The GeGaLo index: Geopolitical gains and losses after energy transition
This article presents the GeGaLo index of geopolitical gains and losses that 156 countries may experience after a full-scale transition to renewable energy. The following indicators are considered for inclusion in the index: fossil fuel production, fossil fuel reserves, renewable energy resources, governance, and conflict. Some of these represent potential gains; some represent losses; and […]
The more coal dominates the energy mix, the more positively Southeast Asia’s media will cover it—except in the Philippines
The more coal-dependent a country is, the more pro-coal its news reporting is—this was the trend among five Southeast Asian countries surveyed by Climate Tracker. Why is the Philippines the outlier?
The need for renewable energy cooperation
In October, the United Nations (UN) released a report which highlighted that the world could be on the brink of a climate change disaster if immediate measures are not taken. Leading scientists behind the report have said that the world only has 12 years to keep global warming at a maximum of 1.5 degrees Celsius […]
The Palm Oil Conundrum in EU-ASEAN Relations
With new regulatory changes now taking place on the basis of the EU’s Renewable Energy Directive (RED) II of 2018, Indonesia and Malaysia are trying to come to terms with the implications for their global palm oil market strategy and domestic production. They are mobilizing intra-regional support from ASEAN and its members and even considering bringing […]
The potential of floating solar power
Thailand is the latest country in Southeast Asia to recognise the untapped potential of floating solar technology after the state-run Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand (EGAT) announced five pilot projects last month. The country’s masterplan includes the installation of floating solar panels in eight hydropower plants nationwide with a total capacity of 1,000 megawatts (MW) […]
The power of words and art in energy conservation
Population growth has contributed to rising energy consumption around the world, and Southeast Asia has been no different. Between 2010 and 2018, the region’s energy demand rose by almost 22 percent—an increase almost doubles the global average. With energy efficiency one of the most powerful tools to slash greenhouse gas emissions and maintain energy security, the […]
The rise of green loans
GREEN financing is expected to gain further traction as investors look for financial instruments which could lead to positive social outcomes, experts observed. RAM Sustainability Sdn Bhd head of sustainability services Gladys Chua said the Malaysian green bond/sukuk market started expanding from 2017 onwards following the first green sukuk issuance by Tadau Energy Sdn Bhd for […]
The Rising Demand For Air Conditioners
Around the world, scorching heat waves are breaking records, with France reaching a sweltering 45.9 degrees Celsius and Australia hitting 49.5 degrees in 2019. This year, it was reported that Siberia experienced a period of unusually high temperatures for the first six months of 2020 – including a record-breaking 38 degrees Celsius in the town […]
The time is ripe for carbon pricing in Southeast Asia
Tax, whatever the purpose, is an unpopular word. The yellow vests movement in France, a series of protests that recently shook the European country in reaction to the government’s announcement of a green tax on fuel, attests to that. But given the imminence of a climate catastrophe and the fact that the world devotes more […]
TMB Bank PLC backs Southeast Asian solar power producer Constant Energy with up to US$50 million loan facility
TMB Bank Public Company Limited is further expanding its financing activities in the commercial and industrial (C&I) solar sector by providing Thailand-based Constant Energy Group with a 1.5 billion THB (approx. US$50 million) long term green project finance loan package. The funding will be deployed to further expand Constant Energy’s sizeable portfolio of solar energy […]