Energy Security And Sustainable Development In Asia And The Pacific

Over the past few years, energy security and sustainable development have moved up the global agenda. There are two main reasons for this: first, the impact of high and often volatile energy prices; second, concerns over environmental sustainability and particularly about the global climate. Both issues are critically important for Asia and the Pacifica region in which impressive economic growth has boosted the demand for energy and put corresponding strains on the environment. The publication gives a detailed overview on available energy resources, supply and demand, financing, policy and cooperation in the regions. It also describes energy situation in least developed countries, landlocked and small island developing countries, and suggests policy options for energy security and sustainable development.

Leading scholars assess the transformations in energy security policy that flow from recognition of global climate change. They explore through case studies the key policy responses formulated in the Asia-Pacific and identify potential synergies between energy policy and climate mitigation efforts.

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.

No segment of the world's economy will be more affected in the drive to reduce greenhouse gas emissions than energy and fuels. The energy sector study, carried out by The Energy and Resources Institute, reviews recent experience in end-use energy efficiency, new technologies, and practices for higher efficiency in fossil fuel energy production as well as ways to expand energy production from renewable sources. Implications for energy security are derived along with recommendations for financing, technology transfer, and associated policy and institutional reforms.

Traditional notions of security are premised on the primacy of state security. In relation to energy security, traditional policy thinking has focused on ensuring supply without much emphasis on socioeconomic and environmental impacts. Non-traditional security (NTS) scholars argue that threats to human security have become increasingly prominent since the end of the Cold War, and that it is thus critical to adopt a holistic and multidisciplinary approach in addressing rising energy needs. This volume represents the perspectives of scholars from across Asia, looking at diverse aspects of energy security through a non-traditional security lens. The issues covered include environmental and socioeconomic impacts, the role of the market, the role of civil society, energy sustainability and policy trends in the ASEAN region.

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.

The 2016 Regional Trends Report on Energy for Sustainable Development in Asia and the Pacific supports the implementation of the SDG7 and outcomes of the Asian and Pacific Energy Forum 2013.