonesia and throughout the ASEAN region. I believe these carbon markets are vital tools to combat climate change and ensure a sustainable future for all."

She added, "I look forward to collaborating with local, regional, and international partners to create effective and equitable carbon market solutions that drive real, tangible progress. Together, we can make a significant positive impact on our environment, economies, and communities."

Dharsono Hartono, Legacy Lead of the ASEAN Net Zero Hub and Carbon Center of Excellence, praised the initiative, stating, "The ASEAN-BAC Carbon Center of Excellence is an innovative response to climate change. Our mission is to drive the ASEAN economy toward achieving net-zero emissions, paving the way for a better future. With Lauren onboard as a carbon management expert, we are propelling our mission further. Her knowledge and commitment will undoubtedly accelerate our path toward a carbon-neutral business landscape in ASEAN."

Outside her role at ASEAN-BAC, Lauren has actively contributed to setting ESG standards in Indonesia's tech sector in partnership with Boston Consulting Group and The Upright Project. She also serves on the board of Waste4Change, a leading responsible waste management startup in the country.

Moreover, Lauren was tapped by the Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry to join its newly formed ESG task force, a group of elite stakeholders tasked with crafting a sector-agnostic roadmap to establish ESG standards and compliance nationwide.

With over 13 years of experience in the private, public, and educational sectors, Lauren Blasco is a seasoned sustainability and impact practitioner, having held multiple roles in various organizations across the Asia Pacific region.