The COVID-19 outbreak has heightened the tension between the economy and the care for the Earth. The economic downturn and resulting massive unemployment are likely to be responded with recovery measures that aim at quick results, which could mean a disregard to climate agenda. The competing priorities are inevitable due to the pervasive economic impacts that hurt virtually all sectors. In Southeast Asia, both renewable energy and the oil industries are being negatively affected. Although the idea for sustainable recovery has much practical relevance to avert the consequences of a climate crisis, the extent to which countries will choose this path over getting back to business-as-usual is not yet clear. This research project aims to trace and examine the progress of climate action in a post-COVID-19 Southeast Asia.