Energy Issues In The Asia Pacific Region

"It comprises papers based on the seminars delivered by speakers at the ISEAS Energy Forum"--Preface.

This book is the outgrowth of various research programs carried out within the Energy Project of the Resource Systems Institute of the East-West Center. It provides an understanding of some of the major energy issues faced by the policy makers of the nations of Asia and the Pacific.

Report of, and information and issue papers on energy presented to the ESCAP Committee on Natural Resources at its fourteenth session held at Bangkok in 1987.

This publication is the theme study for the 73rd session of Commission to be held in May 2017. The main purpose of the publication is to call on policymakers in Asia and the Pacific for urgent actions to transition national energy sectors to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG), particularly Goal 7. The energy sector transition is the only way to address the sizeable energy deficit which impede progress in energy access in a number of member countries. It will also address gaps between current commitments under the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Paris Agreement on climate change and lack of coherent energy strategic and policy frameworks and actions held back progress of SDG7.

This report, aimed at policy makers from Asia and the Pacific, provides a historical perspective on regional energy connectivity and its implementation challenges, as well as outlining an action plan for accelerated regional energy integration to bring shared benefits to ESCAP’s member States. The report concludes that energy connectivity can increase the supply and reduce the cost of energy, while lowering its social and environmental costs and addressing the challenges of energy security. Regional cooperation in energy has been evolving mainly through five subregional clusters –– South-East Asia, Central Asia, South Asia, North-East Asia, and the Pacific. A great many resources have been spent on bringing the subregions together; however, overall results remain below the potential. One of the main reasons for the slow progress is the decision-making process for cross-border projects. Energy markets do not connect by themselves; in the next few decades, actions will be needed to build physical energy networks, institutional connectivity and, most importantly, trust between nations to meet the Region’s two most important challenges — overcoming energy poverty and mitigating climate change. Governments, policymakers, and experts must work together in partnership with the private sector to provide sustainable energy for all by 2050 by connecting Asian energy networks and building institutions of integration. ESCAP is in a unique position to lead such a transformative partnership for ensuring that regional energy connectivity creates incentive structures and institutions to deliver cost-effective energy for the entire Region. It is time to build energy connectivity for an interdependent Asia and the Pacific –– prosperous and connected –– thus ending Asian economic dependence on a single source or a single fuel.

Papers presented at a seminar "Emerging challenges to energy security in the Asia Pacific," held at Chennai during 16-17 March 2009; organized by Centre for Security Analysis, Chennai, and the Institute of Southeast Asian Studies, Singapore in collaboration with the Hanns Seidel Foundation.

An examination of the specifics involved in the expected changes of energy systems which will accompany continued economic growth in Asia and the Pacific. Examines petroleum, nuclear power, and alternative energy resources in the light of history and predicted trends. Deals with social, political, economic and environmental implications of energy.