Unlocking a clean energy future for Asia: Challenges and opportunities
- Over
the past decade, Asia has made huge strides in economic growth and poverty
reduction accounting for 28.3 per cent of global gross domestic product (GDP)
in 2011. While ongoing economic growth is expected to see developing Asia’s
share of the world’s energy consumption rise from 34 per cent in 2010 to over
50 per cent by 2035, most of the increase in consumption will come from fossil
fuels. This will lead to an emission level of greenhouse gases of about 20
billion tonnes out of a total global cap of between 22 billion and 30 billion
tonnes which is the threshold to avoid a catastrophic tipping point in the
climate system. Clearly, this level of emissions is not sustainable for the
planet. Asia
needs to change its development paradigm to use less energy per unit output,
thereby requiring less primary energy overall, as well as to generate more
renewable energy within that lowered energy requirement scenario, in order to
further limit greenhouse gas emissions.
- Also problematic is the ability of the
region to deliver power to all. Despite impressive economic growth, some
600 million people in the Asia-Pacific region still lack access to electricity.
If the policies of governments in developing Asia do not focus on affordable
access, then around 330 million Asians could still be without electricity in
2035.
- The
challenge for Asia, therefore, is twofold. We must fuel the region’s continued
economic growth to increase living standards, by engaging in an energy strategy
that is low-carbon and environmentally sustainable. At
the same time, to make growth sustainable and beneficial
to all, Asia must increase its energy access investments. Asia can do this only by embracing
the three “I”s – to become more innovative, inclusive, and integrated.