Southeast Asian coal demand to grow at fastest rate in world
TOKYO — Southeast Asian coal demand is forecast to rise 5% yearly through 2023 for the fastest growth rate worldwide, an International Energy Agency […]
Making the region’s buildings energy efficient
Member states of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) intend to reduce regional energy intensity 20 percent by 2020 and 30 percent by 2025 compared with 2005 levels. According to the ASEAN Centre for Energy (ACE), the region is on track to reach its goals as energy intensity levels have seen a downward trajectory […]
Calls to cool down on coal
While delegates from 200 countries come together to ramp up climate action and investors worldwide call for an end to banking on coal as part of the energy mix, the Trump administration followed through with its threat to host a fossil-fuel promotional side event at the United Nations Climate Summit (COP24), currently held in the […]
Weaning ASEAN from coal reveals climate risks and rewards
Climate change is a pressing global issue that countries need to combat not only in their individual capacities but also at an intergovernmental level. Given the degree of the threat faced by communities worldwide, discussions around climate have come to the forefront of the global collaboration agenda. All eyes were on the 24th Conference of the Parties […]
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 […]
Blockchain gaining ground in Southeast Asia
20 years ago, no one could have accurately predicted the huge impact that inventions like the smartphone and the World Wide Web would have on humankind. As technology advances at a breakneck pace, the same could be said about blockchain technology. It’s a common misconception to conflate blockchain with cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin, Ethereum and Litecoin. […]
Low carbon electricity generation, carbon pricing could reduce emissions in Asean: MIT report
KATOWICE, Poland – The ongoing United Nations (UN) climate change talks in Poland have emphasised the need for the world to drastically reduce its emissions to avoid the worst impacts of climate change, with many nations arguing that both developing and developed countries should bear the responsibility of doing so. But how can rapidly developing […]
Towards an energy efficient ASEAN
In tandem with a renewable energy policy, energy efficiency will be key to building a reliable and sustainable energy system for the future of Southeast Asia. Energy efficiency refers to the reduced rate of energy consumption in order to produce the same amount of output. Less energy resources are needed to fuel the same level […]
Why is green bond growth in Southeast Asia so weak?
Much of the growth in Asian green bond issuance is in China, with Southeast Asian countries gaining momentum. What can the finance industry do to boost green investments in developing nations in Southeast Asia? While the global market for green bonds reached a record of more than US$155 billion last year, there are still only a few banks in developing countries in […]
Southeast Asia’s Clean Energy Challenge
While the region can’t give up on coal for now, there is a lot it can do to get clean. December 12 marks the third anniversary of the Paris Agreement, a compact intended to catalyze a global reduction in carbon emissions. Yet all the statistics suggest the problem is getting worse: the latest report from the International Energy […]